Fonts as Titles

By Michelle Bradshaw

 

There are so many wonderful fonts available and they are a wonderful option for a title if there isn’t an alpha set from your kit. Even if you find a font you like, it just might not look too good as a title.

Here are some tips to manipulate the font and still have it create a wonderful title.

Thin fonts- Example 1- Papyrus; Example 2- Scriptina Notice how thin the font appears

Next we will manipulate the font for a thicker appearance.

Duplicate the text layer [ctrl/cmd +j]- Sometimes that is all that is needed to give the font an extra boost.

If still not to your liking, this next tip is an easy one. Click the zoom tool [keyboard shortcut ‘z’]. In the option bar select Actual Pixels. Switch to the Move tool [keyboard shortcut V] and using the arrow keys, nudge the new layer one pixel to the right.

Let’s look at other styles of font that could be used as a title that might need a bit of manipulation.

If there is a font where the letters are closer together than one wishes for a title such as

From the text option bar, select the character and toggle option and adjust the horizontal scale. The same can be done using the vertical scale if the font feels too short.

And here is the same font, same size and only the scale adjusted.

Experiment and see what works for your pages.

Happy Scrapping,

Michelle

Saving Hard Drive Space – part 2

By Michelle Bradshaw

 

I’m hoping everyone enjoyed the iNSD for May, 2013 and you were able to find many lovely digital supplies with all the super sales and freebies. Now it is the daunting task of unzipping, organizing and finally scrapbooking. Did you purchase so much that you now feel the need for another EHD?

Don’t dash to the store just yet, as I have a few tips that might just save some drive space.

After unzipping your kits, what do you do with those zipps? If you choose to save them, consider placing them onto DVD or moving them to a different drive location. If in the same place as your unzipped kit, you’ve increased the file size plus if your drive goes bad…there go both. [I delete them].

Here are a few others I do—

-Place all the items of a kit into the same folder, and only have an alpha folder inside.

-Alphas- keep either the individual letters OR the all in one, not both

-Templates-keep just the file format you use and delete the rest

-Previews-keep just one of the kit and delete the rest

-delete the MACOSX folder if there is one [I have PC, no need to keep]

- just one TOU, link to FB, or blog per designer, not one in each kit

 

For me, this just makes it easier and less cluttered.

All the best, happy scrapping.

Michelle

Blending Modes – Screen

By Michelle Bradshaw

In the layers palette for both Photoshop and Photoshop Elements is a dropdown box which by default says: Normal. Clicking the little triangle opens many choices. There have been tutorials written on using the various blending modes to show a layers interaction  with the one beneath.

When working on a layout recently, I wanted to use a lot of greenery in the cluster but did not want it to be the same color. From Capture the Moment by Stolen Moments Designs I opened this branch element.

My plan was to use this element many times and I wanted a variation of green shades.

Duplicate the layer [ctrl /cmd +j].  Change this new layer to blend mode – Screen.

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Notice how much lighter the element has become. If not light enough…duplicate again, and change the blending mode to screen. The opacity can also be adjusted to get just the right amount of color change. I did this a few times with this same element making each a slightly different shade.

And my LO, using the same greenery.

credits:

Capture A Memory by Stolen Moments  [some greenery recolored]

Just One More Picture by Clever Monkey Graphics

Captured by Green Eyed Lady Designs; Template by Christelle [thank you]; Font- Papyrus

Happy Scrapping.

Michelle

 

Saving Hard Drive Space

By Michelle Bradshaw

 

If you are a digital scrapper then most likely you are aware the Lay Outs take up a great deal of space on your hard drive. The reason…all those layers and layer styles! Yet it is so much fun. This tutorial will share information as to how to decrease those huge file sizes while still keeping the layered document.

I am starting with a template and I’ve clipped the papers from a kit. The photos were clipped to the photo spots. Various elements were also added. This psd has a file size of 625M.

Since I have the template, and I have the kit, I really do not need them full size twice. Next I start at the bottom and delete ‘background’ from the template. It isn’t needed anymore, as I’ve placed a paper from the kit as my background. Moving up to the next layer where you see a kit paper clipped to a template paper shape. The layer with the kit paper is active, then ctrl/cmd[mac] and click the image of the template piece below getting the marching ants. Select >inverse > delete [shortcut-ctrl/cmd +shift+I]. The entire 12 x 12 paper is not going to show on my page, so there isn’t a need to keep it thus decreasing document file size.

Copy the layer style from the template layer and paste it onto the item from the kit. Delete the template layer.

 

Continue in this manner eliminating the double layering or clipped layers.

With this layout, my psd file size has dropped from 625M to 158M. Taking it a step further,

Save as> TIFF with the following settings-

LZW / I /  IBM / ZIP and when the reminder box opens to let you know saving layers increases file size, just click ok.

My TIFF file size is 96M!

