Independent Shadow Layers

By Michelle Bradshaw

Shadows on scrapbook pages are often discussed with the goal to make them as realistic as possible for the situation. There are standard shadows with both Photoshop and Photoshop Elements. Both allow altering the angle, distance, softness, opacity as well as the color.

Screen shots are from PSE 10 and the Photoshop’s CS5. For this tutorial 3 beach items from Under the Boardwalk by Clever Monkey Graphics and were selected and placed on a pale blue background for visibility purposes.

In PSE, select layer styles from the effects palette and choose Drop Shadows from the list. Note the variety that comes with your program. Hover the mouse over each one, an information box will tell you what it is. Click and then click apply or simply double click to apply the style. In screen shot 2, I’ve chosen just the basic low shadow.

Screen Shot 3 shows the changes one can make within the program by using the sliders.

Screen Shot 4 is showing the pathway from the menu in CS5 and screen shot 5 shows the dialog box.

Sometimes, neither works for you and you just wish the shadow was on its “own” layer. Well, they can be……..

In Photoshop- right click on the layer effect and from the drop down menu select create layer. A box will inform you that some aspects of the style may not work. Just click ok.

Screen shot 7 shows the newly added independent shadow layers.

You are now free to move just the shadow away from the element.

In PSE, it takes an extra step as an applied shadow remains attached to the element. [there is always a work around- wink]. To illustrate I’m removing the shadow style. Instead – create a new blank layer and move this layer below the element, rename it shadow.

With this layer active, use the ctrl key [cmd on a mac] and click the element layer. [marching ants]- Edit > fill selection > color >select a color, click ok.

PSE users can now move the shadow too.

To make the shadow look more realistic: Filter > blur> Gaussian blur > select a radius that works for the image.

For my final ‘result’ after manipulating the shadows using Learning Matters photo transformation tutorial from January 29, 2013

I added a photo I took at the beach as my background.

The beach ball was already on the beach.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial. If you create a layout using any of the tutorials I write I would love to see your final product. If you have a request for a tutorial let me know as well.

Happy Scrapping.

Michelle

Monday ONLY!! Select items are 50% off!! Visit the ScrapMatters Shop for more details!!
*Sale runs 12am-11:59pm ET. HURRY! What are you waiting for!?! *

Welcome back to another Saturday of gallery standouts!  Each week the GSO thread is where we give shout-outs to those layouts that really catch our attention in the gallery.  This week’s thread has more layouts than I can share here so be sure to check it out to see the others.

“I love this one by lingovise. The stack of papers behind that photo is stunning! And the brushes are perfect as well” is what Jhari said when she nominated this beautiful layout.  The painted background and stitching are great finishing touches!

Jill found this wonderful layout by Niki (alahnasmommy) and said, “I think this page totally rocks! Love the cluster work – the title placement and shadow work …!”  Another great use of paints and stiching and I’m totally drawn to how nicely the elements look on the kraft paper!

Barbara created this next super fun layout that Amanda (AmandaDawnRN) found original.  I can relate to the situation and really appreciate a layout that makes me chuckle!  Hopefully her friend won’t recognize herself on this layout!

Kate (mom2my2monkeys) found this layout by kass_23 and said, “I was just over in the gallery and this layout just jumped right out at me. I love the bright colors, the title work and the background paper is just Oh so cute!”  The kit and title work are perfect!

If you like patterned and layered paper you’ll love this layout by Melanie!  Tinci added it to the GSO thread and called it both wonderful and stunning!  And how cute is that little car in front of the chevron!??!!

“Amazing layout by Kristi (Kristi8004)!  I like the way she framed her terrific black and white photos, wonderful journaling, and great use of the template!”, said Olivia when she chose this last layout.  I also like the title work and stitched elements!

Each layout is linked to the gallery for full credits.  If you like these, you’ll like the others in the GSO, too!  When you’re next perusing the ScrapMatters gallery, feel free to add a layout or two to the weekly GSO thread and make someone’s day!

~Dolores

I really like the simple and stunning look of this layout. The large photo is amazing and the mini photos, stitching, and title work are nice touches too.  This week’s LOTW winner is ndalton!

To leave her some love, you can click the image. =)

She used Captured My Heart by Meagan’s Creations.

