theBlog @reneepearson.com
Wanna Learn How — Create a Text Border
The winner of the Creating Keepsakes subscription giveaway is commenter #2, Joscie who commented:
I love when CK offers Digital Scrap Tips. and a chance to win a subscription to a mag I love, well that’s just icing on the cake!
Congratulations Joscie!
Hey RP fans! Deena Boese from Creating Keepsakes magazine back with another quick and easy Photoshop tutorial! I tend to love simple yet strong pages. The old adage “less is more” repeatedly calls my name. But while I love to create simple pages, sometimes they need just a little something extra. So what do you do without adding more “fluff”? Create design with your text! This week I’ll show you how to take an ordinary title and integrate it into your layout design.
Creating a text border is a great way not only to separate photos and paper; it adds a great design element to any project while still keeping the page simple and the focus on the photo.
Wanna learn how simple it is to create these fun text borders? Read on! (more…)
Wanna Learn How: Edit Photos Like A Pro
The winner of the Creating Keepsakes subscription giveaway is commenter #3, Debbie Joegenson who commented:
Great info. I’d love to win a subscription.
Congratulations Debbie!
Hey RP fans! Deena Boese from Creating Keepsakes magazine back at the table with another quick and easy Photoshop tutorial! This week we’ll focus on our photos and how much of an influence they make on the overall look of our scrapbook layouts.
There is a lot to be said for the casual images you snap yourself and the emotional ties we have to them. The problem? Sometimes the quality falls short of our expectations. Well, I have good news! You don’t have to be a professional photographer to enjoy the impact you get from professional shots. Even photos snapped on AUTO can rival those pro shots you love. The secret? The magic happens long after the shutter button is ever released.
The fact is nearly every photo can benefit from simply adjusting three aspects in Photoshop: Sharpness, Light, and Contrast. And it’s easier than you think! Now, there are literally hundreds of different and involved ways to edit photos in Photoshop, but after several years this easy technique still proves to be my favorite always producing dramatic results. With a few simple steps, you can take a standard photo from this:
to this:
Wanna learn how simple it is to edit photos like a Pro? Read on! (more…)
Wanna Learn How: Selectively Color a B&W Photo
The winner of the Creating Keepsakes subscription giveaway is commenter #5, Kathi Heifner who commented:
I have Photoshop Elements and haven’t learned all the tricks. Thanks for the tip, can’t wait to try.
Congratulations Kathi!
Hey RP fans! Deena Boese from Creating Keepsakes magazine back at the table with another quick and easy Photoshop tutorial! This week’s tip comes from the request of last month’s tutorial reader Melinda. She wrote:
We’ve all seen those stunning black and white photos with a single item highlighted with a bright pop of color. If you’ve ever wondered how to recreate this look yourself, today is your day! There are probably a dozen different ways to add selective color to a black and white image in Photoshop. But today I’m going to show you my favorite quick and easy technique that can take a photo from blah to beautiful in under 5 minutes.
With just a few clicks of the mouse you can transform an ordinary photo from this:
to this:
Wanna learn how simple it is to selectively color a black and white photo? Read on! (more…)
Wanna Learn How: Seamless Photo Backgrounds
The winner of the Creating Keepsakes subscription giveaway is commenter #2, Linda Palmer who commented:
Thank you for an excellent tutorial. Easy to understand and follow. I love learning something new.
Congratulations Linda!
Hey RP fans! Deena Boese from Creating Keepsakes magazine back at the table with another quick and easy Photoshop tutorial! This week I was talking with a reader who was in love with magazine ads and wished she knew how to design her layouts with a similar look. As we talked, we agreed on a couple of factors that contribute to the designer look she was after:
1) A large focal point photo that spans the width of the ad, and
2) Bold graphic text that’s integrated with the image.
She immediately said she was drawn to full-page photos but didn’t know what to do when her photo background ran out before her layout canvas did. Ah ha! Enter Photoshop!
With an array of Photoshop super tools at our fingertips it’s easy to duplicate or clone backgrounds to get that margin to margin image we love. While this technique won’t necessarily work on photos with busy backgrounds, it’s a gem on photos with backgrounds featuring solid colors (think walls and fabric) or nature (think grass, sky, water and sand). By extending your photo backgrounds you create the perfect place to house titles, journaling, and even design elements! Here are a few examples of the impact an extended photo background can make on a layout.