Although I scrap my pages as PSD, my final saving is usually TIFF [then I delete the PSD]

Credits for this LO- Ultimate You by Cluster Queen Creations; Gimme Layers Template 48 by Cluster Queen Creations;  Words Matter:Lucky You by Andilynn Designs and Brad from Life.Every.Day collab at ScrapMatters. Font for the date was Arial. Photos by Michelle Bradshaw.

Experiment and see how this might help you.

Happy Scrapping,

Michelle

Selection Tools

By Michelle Bradshaw

There are several selection tools in both Photoshop and Photoshop Elements. The tutorial will explore getting to understand their function and how they are very handy in manipulating parts of a photo or a scrapbook page.

The second group in the tool box contains- Marquee [elliptical and rectangular and the keyboard shortcut is 'm']; Lasso [regular, polygonal, magnetic and the keyboard short cut is 'L']; Magic Wand [keyboard shortcut W]; and the Quick Selection tool [also quick selection brush and keyboard shortcut 'A'].

In Photoshop, the quick selection tools are nested with the Magic Wand [keyboard shortcut 'W'].

These tools give you the Marching Ants once pixels are selected.

Marquee Tool [M]- note the option bar for specific adjustments that can be made while using this tool. I am going to select 2 of the sequins from this scatter. If I right click, and select Layer via cut, they can then be moved to another part on the page. [Product- My Happy Place by Stolen Moments Designs]

A handy tip- holding the shift key will ensure a perfect square or circle.

Lasso Tool [L] in the option bar, several options are the same as the marquee tool, however if the magnetic lasso is selected as in this example, there are more options to choose from. Based on the pixel width, contrast and frequency numbers it will affect how tightly the program recognizes the shell from the leaf and the sand.

And now the shell is in a new setting on the beach.

 

Magic Wand [W] offers the same first 4 selections in the option bar and also allows for a tolerance number to be placed along with your choice of contiguous or not for the color you are selecting. The default number is 32. This means wherever you click on your photo as a reference point ‘colors’ within “32″ will also be selected. Decrease the number if a more specific shade is needed. If contiguous is not checked, the color range will be selected on your entire photo. The magic wand is a speedy way to select things of similar color.

Here is a boring sky-

After deleting the sky, a new one was inserted.

Quick Selection [A] works much like brush where more control can be had to fine tune selections

**tips

Use the selection tools to apply changes to any part of a photo or scrapbook page. Depending on what is being selected, it is often helpful to switch between them. Also after selecting right click to view many more options.

Here is a page where I extracted flowers and a teddy away from the photo giving it an Out of Bounds effect.[Product- Forget Me Not by Andilynn Designs, Template by Meagan’s Creations.

 

Happy Scrapping,

Michelle

Creative Text using Filters
Part One
By Michelle Bradshaw

This tutorial is all about having fun and exploring more of your Photoshop Elements or Photoshop program. It is fun and easy too.

Step 1- create a new blank document. File > New> Blank File. In this example it is 3600 pixels wide and 1600 pixels tall with a 300 resolution. For ease of viewing, the background is filled with black. Select  a bold font [I chose Copperplate Gothic Bold] and type the word you wish to work with in white.

Step 2 – Create a new layer Layer>New>Layer and call it “Stroke”. In the layers palette ctrl +click [cmd ona a mac] on the text layer thumbnail. The marching ants will appear. With the stroke layer still active,

Edit> stroke > 8 pixels on the inside, and click ok. Depending on the size of your text, the pixel stroke may need to be adjusted.

Step 3- In the layers palette close off the text eyeball so only the stroke is visible.

Step 4- Duplicate the Stroke layer, ctrl+J [cmd on mac], and name it ‘blast’. Then close off the eyeball of the stroke layer.

Step 5- From the menu- Filter Stylize>Wind and choose the settings Method: Blast Direction: From the Right then click on OK.

To increase the effect, apply the filter again.

To see other effects with this same filter, duplicate the stroke layer again, and this time make the direction come from the left.

There are many ways to get creative using this filter.

I duplicated my burst event and moved the layers so I had a longer trail to ‘represent’ speed coming just from one side. Then filled some back in. Experiment and have fun.

Here is a layout I created using supplies from the current March Mix A Kit [MAK].

Credits: Dude-a- tude by Down This Road Designs [elements, papers], Frolic by Litabells [papers, elements], Put a Bird on It by Clever Monkey Graphics [plain papers, elements , alpha plus extras, Gimme  Layers Lite  Vol 14 by Cluster Queen Creations

Photos-Michelle Bradshaw [remote release]

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

Selective Coloring

By Michelle Bradshaw

Have you ever been in awe of those colorful pages where the kit is so outstanding yet you do not feel your photos work? Have you ever been intrigued to see just a pop of color and wonder how it happened? Yes, as always many ways to get creative with Adobe products.

 

Here is a favorite [and easy ] method of mine. All screen shots in Photoshop elements.

