Tip #1
Select Macro Mode – this is a fairly obvious first step but I’m always surprised by how many digital camera owners haven’t explored the shooting modes that their camera has. Macro mode is generally symbolized with a little flower and when selected it will tell your camera that you want to focus on a subject closer to your lens than normal (the minimum distance allowed will vary from camera to camera – consult your instruction manual to find yours). Macro mode will also usually tell your camera to choose a large aperture so that your subject is in focus but the background is not.

Tip #2
Use a Tripod – in macro photography a tripod can be particularly useful, even if you’re just shooting with a compact camera. Keeping your camera still not only improves your shots (getting rid of camera shake) but it allows you to play around with different settings without losing your composition.

Tip #3
Aperture – once in macro mode some cameras will not allow you to make many other adjustments but if you are able to play with your aperture settings it can be well worthwhile to do so. As we’ve covered in our Aperture tutorials, the main thing that aperture impacts is the depth of field of your shots. Choose a small aperture (big number) if you want a large depth of field with everything in focus or a large aperture if you just want your main subject in focus. In macro photography you’ll probably want a shallow depth of field so select the largest aperture available.

Tip #4
Focusing – I find that in macro photography it is helpful to have full control over focusing – especially when you have shallow depth of fields where it is all the more important to make sure the right part of your shot is in focus. If your camera allows manual focusing select this option and manually focus on the part of our subject that is the main point of interest.

Tip #5
Composition – remember some of the basic rules of composition like the Rule of Thirds. Make sure your image has a main point of interest and place that focal point in a smart position in your image in order to draw the eye of your viewer. Try to select a non cluttered or simple background for your main subject so as it doesn’t compete with it visually.

Tip #6
Flash – in many macro shots having some artificial light is important. The challenge with compact cameras is that most give you limited control of your flash. As a result choosing a good time of day when there is plenty of available light is probably your best bet. If you do need more light check to see if your camera allows you to pull back the level that your flash fires at. Alternatively you might like to try diffusing it in some way (tissue paper or cellotape over the flash for example). Another option might be to use some other source of artificial light or to invest in a reflector to help make the most of available light. Experiment with different methods of lighting your subject.

Tip #7
Take Your Shot – once you have your shot lined up and in focus take your shot. Make sure once you’ve taken it to take a good look at it on your LCD, zooming in to make sure that your focusing is sharp. Try shooting at slightly different apertures, with different compositions and focusing on different points of your subject to see what works best.

Tip #8
Macro Lens Attachments – some compact cameras actually have accessories available to help with macro/close up photography. These will enable you to enlarge your subject and/or decrease your minimum focal length. These might be worth investing in if you intend on doing a lot of macro work.

PS: The term ‘macro photography is used fairly loosely here. Technically ‘macro photography’ is actually when you produce an image where your subject is captured on your image sensor at life size (or bigger) with a 1:1 ratio.
In the case of most (all?) compact cameras this is not achieved and in fact ‘close up’ photography would be a better description. However as most manufacturers call their close up mode ‘macro mode’ I’ve used the term for the purposes of this article.

Here is my go on the challenge:

I used the macro setting, a tripod, flash light and manual focus!

Please read the posting rules too, especially about posting in the right gallery, thank you!!

1. Upload your photo (and LO if you have one) to the appropriate gallery, then please link it back to the challenge in the forum
2. Just one entry per person will be eligible for a point, one extra point can be earned for doing a LO with the picture and if you win the challenge you also gain one extra point
3. The pictures must be especially made for this months challenge
4. No double dipping with other challenges please

HAVE FUN !

Wow, the layouts in the gallery were absolutely fabulous this week. I had such a hard time narrowing it down to just one. This layout by KayM really caught my eye, though. I love the way she duplicated the picture and blended it on the background. And the cluster with the little bit of sparkle is just the perfect accent.

Congrats KayM!! Head on over to the gallery or the forum and leave her some love!!

