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Wanna Learn How — Create Your Own Text Paths
The winner of the Creating Keepsakes subscription giveaway is commenter #1, Julia M in MI who commented:
I am new to the blog, so I hope I am not mentioning something that has been done before. I have not learned how to do extractions. I would like to learn that technique. Thanks for the chance to win!
Congratulations, Julia M in MI! Please send us an email to claim your prize.
Hey RP fans! Deena Boese from Creating Keepsakes magazine back at the table with another Photoshop tutorial! This week’s tip comes from the request of last month’s tutorial reader Sharon Grey. She wrote:
While text paths look complex, they are actually super simple! The secret lies in a little icon in the options bar called “Paths”. I’ll introduce you in a bit! First, a little disclaimer/history lesson.
Photoshop has always had the capability to create text along a path. Photoshop Elements, however, has taken a little longer to jump on board. I was excited to see that the new release of Photoshop Elements 10 provides text path capabilities! Users of PSE 9 and earlier, however, aren’t so lucky. If this is you, be sure to check out the DOWNLOADS section at the end of the post. I’ve created a downloadable text path that will work in PSE!
Now, back to using text paths.
Shaped text adds great interactive movement to a page and engages the reader. It can also serve as a great design element on a page and is perfect for those layouts where journaling space is limited. Here’s a layout where I wanted my photos to remain center stage so I added my journaling in a rectangle text path which highlights, instead of distracts, from my photos.
The Undeniable Bond by Deena Boese, as seen in the February 2011 issue of Creating Keepsakes magazine.
But text paths aren’t just limited to straight edges. You can create paths along circles, ovals, or any custom shape you desire. In this layout, the text path follows an oversized exclamation point.
Mom! by Deena Boese, as seen in the June 2009 issue of Creating Keepsakes magazine.
Wanna learn how simple it is to create your own text paths? Read on!
1. In Photoshop, create a new layer and select the ELLIPSE TOOL (U). Make sure the PATHS icon is selected in the options bar.
2. Select the HORIZONTAL TYPE TOOL (T) and choose your font, size and text color. Ensure the alignment is set to LEFT ALIGN TEXT. With your cursor, click at the beginning of your path where you want the text to start.
3. Type your text and adjust the point size and tracking to create the perfect fit. Once completed, you can use the MOVE TOOL (V) to move and rotate your finished text.
And now you know! Once you’ve mastered the basic shapes, try experimenting with the Custom Shape Tool for endless shaped-text possibilities or use the Pen Tool to draw your own designs! I hope you have fun discovering creative ways to use this fun and easy technique in your layouts! For easy reference, I’ve included a PDF handout you can download and add to your “Wanna Learn How” library. And as a bonus gift, I’ve also included this word art graphic you can download for FREE!
As I mentioned before, if you own Photoshop Elements 9.0 or earlier, I’ve included a PSE compatible circle text path template just for you.
As always, we want to hear from you! Have you seen a digital technique that made you say, “Oooh! I wanna learn how to do that!”? Leave a comment to let us know what techniques you want to see here. I have a free one-year subscription to Creating Keepsakes magazine in my hands that will go to one random (and lucky) commenter. So be sure to drop us a line to be entered in the drawing!
Good luck!
DOWNLOADS
How To Wrap Text Around A Shape
Word Art Graphic
Circle Text Path for PSE
Wanna Learn How: Distorting Shapes
Hey RP fans! Deena Boese from Creating Keepsakes magazine back at the table with another Photoshop tutorial! I was recently talking with a reader who mentioned that all her digital layouts were starting to look the same. She was seeing the same boxy grid designs reappear throughout her albums and wanted to learn how to add some visual variety. I encouraged her to get to know the Photoshop mode called “Free Transform”. It allows you to take any shape and add perspective or distort the edges to create modern shapes. So today we’re going to break out of our box and shake things up a bit with this super simple technique.
Here’s a layout where I used Free Transform to add interest to my text boxes and help create additional movement.
What’s Cool? by Deena Boese, as seen in the July/August 2010 issue of Creating Keepsakes magazine.
In this layout, I used it to create the slanted rays as well as skew my title text.
State of Mind by Deena Boese, as seen in the February/March 2009 issue of Digital Scrapbooking magazine
Wanna learn how? Read on! (more…)
Wanna Learn How: Span Across Multiple Frames
The winner of the Creating Keepsakes subscription giveaway is commenter #14, Kyla who commented:
Wow, thanks for the tip. I always wondered how to do that.
Congratulations, Kyla! Please send us an email to claim your prize.
Hey RP fans! Deena Boese from Creating Keepsakes magazine back at the table with another Photoshop tutorial! I was recently talking with a reader who was trying to create a triptych effect on a layout. She wanted to have a portion of a single photo appear in multiple frames on her layout but was struggling. “I’ve seen it done in the magazine” she said, “but I just can’t figure out how to do it.” When I showed her the following solution she was surprised. “Wow! That’s so simple! Why didn’t I think of that?!?” Ha. Don’t you just love it when something seemingly difficult turns out to be super simple? I know I do!
Here’s the effect we’re talking about…
Wanna Learn How: Create A Pop Art Effect
The winner of the Creating Keepsakes subscription giveaway is commenter #1, Amy H who commented:
Thanks Deena! I’ve been using PS for years now but it’s hard to keep up on all the new bells and whistles. This top is just what I need to add to the fun of my hobby. Can you do a tip on how to tweak the settings of the magnetic lasso? I’ve tried to use it to extract the subject from the background but I think I’m missing some important piece to help smooth the edges without getting the background.
Congratulations, Amy! Please send us an email to claim your prize.
