What do you want to learn more about? [Archive]

DarleneH

09-18-2006, 07:51 AM

I have made templates by using simple black shapes (pre-measured 4x6" rectangles, for example) and keeping each layer separate. (Keep your background transparent.) Then, when you're ready to use the template, you just insert the photo, patterned paper, etc. right above the layer you want to "assign" it to; do a control +G (on the pc) to create a clipping mask. Continue until all your layers are filled, and fill the background in with whatever you like. It's really simple. There are probably other ways to make templates, but this one is easy and works for me.

IreneO

09-18-2006, 09:46 AM

This is basically how I do it too but I prefer to use the "Paste Into" method when creating my layout. (see Priss' instructions in another thread)

I have been saving my individual layers as pngs so people who don't have Photoshop can use them too. I have seen some created as tiffs, but the file sizes are HUGE!

Just Jan

09-18-2006, 11:41 AM

This is great information! There are times when I am making a whole album that I would like to be able to make my own templates. Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge:)

Sharpli

09-19-2006, 01:58 PM

Files created in elements 4 and saved as pngs open as a flat file in Digital Image Pro, so that trick dowsn't work for some people.

I don't know about PSP - perhaps it works there.

Sharpli

09-19-2006, 02:00 PM

Irene, I just reread your post and realized that you meant you were saving as multiple files - not just one png file with layers. Sorry.

IreneO

09-19-2006, 05:28 PM

No problem, Sharpli. Sometimes I need to explain myself a bit better - lol

PeggyNC

09-20-2006, 07:23 AM

I love, love templates and am converting all of my LO sketches to templates. Woo hoo! I like to use shades of grey for my template shapes, since many of my templates use layers on layers (a scrapping style I just love).

Priss

09-20-2006, 12:39 PM

What an interesting thread, Scrappers. Great information here! THANKS!

craftymomtwo

09-21-2006, 09:21 AM

scoobie81

09-21-2006, 09:46 AM

Great info on making the templates!!! Thanks to all - now I'd like more info on using my clone tool! I've just recently started using it in PSCS2 and can't figure out how to choose exactly "where" I want to pull the clone info from.

tzigane70

09-21-2006, 10:25 AM

It really depends on what you are covering.
most time i pull from close by and from at least two sides of what i am covering.trying to keep it natural is hard by with alot of pratice it can be done.

IreneO

09-21-2006, 10:52 AM

The key to using the clone tool, I think, is to be patient. Do a little at a time.
Re-sample often.

videovik

10-06-2006, 08:06 AM

I'd like to see more "Special Effects" recipes - ala blending modes --

amandathor

10-07-2006, 03:04 PM

back to the template question...

How do you make them with pages you've already made? Do you just put a layer of grey/black/whatever over the papers you already have on there? It seems like that would make the file so big.

Also, how do you make she shapes with the effects on them--such as ragged edge borders. Again, is it just a matter of putting a color over your original paper? Do you not need to rasterize the layer or anything?

Sorry if this seems dumb based on answers that have already been given. I just have some layouts i'd like to replicate but want to make sure I'm doing it right.

kaos

10-10-2006, 07:22 PM

Hi everyone--
I'm interesting learning more about blending modes, actions,
and pen tools. I use a wacom tablet but I'm sure I'm vot using it to it's full potential.
Kay

NMarti

10-11-2006, 05:55 AM

I want to learn Word Art. This is such a big part of the layout and I want to learn some guidelines for creating the lovely multi-font, multi-size, multi-directional words grouped in a saying that look so great on pages.

chris.orrell

10-11-2006, 07:47 AM

Hi amandathor, any layouts you have already done can be used as templates as long as they havent been flattened. just make a copy of the file and then just move different photos, papers etc onto the layout one level above the original photo or papers and (ctrl g) group the layerwith the previous layer.
is this as clear as mud? hope it helps.:confused:

IreneO

10-11-2006, 01:45 PM

I posted a tut on Word art in this thread:
http://scrappersguide.com/forums/showthread.php?t=157&highlight=word

poogie369

10-11-2006, 04:01 PM

I posted a tut on Word art in this thread:
http://scrappersguide.com/forums/showthread.php?t=157&highlight=word