-Amanda (Dznyscrapper)

I was so lucky to interview Courtney/cnscrap, the extremely talented lady who creates the fabulously stunning LOs with clean lines, perfect white space, and amazing titlework. Ok can you tell I admire her and her LOs?!? Check out some fun info she shared with us!

1. Your screen name? Your real name? My real name is Courtney. My screen name is cnscrap (my intials are CNS).

2. What is your main job/career? I am a database specialist. Nothing near as fun as my hobby, right?

3. Are you married/children/pets? I am married to a wonderful hubby of 2.5 years. I have one 10 year old daughter who is my best friend and one fuzzy black lab!

4. Where is home for you? Home is Annapolis, MD.

5. What are your 3 favorite foods? At the moment my favorite foods are mac n’ cheese, original chick-fil-a sandwich, and steamed crabs.

6. What is your favorite flavor of ice cream? It’s not really a flavor but my favorite ice cream is from Friendly’s…Reeses Peanut Butter Cup Sundae with chocolate ice cream (no vanilla please).

7. Snacks…Salty or Sweet? Salty

8. Beverage of choice? I love coffee.

9. What’s your least favorite food? Grapefruit…yucky yuck!

10. PC or Mac? What program do you use? Would you believe that I have we have an iMac but I do not use that YET for scrapbooking?!? As of now I’m a PC girl until I organize myself. In either case I am and will be using Photoshop.

11. How long have you been digi-scrapping? How did you get started? I never remember this answer. I would say for about 2 years. I got hooked after seeing Britt’s layouts in a gallery somewhere when searching for Disney related layouts.

12. What was your 1st LO about? Oh my. This is hideous. Do I really have to show you?….Here you go (well atleast according to SM records this was my first one. I might have deleted some real real hideous ones…lol.):

13. Do you have any other hobbies besides digi-scrapping (are there other hobbies)? Photography and anything crafty. I’d like running to be one again one day. I kind of fell off that boat.

14. What is the most challenging part of scrapbooking for you? Trying not to be too obsessed with it It consumes my life sometimes.

15. What would you like to learn to do (or do better) not related to scrapbooking? I would like to learn to take better photos. More creative photos, etc.

16. What are your favorite movies/TV shows? WWE, Biggest Loser, Survivor, General Hospital (basically any movie or show I can watch with my family)

17. Describe your “scrapping” environment. Music? TV in the background? Drinks? Snacks? Where? Oh geez. Yeah it’s not ideal. Anywhere and anytime I can. One day I hope to have an area that’s mine. I’m pretty focused when I scrap so noise or people don’t bother me.

18. If you only had 2 elements to use on a LO, what would they be? Alphas. All I need is alphas Two different alphas…wonderful I love titlework.

19. Would you like to share a little known fact about you…? I’m obsessed with Disney. Oh wait…you probably already knew that

20. Can you tell us a little about your scrappin’ style? Clean. Simple. White Space. Titlework.

21. Favorite LOs that you have done?

Thanks for letting me interview you Courtney! Check out her full gallery here!  You are so talented- keep on rockin those beautiful LOs!

-Whit (Whitneyt)

Jen W. (aka abcmomof4) with your Saturday Special Challenge. I’ve got a cool trick on getting rid of those under-eye circles using the patch tool. The patch tool is a cross between a self healing brush and the lasso tool.

The patch tool is exclusive to CS programs. However, not to fret! I came up with a PSE option.

I live in Central California. We are known for our bad air and terrible allergy season. Our entire family gets these terrible dark circles under our eyes in the Spring. So as you can imagine, I use the patch tool often.

So to begin, open your file and create a duplicate layer by using the hot key CTRL j.
Select the patch tool.

Now select source at the top. Choosing source allows you to make a patch from a different source elsewhere on the picture. Draw a circle around the area that needs to be softened. Try not to include the eyelashes or they will get blended away also.