Step 1- duplicate the photo layer with ctrl/cmd [on mac] + j

Step 2- click on the adjustment layer icon [black/white circle] in the layers palette. When the pop up box opens, select Hue/ Saturation or chose Black and White .

Step 3- Move the Saturation indicator all the way to the left.

If selecting black and white instead, the individual colors may be adjusted with personal choice. See screen shot 3a.

Step 4- Clip to the layer below. From the menu: Layer >group with previous, or create clipping mask. The keyboard shortcuts are ctrl/cmd +g for Photoshop Elements or Ctrl/cmd+ alt/opt+g on a mac. One other option is to hover the mouse in the layers palette between the 2 layers holding down the alt/option key and click the divide between the layers. The clipping mask will then only effect the layer it is clipped to.

Step 5- With the mask box active and the color picker at the default black and white, click the brush tool and simply brush over the part where you wish to have the color show through from the layer below. The black on the foreground color picker, hides the brushing. If you brush away more than you wish, simply switch the color picker and have white as the foreground color [keyboard shortcut 'x' or click the middle of the double arrow]. If white is the foreground color, the brush will replace what was there before.

And here is the finished product.

I like this method instead of using the eraser as it is move mistake friendly.

Happy Scrapping

Michelle

 

 

Photo Transformation

By Michelle Bradshaw

According to my husband I should run a series of tutorials using tips to transform or manipulate photos. This one will be about a photo whose perspective is not what is wanted.  Some perspectives are awesome for photography and some are not. In this example, I was not able to get a good angle for either photo.                                                 The original result was less than desirable in my opinion but I least I had the photo. Duplicate the background layer [ctrl [cmd on mac] +j , which not only protects the original locked layer but will allow for transformation and stretch out your work space from the corner of your photo.                           From the menu above: [CS or Photoshop] Edit > transform > and note the options of: scale, rotate, skew, perspective, warp as well as Edit > free transform. Each of these will give handles on the bounding box and allow for a different manipulation. [Photoshop Elements] Image > transform [depending on version] skew, distort, perspective are the options, along with free transform.   Experiment as a means to learn more about your program. Each will produce a different effect on your photo. I often transform using free transform which has the shortcut Ctrl/cmd + t. For me, I feel I am more in control of the photo.   With ctrl/cmd+t selected, one can hold down the ctrl/cmd key, place the mouse cursor at just one of the handles and just manipulate there.                         The pair of tickets presented a slightly different dilemma, since they were photographed together. Using the polygonal lasso tool, L each was selected and moved to its own layer – then transformed.                         My LO after adjusting the photos.                                     Credits: [url=http://shop.scrapmatters.com/season-of-thankfulness-bundle-by-juno-designs.html]Season of Thankfulness Bundle[/url] by Juno Designs Great Escape [Ga state] by WM[squared] Template by Shaynesgirl Font- Century Gothic Photos- Michelle Bradshaw

Photography Shadows…the unwanted kind

I try to remind myself when I take photos that any photo is better than no photo at all. However there are times when I am disappointed in how the photo turns out because of the shadows on the subject.  The flash on the camera can be harsh. Here is an example of the original – no editing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now if I had the external flash on, chances are this would not have occurred. Since it did – it is time for a little Photoshop magic to remedy the situation.

** Remember to always work on a duplicate of your original photo.

Step 1 –Duplicate ctrl +J [cmd on mac] on your copy so that the photo is displayed on 2 layers in the layers palette as well as other lighting adjustments.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 2- Selection one of the selection tools you are most comfortable with. I usually select the quick selection tool [W- keyboard shortcut] or the magnetic lasso [L-keyboard shortcut. The tool of choice depends of the colors in the photo.  Now select the subject avoiding the shadow. Once selected and the marching ants are present, ctrl/cmd J this portion to its own layer.

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f you close off the lower layers, you can view your extraction and make any other adjustments.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 3- Return to layer 2, and have it active. We are now going to work on the background to get rid of the unwanted shadow. Again there are several tools available to do this. Options include- marquee tool [M], healing brush [J] or another option is the clone stamp tool [S].

Step 4- If the background is a single color [if you are lucky], simply use the marquee tool, select a “good” section, ctrl/cmd J and move it over to cover the shadow. Most likely, there will be some difference in shading of the colors in the background, in which case a combination of the healing brush and clone stamp might come in handy. For this example, I am using the clone stamp on its own layer. In the option bar above, I’ve checked to sample the current layer and below. Then alt/option [mac] and click to select a source [a background you are happy with] and simply brush the shadow away.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sometimes a bit of re-adjustment is needed.

To Test your progress, turn back on the eyeball of the extracted layer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once finished with the photo editing, here is the LO, using 30 days of Thanks by Crossbone Cuts Designs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are so many tips and tricks in the Adobe programs. I originally learned this one as well as many others from my dear mentor Priss Steelman and adapted to my own needs.

Happy Scrapping.

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