Thanks Irene. I checked this out. I would love to know more about how to create my own layer styles.
sandy

IreneO

10-11-2006, 09:21 PM

To create your own layer styles, click on the "f" icon and then on blending options. Play with the settings there until you get something you like. Then you can save that as a style to re-use again and again by clicking on new style.
Give it a name (tip: put your own name as part of the name so you remember it is one you created yourself!).
Make sure you've checked off "Include Layer Effects" and "Include Layer Blending Options"
Click OK.
Now you've saved it but it isn't a permanent save yet. Click on the flyout arrow and go to save styles. You can save just one style or if you've created a bunch of let's say, metal styles, you can save them as a group.
Hope that's clear - lol - let me know if it's not!

amandathor

10-15-2006, 12:25 PM

thanks for the info. I was just concerned about my file size getting too large for posting if I started layering papers on top of papers.

Thanks for the reply!

Hi amandathor, any layouts you have already done can be used as templates as long as they havent been flattened. just make a copy of the file and then just move different photos, papers etc onto the layout one level above the original photo or papers and (ctrl g) group the layerwith the previous layer.
is this as clear as mud? hope it helps.:confused:

digigal

11-06-2006, 07:22 AM

I would like to learn how to make a ragged edge matte that takes the shape of a picture. It looks so easy to do (maybe just brush in black?) in which you just "control G." I recently have seen some with embedded edging of words and semi-translucent areas (more brushwork) which show the bg paper which are spectacular!

dmrdm

11-11-2006, 06:24 AM

I would love to learn more about making text look neat. Seems mine always looks flat. Have played with bevel and emboss and strokes, etc, but don't seem to find a combination that really makes it look professional.

:rolleyes:

IreneO

11-24-2006, 12:18 PM

As discussed in another thread, there are lots of neat things about the selection brush. I'd love to learn about them!

jbirkey

12-29-2006, 07:22 AM

poogie369

12-29-2006, 10:49 AM

Thanks Irene! This thread dissapeared before I got your answer!

I would love to learn everything whether I think I need to or not! That's what I love about the premier membership. I am always amazed at what Linda comes up with! I thought I was happy when I started but the more I learn, the more blissful I get! Scary, huh? I'm so darned happy that I hate to leave my computer these days! When I get stuck on something to do, I always go back to the lessons. I have them all and review often. And something always comes out!

Sarah

12-29-2006, 12:53 PM

I would love to learn how to make sparkly, glittery elements. I love "bling".

jodee

12-29-2006, 08:29 PM

Gosh I need to learn soooo much it is hard to choose just one or two items that I would like to learn. I’m like IreneO, and would like to learn about making flourishes, and NMarti, how to make word art. Darn, let’s just say whatever I’m working on at the moment that I don’t know quite how to do – and believe me that seems to be every time I turn around. :confused:

Linda could teach anything, and I would be extremely happy because she probably has a better way to do it than the way I bumble around to get something accomplished. :o

Sissy

12-29-2006, 09:53 PM

I would love to learn everything whether I think I need to or not! That's what I love about the premier membership. I am always amazed at what Linda comes up with! I thought I was happy when I started but the more I learn, the more blissful I get! Scary, huh? I'm so darned happy that I hate to leave my computer these days! When I get stuck on something to do, I always go back to the lessons. I have them all and review often. And something always comes out!

Poogie, what you wrote about being so darned happy that you hate to leave the computer. Well, you've nailed me, too. As a matter of fact, I'm having Linda's tutorial withdrawal symptoms. I can't wait to get the January Premier issue and have something new to play with, and January 8th, the resumption of the Monday WBWT, can't get here soon enough!

carlalee

12-30-2006, 07:54 AM

This sounds like a fantastic idea, but don;t you find that doing template layouts this way takes up a ton of space on your computer when saved as a PSP layout? Saving them as a JPG would defeat the purpose I would think.

I have used a few layouts in the past few days and agree they make the layout go very fast--just don;t want to eat up my space.