I love this cute and original little card. The embellies and color combo really made it pop out in the gallery. Congrats to SandyPie for being this week’s POTW winner!

You can click the image to leave her some love.  She used products from the Mixed Matters Grab Bag #1.

There are three camera settings that are important to master if you want to be able to properly expose your images: ISO, aperture, and shutter speed. Last month we talked a little bit about the ISO setting on your camera. This month, we’ll explore aperture.

*Note: if you’re not comfortable using your camera in manual mode, don’t stop reading here! Your DSLR has an “aperture priority” setting which allows you to choose the aperture while the camera determines the other settings for you.

The aperture setting determines how wide the camera lens opens when you take a picture, and is usually expressed as an “f stop” such as f/2.8. Some people find aperture confusing because the larger the opening of the lens, the smaller the f stop number is. For example, f/11 is a very small opening and f/2 is a very large opening. The reason for this is that the numbers are actually fractions. 1/11 is smaller than 1/2. Therefore, f/11 is a smaller opening than f/2.

Clear as mud?

Just remember: smaller f stop number = larger aperture.

Why does aperture matter in achieving a correct exposure? The answer is light. Light is always the key to exposure and by controlling how wide your camera opens up when you press the shutter button, you are controlling how much light is getting in. If you have only a little light available to you (if you are indoors, for example), you will need to use a wider aperture to let more light in. If you are outside on a sunny day, you will be free to use a smaller aperture if you want to.

Here is an example of how aperture affects exposure. In these photos, aperture is the only setting that changed:

When choosing your aperture, it is important to remember that it determines the depth of field in your photos. In other words, it determines how much of your picture is in focus. Aperture is what lets us achieve the ever popular “blurry background” (you can learn more about that in this post), but as you make your aperture wider, the part of the picture that is in focus gets smaller. If you are taking a picture of a large group of people, for example, you don’t want to let your aperture get too wide or you will not have all of your subjects in focus.

So, as you experiment with your aperture setting this month, you will need to keep two things in mind as you chose your setting:

1) How much light is available to you? (Do you need a wider aperture to let in more light?)

2) How much of your picture do you want to be in focus? (Do you need a smaller aperture to get all the important parts in focus?)

Have fun practicing and next month we’ll tackle shutter speed!

Cappelletti

by Chel

One of the memories I will always treasure is the memory of cappelletti (means little hat in Italian). It was a favorite food when we visited my Italian Great Grandmother. Homemade soup – the smells were wonderful and watching her cook was magical. The recipe was one that had been passed down within the family. When she passed away it was sad to me to think that we wouldn’t be having her homemade Italian dishes anymore. Thankfully, my parents had asked my Great Grandmother for the recipes so that they could written down. My Mom and Dad learned to cook them – pasta from scratch and everything! Now a favorite family activity when my brother comes down with his family is everyone helping to make this wonderful dish, kids and all! I think that is what makes this meal so special –yes, it very yummy,but the family memories associated with it will always be very special. I have been hunting for a family photo of us all eating but I haven’t found one. I guess we were all too busy eating to think to take a photo – lol!! Here is a recipe.

Cappelletti

Ingredients

PASTA

• 3 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 5 large eggs

FILLING AND BROTH

• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 pound ground chicken, preferably dark meat
• 1/4 pound ground pork loin
• 1 leafy sprig sage
• 1 leafy sprig rosemary
• 3/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 3/4 cup freshly grated Grana Padano cheese
• 1/4 cup fresh ricotta cheese
• 1 3/4 ounces crescenza or Taleggio cheese, finely chopped if using Taleggio
• 1 large egg
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated lemon zest
• Pinch freshly grated nutmeg
• 6 cups homemade chicken broth or capon broth (see note)

Instructions

FOR PASTA: In a large bowl, whisk together flour and salt. Mound flour mixture and form a well in the center. Add eggs to the well. Using a fork, gently break up yolks and slowly incorporate flour from inside rim of well. Continue until liquid is absorbed, then knead in bowl until dough forms a complete mass. Transfer to a well-floured work surface and knead for 3 to 4 minutes more. Wrap dough tightly in plastic wrap and let rest for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, make filling.

FOR FILLING: In a large nonstick skillet, heat butter and oil over high heat until butter is melted. Add chicken, pork, sage, rosemary, salt and generous grinding of pepper; cook, stirring and breaking up meat into bits with a wooden spoon, until meat is cooked through, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a large plate and let cool to room temperature; remove and discard herbs. Stir in Grana Padano, ricotta and crescenza cheeses, along with egg, zest and nutmeg.

