How to precisely size and place a box exactly centered in a layer?

How to make this box?

Yes, I could just use guides to show the buffer area but they aren’t permanent.

But at this point the only way I can see to create this box is to start with guides and then use it to create a selection or shape.
Is there a quicker way without using guides???

In article ,
(Dale Glaser) wrote:

How to make this box?

Yes, I could just use guides to show the buffer area but they aren’t permanent.

But at this point the only way I can see to create this box is to start with guides and then use it to create a selection or shape.
Is there a quicker way without using guides???

Yes, but it’s more trouble. Here, if I may, one last look at guides and a way to automate this whole thing: Set two new guides (one vert, one horiz) and type in "50%" for placement. When you draw your shape, set the exact measurements, check ‘snap’ and ‘draw from center’, click on the crosshair and be done. You can action this to obviate guides and all the rest of the setps for subsequent applications. Bingo, push button.

I got interested a while back in what tools PS had for precisely placing and positioning objects (groups of pixels or vector shapes).
I made up a summary on my web site for those interested at: http://www.pacificsites.net/~dglaser/art/PhotoShopTips/PSTip sDaleSum02P.html
But these are just the methods. I have an actual problem to solve and I wondered what people thought would be the best way to do it.
I am designing a CD cover. The company which will print the cover specifies a buffer zone around the edges to not spill text or important art into. I want to create an overlaying layer with a 1 pixel box showing this buffer zone. The CD cover is 1490 x 1490 pixels. The buffer box would be 1370 x 1370 pixels precisely centered over the cover art.

How to make this box?

Yes, I could just use guides to show the buffer area but they aren’t permanent.

But at this point the only way I can see to create this box is to start with guides and then use it to create a selection or shape.
Is there a quicker way without using guides???

Dale

But at this point the only way I can see to create this box is to start with guides and then use it to create a selection or shape.
Is there a quicker way without using guides???

Using the Rectangular Marquee choose Fixed Size from the dropdown in the Options Bar. Enter the dimensions. Make your rectangle roughly in the middle. Fill the selection, deselect. Then Select All (the entire canvas) Layer>Align with Selection>Vertical Centers, then Horizontal centers.

Then Layer Styles>Stroke> one pixel inside. Lower Fill Opacity to zero. Done.

Or if you prefer, Ctrl-click on layer in palette to select the rectangle, delete the fill, Edit>Stroke.

Yes, but it’s more trouble. Here, if I may, one last look at guides and a way to automate this whole thing: Set two new guides (one vert, one horiz) and type in "50%" for placement. When you draw your shape, set the exact measurements, check ‘snap’ and ‘draw from center’, click on the crosshair and be done. You can action this to obviate guides and all the rest of the setps for subsequent applications. Bingo, push button.

I got interested a while back in what tools PS had for precisely placing and positioning objects (groups of pixels or vector shapes).
I made up a summary on my web site for those interested at: http://www.pacificsites.net/~dglaser/art/PhotoShopTips/PSTip sDaleSum02P.html
But these are just the methods. I have an actual problem to solve and I wondered what people thought would be the best way to do it.
I am designing a CD cover. The company which will print the cover specifies a buffer zone around the edges to not spill text or important art into. I want to create an overlaying layer with a 1 pixel box showing this buffer zone. The CD cover is 1490 x 1490 pixels. The buffer box would be 1370 x 1370 pixels precisely centered over the cover art.

How to make this box?