The Saturday Special: Leading & Journaling Elements
June 13, 2009
Hello everyone!
I love using journaling elements! Especially making them look like I wrote right on the lines. This Saturday special is about LEADING. Leading means the space between the lines in your journaling. Like “double spaced” or “single spaced” in word processing. It’s what makes
THIS Look like THIS:
Here’s how you do it in PSE:
Start by creating a text box on a layer above your journaling element, the size of the lines. To create a text box, select the Text tool. Click down in the upper corner of your lines (but don’t let go) and drag the cursor down to the lower right corner of your lines. Like this:
Either type your journaling or cut and paste from a word processing document (I use this option because I can’t spell). Edit your journaling so it has the same number of lines of text as there are lines on your element. In my example, my element has 9 lines and so does my journaling. Now make sure the TOP line of your journaling is lined up with the top line of the element (use the move tool…the big arrow)
Now it’s time to set the leading. First with the text tool selected, highlight ALL the text (Ctrl-A). The leading drop down box is on the top menu bar on the right side.
First I tried 24 but it was too short. Then I tried 30 but it was too tall:
Be a little goldilocks and experiment. You don’t have to only use numbers from the drop down menu, you can just type in whatever numbers you need. I ended up with 27.5 being the correct amount. It will be different depending on the font you use. If you like justified text, highlight all and hit CTRL-Shift-J (it works in PSE, but it’s not a preset–it only works with the keystrokes.) And that’s it!
For circular journaling elements, I do NEARLY the same thing, only I center the text adn adjust teh leading before I’m done editing. Then add returns in the correct place to make each text line the correct length. It takes a little more trial and error.
For this challenge you need to create a layout that has a lined journaling element and line up your text as if it was written on the lines. I made a freebie journal element sampler for you:
{image is linked}
You are not required to use those elements. You may use whatever lined journaling elements you wish. Here’s a few from the store:
Here’s a few examples from the CT:
from Stacy using Chelle’s Let’s Camp S’more:
From Andrea using Wiggle Worm by GGDigital Designs and Just a Moment Journaling Tags by Chelle’s Creations
And from Liz using Let’s Camp S’more by Chelle’s Creations and the Freebie Journaling Tags:
And, a few housekeeping details:
There’s no double dipping. Your layout must be unique to this challenge.
Everyone who completes the challenge will get a point in the Matter of Scrap Challenge System.
You do not need to use ScrapMatters products, however, if you use something new from the ScrapMatters store (within the first seven days of a product’s release), you get an extra point.
And, I will choose my favorite layout to get one more point at the end of the challenge.
Don’t forget to upload to the Saturday Gallery here , and link back to this thread with your layout image and link.
You have until the end of June to complete this challenge.
Happy scrapping!
June 13th, 2009 at 8:30 am
Thank you for the tip on how to justify the text and for sharing the text labels.
June 13th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
Fabulous tutorial, thanks!! I usually end up doing one line of text at a time if I do this, lol – this sounds much easier!