Janet
Hi Janet - I have made a lot & acquired a lot of templates. The folder where I keep them is 452 MB (53 layout templates saved in .psd format). Opposed to the folder where I have all of my completed layouts which 3.11 GB for 53 completed layouts. Remember with the templates your are creating a sketch of sorts to follow. I don't have any of the "extras" saved with my templates, those being styles, shadows or things like that. This keeps the template files smaller. You can add the fun extras when you actually make the layout using the template. My templates by themselves avg between 3 - 12 MB where as my layouts go from 30 - 200 MB. When you are making your templates you are making a sketch to follow. You can make notes in text boxes if you'd like to remind you of ideas you have while creating, i.e. where embellishments might go or journalling boxes. An easy way to get started making your on templates is to scraplift a great idea. Find a fabulous layout somewhere (make note where it's at & who's it is for proper credit) then begin making your template using layers of coloured shapes. Here are a couple (http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/university/tutorials/lowlisa/Layouts_with_Lisa_1.1.shtml) of tutorials (http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/university/tutorials/lowlisa/pdf/Layouts_with_Lisa_2.pdf) (this is a PDF) that I found at the beginning of the year. When I found them I knew NOTHING about PS/PSE or for that matter digiscrapping. They helped me build a foundation for my layouts. Linda's WBWT and all of the tips I get from here have helped me to step it up a notch! HTH -c-

carlalee

12-30-2006, 08:07 AM

I make sketch templates, I'm even selling a few. They are really simple to make and really DO make things MUCH easier! I usually use one of my layouts or something as a basis for my sketches. I've been scrapping for a year and a half so I have LOTS of layouts! :D I just create a new layer for each "shape" and fill it with shades of gray and black and white. I keep it layered and do what was suggested earlier with using the clipping mask (for CS2 I believe it's Ctrl-Alt-G though) when I paste my papers into it. It makes it just a bit quicker than trying to get it the right size, kwim?
A trick I use is the magic wand. I open my template (sketch) then as I move papers in on top of each layer, instead of grouping, I use the magic wand to cut the paper to the right size. Then after my layout is done I can either delete the template layers out or merge the top paper layer on to the below template layer. You just need to be sure you are always using copies and NEVER save a "clipped" piece of paper to your original. Once I discovered this trick, I went back into all of my old layouts and was a clipping fiend! Some layouts were reduced in final size almost by half! HTH -c-

poogie369

12-30-2006, 12:03 PM

Poogie, what you wrote about being so darned happy that you hate to leave the computer. Well, you've nailed me, too. As a matter of fact, I'm having Linda's tutorial withdrawal symptoms. I can't wait to get the January Premier issue and have something new to play with, and January 8th, the resumption of the Monday WBWT, can't get here soon enough!

I know it Sissy! I feel like I'm in limbo at the moment. My dear husband to be got me a new monitor for christmas. He asked my daughter to get one black friday. Only thing is, she got me a wide screen. A square is a rectangle on it. It simply won't do! I could adjust the settings but it will make is a small monitor. So tomorrow, when we go out to dinner, I am picking out the most magnificent monitor I can afford! I want a big one so I can get up close and personal!!! lol I also need him to go back to work so I can get some serious scrapbooking done! I am so anxious to get back to my weekly lessons and the premier lesson.

Franny

01-01-2007, 10:59 AM

The thing I want to study is color settings etc. I know very little about it. I mailed a CD to my cousin for her to have printed. The green came out brown, but she said the layouts still looked good.

tzigane70

01-01-2007, 06:00 PM

color is funny on computers I recommend you calibrate your screen and depending on what form she was using to print. there are 3 kinds of color web,rgb and cmyk. the only one i really understand or had trainning with is cmyk and that is a printing press like for magazines or your ink jet printer. rgb is a tv or computer screen. web is a whole list of safe colors for desinging on the internet.they all print differently. hope some one else can pick up here or make it easier to understand.