Turning 3 by Deena Boese, as seen in the July/August 2012 issue of Creating Keepsakes magazine.
My SuperHero by Deena Boese, as seen in the January 2010 issue of Creating Keepsakes magazine.
God’s Beauty by Deena Boese, as seen in the April 2008 issue of Creating Keepsakes magazine.
Uncontainable Joy by Deena Boese, as seen in the December 2009 issue of Creating Keepsakes magazine.
Wanna learn how simple it is to create seamless photo backgrounds? Read on! (more…)
Wanna Learn How: Create and Use Gradients
The winner of the Creating Keepsakes subscription giveaway is commenter #1, Ava who commented:
The only times I’ve used gradients are those with tutorials that I can follow. Looks like I have to practice just a little bit more…thanks Deena. I always love your lay-outs.
Congratulations Ava! 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 just dipping her feet into the digital waters. She commented that her first digital layout was looking “flat” and unfinished. She wanted to know if I had a favorite trick that was easy, versatile and added that extra finishing touch. I gotta admit. This girl made me think! Then it hit me. Gradients! I use them in almost every project I design. From blending colors, to adding shadow depth, to editing photos…this trusty solution is one I always rely on. Let’s take a look at some of the fun and easy ways gradients can be used!
Foreground to Background
Here is an example of a basic gradient that blends a foreground color of blue with a background color of green. Try layering a gradient over textured paper and applying a blending mode for added depth.
I Adore by Deena Boese, as seen in the August 2009 issue of Creating Keepsakes magazine
Foreground to Transparent
This layout uses a gradient from a foreground color of white to transparent. The transparent grade at the bottom of the layout allows the patterned paper to show then graduates to crisp opaque white at the top.
Lavender Eyes by Deena Boese
Photo Effects
Here I set my foreground color to blue and selected the FOREGROUND TO TRANSPARENT gradient option to add a beautiful blue sky to my photos.
Captivate by Deena Boese, as seen in the Budget Friendly Scrapbooking issue of Creating Keepsakes magazine
Create Housing for Text
Another great trick is to use a black to transparent gradient over a photo or busy patterned paper to create a home for a title or journaling.
Wanna learn how simple it is to create and use gradients? Read on! (more…)
Wanna Learn How: Replacing Color
The winner of the Creating Keepsakes subscription giveaway is commenter #2, Chrystiana Miller who commented:
Thanks for the tutorial!
Congratulations, Chrystiana Miller! 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 Tenika. She wrote:
The fact that we, as digital memory keepers, can alter and recolor any item is one of the major benefits of digital scrapbooking! We can create custom looks, recolor any paper to match our photos, and double (or triple) the life of every product we have in our digital library! While using the well-known Hue/Saturation Adjustment will change the entire color value of a product, there are sometimes we just want to alter a single color while leaving the others intact. What to do? Let me introduce you to “Replace Color”!
Wanna learn how simple it is to replace color in papers and elements? Read on!
In Photoshop, open the patterned paper you wish to recolor. Select Image>Adjustments>Replace Color.
With the eyedropper tool already selected, click on the area of the paper you wish to recolor. Here I sampled the tan background color. In the dialog box, you’ll notice the image portions in the tan value have turned from black to white.
For this example, we’re changing the tan background color to a crisp white. To do this, simply adjust the Lightness slider all the way to +100 and click OK.
Let’s say we have a photo with a green background and want to change the blue flowers in the paper to green. Once again, select Image>Adjustments>Replace Color.
With the eyedropper tool already selected, click on the blue color value in one of the flowers. Again, you’ll notice image portions in the dialog box have turned from black to white. This time adjust the Hue slider until you reach the desired green value. You can also play with the Saturation and Lightness sliders to get the exact color you desire.
Success! Use this technique to create custom looks and breathe new life into digital papers and elements you already own.
And now you know! Try altering a single color in a paper or element, or go crazy and adjust them all to create a one-of-a-kind product, color-designed specifically for your photos! 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.
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
Tutorial: How to Replace Color
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…)