Now hover over the marching ants. The patch tool will change in appearance. Click and drag to the cheek area then release the mouse. The area under the eye will now have a patch over it. Now repeat this process for the other eye.

With the duplicate layer still selected, lighten the opacity. This is important or it may look fakey. I like to preserve some of the natural eye lines.

Here is a before and after using the patch tool:

Now for the PSE version:
Ctrl j for a duplicate layer.
Choose the lasso tool to draw a selection on the cheek.
Ctrl j for duplicate layer of the selection made.
Now with the move tool, move that layer to the are to be softened. Use the eraser tool with a soft brush to erase where the patch is not needed.
Lower the opacity. Remember, we want some of the lines to show through.
You may or may not want to use a blending mode on this layer. Either soft light or overlay in my opinion.
Here is a picture using that method:

Here is a before and after by canadianmommy. Wow!!!

There are many other uses for the patch tool. I use it to get rid of fly away hairs in the face and pimples. I prefer it to the self healing tool as I can control the outcome a little better.

Your challenge is to use this new trick on a photo and to use it in a layout.

Remember…
* Post your layouts to the Saturday Special gallery. Link us up here so we can leave you love !
* You will earn one point by participating in this challenge. You can receive an EXTRA point for using a product that has been released in the seven days prior to your post – be sure to make a note of this in your post so you receive proper credit!
* Your layout must be created for this challenge – no double dipping..
* You have the rest of April to complete the layout.

Happy Scrapping!!!

Wow! It’s April! I can’t believe it! Spring is here!

Are you ready for a FUN Hybrid Challenge? This one might take you in a direction you never thought you would go with your digital scrapbooking suplies…Accessories!

Yes, I said Accessories! I love taking my digi supplies and making accesories! Necklace pendants, keychains, pins, even rings. I know this might sound scary and hard, but it really isn’t!

For example, I made this necklace to wear at my son’s T-Ball games. It’s so simple and you can decorate it so many different ways.

Here it is….

I was so lucky one day and found 2 scrabble games at the Goodwill! I love me some Goodwill! I have been searching for them! I really wanted to make some Scrabble Tile Necklaces! But, of course they do sell blank tiles at ESTY.
So, this is my first of many to come. It was so fun and easy to make.

The first thing I did was drill a hole in the top of the tile, a tiny hole with a tiny drill bit. 1/16″
If you dont want to drill a hole you can use a jewlery bail they glue right on.

I wanted mine reversable so I used a drill and made a hole.

Then I designed my necklace front in PSE. Just measure your base for your jewlery and make your file in that size. I recomend doing a test print to make sure it fits. I used the kit Boys of Summer by, Brittish! Printed it on matte photo paper. Covered it with Mod Podge to seal it. Glued it to the back side of the tile. (Wait for the Mod Podge to dry)

Then apply your Diamond Glaze, just a nice smooth coat. I goes on so easy!

Now you just have to wait for it to dry! When it’s nice and dry take a piece of beading wire make a loop in the top and stick it in the hole. Or buy some “Eye Pins” and the loop is made for you! Put a little super glue in the hole to hold it. Then put a split ring on the loop and put it on your chain! Your done!

Now if you can’t find Scrabble Tiles, there are many different types of pendants. You can get blank pendants online, in any craft store even Wal Mart has a pretty good beading section! Here is an example…

I really love making these Here are some more I did.

Here are some examples from our wonderful Hybrid Team….

Jennifer (notes4theheart) made these adorable earings with Shrink Plastic and the kit Alice by Britt-ish Designs. I love them!

Amanda made these for her boys! Aren’t they awesome! She used the kit Sk8ter Boy by, Trixie Scraps. She used magnetic clasps, perfect for kids!

Krisi made this lovely necklace for her Mother “Hope” What wonderful gift! She used the kits Color My World and Girl Power from Chelle’s Creations

So, what do you think? Want to try it? It really is easy! I promise!
Come to the Scrap Matters Forum and join us in the Getting Hybrid Challenge!

Julie