Hey RP fans! Deena Wuest from Creating Keepsakes magazine back at the table with another Photoshop tutorial! It’s wonderful to hear from so many of you who are just starting out in Photoshop! Isn’t it exciting?!? The day I created my first digital layout I felt like a whole new world of creative possibilities was unleashed. The more I learned, the more I WANTED to learn. And it sounds like this is ringing true for so many of you out there as well. That’s awesome! So let’s do what we love and talk digi!
Last month, I got excited when I read this reader comment…
Yes! Thank you, Mary! Special photo effects like this is where the digi girl can shine and impress the socks off her traditional paper scrapping sister. There are many complex ways to achieve the Andy Warhol-inspired pop art look in Photoshop, but I’ve discovered a super simple way that takes just minutes and will transform a photo from…
Here’s how! (more…)
Wanna Learn How: Create an Outline in Photoshop
Hey RP fans! Deena Wuest from Creating Keepsakes magazine back at the table with another Photoshop tutorial!
I was recently talking with a reader who was scratching her head over how to create outlines in Photoshop. She told me that she learned how to use the Rectangular or Elliptical Marquee Tool along with the Stroke command to create square or circle outlines. But it stopped there. She couldn’t figure out how to create an outline from any additional shapes. So today let’s talk outlines!
They’re actually very easy to create. Here’s how! (more…)
Wanna Learn How: Create a Reflection Effect
Hey RP fans! Deena Wuest from Creating Keepsakes magazine back at the table with another Photoshop tutorial! This week a reader asked me how to create a reflection effect in Photoshop, so that’s what we’ll be talking about today. There are several ways to achieve a reflective result but my favorite way is to use a gradient on a layer mask. Layer masks are brilliant because they can be altered, revised or even deleted without harming their linked layers. And we love that because it means we can experiment without fear!
Here’s a layout that shows an example of an indirect reflection effect in the title.
As seen in the May/June 2011 issue of Creating Keepsakes magazine. Copyright Creative Crafts Group. Posted with prior permission from the publisher.
This look is actually really easy to achieve. Here’s how!
Wanna Learn How: Artistic Photo Background
The winner of the Creating Keepsakes subscription giveaway is commenter #5, Tracy G who commented:
I want to learn how to use shadow styles, especially for Photoshop Elements. I love the drop shadow look, but am not sure how to maximize the capabilities of Elements for this technique.
Congratulations, Tracy! Please send us an email to claim your prize.
How to Create an Artistic Photo Background
Hey RP fans! Deena Wuest from Creating Keepsakes magazine back at the table with yet another Photoshop tutorial!
I always love hearing from readers about techniques they see online or in the magazine. Often times they want to recreate a certain look but want step by step instructions because they are scared they will do it “wrong”. So I’m here today to remind you there is no “right or wrong” in digital scrapbooking; only fun and creative expression! There are probably a dozen different ways to accomplish the same look in Photoshop and no one way is better than another. Once you know a few basics, it’s all about playing, trying and experimenting with different combinations to get the look you want.
The latest question I received was regarding how to create an artistic photo background for a layout. If you are at all familiar with adjustment layers and blending modes, my short answer would be “Go play!” Try duplicating your photo layer with multiple effects. Try different blending modes. Play with opacity. Test color. Just go have fun in the virtual playground that is Photoshop. If you’re just dipping in your feet in the digital waters, today I’m going to walk through one of the many ways to take an ordinary less-than-stellar photo like this…
and turn it into this…
Here’s how! (more…)
Wanna Learn How: Create A Filmstrip Frame
The winner of the Creating Keepsakes magazine subscription from Tuesday is CarolS, commenter #5, who wrote “OOOOh! I love this! Thanks so much for the great tutorial, I’m going to use it for some of the kids’ Halloween photos.” Congratulations, CarolS! Please email us to claim your prize.
Hey RP fans! Deena Wuest from Creating Keepsakes magazine back at the table with yet another Photoshop tutorial! We asked you, the readers, what specific digital trick or technique you wanted to learn and you have certainly responded. Thank you! This week, we’re taking a reader request from Eunice which reads:
Filmstrips are so versatile and add such a fun element to a layout or card. While you can buy them at digital scrapbook stores, they can be costly and you might not always find them in the exact dimensions or photo orientation you need. So today we’re going to walk through how to create one of your own. Let’s get started! (more…)
Wanna Learn How: Creating Digital Brushes
The winner of the Creating Keepsakes subscription is commenter #4, Anna. Please contact us at info@reneepearson.com to claim your prize.
Hey, RP fans! Deena Wuest from Creating Keepsakes back with another “Wanna Learn How” tutorial! Have you had one of those “wanna learn” moments this last month? I appreciate all the comments and emails I’ve received which are quickly lengthening our How To list! That’s awesome! I’ve had several readers shout, “Hey, I wanna learn how to create brushes!” so today we’re talking digital brushes! (more…)
How to Design a Blinkie in Photoshop
Hey RP fans! Don’t you love the inspiring new blog? I’m Deena Wuest, Contributing Writer for Creating Keepsakes magazine and I’m so excited to be here! I’ll be dropping by once a month to sit down with you, talk shop (digi-style) and share a handy tip, technique or tutorial.
We’ve all done it. We’re flipping through a magazine or browsing an online gallery when we see something that stops us in our tracks and makes us utter, “Ooo! I wanna learn how to do that!” So each month we’ll be tackling a new skill that appears on our virtual How To list. We’ll be chatting about something different each time but our first request is how to design web blinkies. We see them everywhere. Websites, advertisements, forums and blogs all contain those friendly little guys that wave us in and grab our attention. While lots of people think you’d have to be a techy wiz to construct one, they are actually very easy to create! Wanna learn how?
Here we go! (more…)