FOR CAPPELLETTI: Divide pasta dough into four pieces. Cover 3 pieces with plastic wrap. Flatten dough so that it will fit through the rollers of a hand-cranked pasta machine. Set rollers of pasta machine at the widest setting, then feed pasta through rollers 3 or 4 times, folding and turning pasta until it is smooth and the width of the machine. Roll pasta through machine, decreasing the setting one notch at a time (do not fold or turn pasta), until pasta sheet is about 1/16 inch thick. Cut sheets into 1 1/2-inch squares (keep dough, sheets and squares covered with a clean dish towel while rolling and cutting to avoid drying).

Place packed 1/4 teaspoon filling in center of each square. Fold diagonally opposite corners to meet each other to form the cappelletti. Keep cappelletti covered with a clean dishtowel until ready to cook. (The cappelletti can be prepared and frozen for up to 3 months. To freeze freshly made cappelletti, freeze them first on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Once frozen, transfer cappelletti to well-sealed, airtight plastic freezer bags and keep frozen until ready to cook. Do not defrost before cooking.)

TO SERVE: Bring broth to a low boil; avoid a rolling boil, which may cause the pasta to open up. In batches of 15 to 20, cook cappelletti in broth until tender, about 3 minutes (frozen pasta may take another minute or two longer).?Using a slotted spoon, transfer cappelletti to serving bowls. Ladle the hot broth over cappelletti and serve immediately.

Wishing everyone a very wonderful day!

Monday ONLY!! Select items are 50% off!! Visit the ScrapMatters Shop for more details!!
*Sale runs 12am-11:59pm ET. HURRY! What are you waiting for!?! *

Amy Stoffel

It is time for our next featured designer for February and today we get to spend some time with Amy Stoffel. I love what Amy has to say about inspiration.

“First and foremost, I am a mom and wife. I’m also an avid reader, writer, collector, cook and more! I like to keep myself busy and occupied and pretty much every nook and cranny and even under the bed is filled with projects and book and boxes full of vintage treasures.

I live in sunny Tucson Arizona with my husband Brandon and our two sons Jacob and Braden. We have two pitbulls, Rex and Motor and an occasional porch cat that we call Cat. We live on a big acre of land, that I am constantly trying to keep all the dirt outside where it belongs…yet all my “boys” seem to love to track it in daily. So I should add cleaner to my list of activities.

I got my start designing in early 2008, really just on a whim….like a “I think I might try and make something” kind of thing. That’s just kind of the way I am though, aspiring but completely at the mercy of my wild ideas. I design in Photoshop 7.0 which is practically a dinosaur these days, but every time I try a new program, I find myself coming back to PS7 like an old security blanket.

How I chose my design name is probably the most boring thing ever! It’s my name… along with it also being my forum name, sometimes I wish I had chosen something more creative. My tag line is live.capture.create, as in live your life, capture it by photographing and documenting and creating scrapbook pages to maintain the memories.

People ask designers all the time…what’s your inspiration. I find this question the hardest to answer. Because what doesn’t inspire me? My life, my emotions, music, family, colors, seasons, clothing sometimes just weird phrases or a word will pop up in my head and I design them. There is inspiration around you constantly, and it is the unique ability of a truly creative soul to turn that into something tangible. I find myself using shades of orange (my favorite color) teal and gray most often. My work has changed so much since my first kits, there is so much more consistency and reason to the things I put together now! I’m embarrassed (and flattered) when people will tell me that they have my older kits and freebies!”

I love seeing the pages that designers make with their own products and Amy shared a couple of layouts with us, pointing out that she loves to scrap with her kits. After all that was why she started designing! This first layout is made with Honey Bear.

Next is a layout Amy made with Mangiamo! Yummy!

Amy has created a wonderful kit Time Flies that is available free with a $10 purchase in the ScrapMatters store now through February 28th.

Here are some layouts the creative team have created with Time Flies.

Carpe Diem by Catgoddess

and Time Flies by Emmyxlou

Here are the details for the FWP.

Click on over to Amy’s shop to find more of  her wonderful designs! You can find her blog here and her Facebook page here.