Franny

01-01-2007, 08:27 PM

Thanks tzigane,
That info helps. I think I know where to start now. I am going to learn more about CMYK because those are what my injet printer has.

macadam

01-10-2007, 01:09 AM

Re: I would like to learn how to make a ragged edge matte that takes the shape of a picture. It looks so easy to do (maybe just brush in black?) in which you just "control G." I recently have seen some with embedded edging of words and semi-translucent areas (more brushwork) which show the bg paper which are spectacular!

I have a couple of "masks" downloaded from the web, but I understand it is possible to make my own versions? :confused:

Thank you

Terri

craftyperson

01-10-2007, 02:29 AM

I would like to learn how to make screenshows. Where I can take 5 pictures and rotate it on display. Is that possible in CS2?

tzigane70

01-21-2007, 06:37 AM

do you want to view them on the computer like a screen saver?Google slide show or screen saver software most of the slide show stuff use jpegs and tiff so it does not matter if you use Photoshop.

tzigane70

01-21-2007, 06:42 AM

oh and a free one for making screen savers would be Photo to exe it is easy to use.but i am not sure how great the quality is with it.

tirzam

01-21-2007, 03:15 PM

I upgraded my photoshop from 6 to CS2. Do I need to leave 6 installed?:confused: The reason I ask is when I went to Add/Remove programs it says I use 6 frequently and the last use date was the same as the last use date for CS2.

tzigane70

01-21-2007, 03:24 PM

I am not sure how the upgrades work sorry i can not help!

Wendy

01-21-2007, 03:38 PM

Hi ...

No you don't need to leave it installed ... :)

Wendy

maggiemaylove

01-22-2007, 11:25 AM

tirzam

01-22-2007, 06:31 PM

Thanks for the help.

time2scrap

02-25-2007, 07:00 AM

I'd like to learn how to make heritage pages--colors, elements, blending, and samples, I haven't seen very many heritage pages. What is everyone else doing about creating heritage albums. I love Linda's CD's and lessons, and I know she is veeeerrrrrrrry busy; however, if she ever runs out of ideas for the WBWT, but, of course, she won't, but just in case, just an idea--I'd love to see her do a month of WBWT on heritage pages.

Priss

02-25-2007, 12:39 PM

The most beautiful Heritage pages are available right here --packed with the V5 Training CD --Julie Mead built some extraordinary Family Yearbook templates, and there are tons of things in the kit that's included with that. But as wonderful (maybe even more-so) is designer Jenny Binder's exclusive TWO CD "A Formal Heritage (http://www.scrappersguide.com/products_el.html)" with complete Formal Heritage Layouts and elements, and papers, and and and. I have used that more than any Heritage kit from anywhere, and recommend it highly.

(AND watch for more news about "A Formal Heritage" coming up) Get them if you don't have them. Also We do have a brand new forum up for you to post your heritage work, with the "Family Yearbook templates Family Yearbook (http://www.scrappersguide.com/forums/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=647) so be sure to take a look.

time2scrap

02-25-2007, 05:18 PM

Thanks Priss.

I really do love Jenny Binder's Formal Heritage works. They're wonderful. However, I was thinking about something a little less formal. Maybe she will have some additional cd's for heritage pages that are a little less formal in the future. Of course, anything she creates, I'm sure will be great, and I will be at the front of the line to buy them.

I didn't realize that the Family Yearbook templates would be suitable for heritage pages. I thought they were just month-by-month templates for recent photos. I'll take another look at them from a different perspective.
Thanks for the ideas.

Franny

03-05-2007, 03:01 PM

Since Jenny leaves the layers in her Formal Heritage CD, I have been able to make them less formal by unchecking the layer I want to leave out. I have also been able to move elements from one layout to another and change the colors at will. They are great!

Franny

03-05-2007, 03:04 PM

This may not be the place to learn this, but now that I have completed some of my family albums, I want to label my CD's and cases. I was wondering if there was any secret to doing this to look really nice. I think you can design the layouts in Photoshop, but what kind of paper or film do you print it on and do they glue right on the CD itself?

Sarah

03-05-2007, 03:17 PM

I will be interested in hearing what others have experienced but from my experience I would say don't ever glue anything to your CD. I did it to one of my CD's and almost lost my pictures. The CD became unusable. Fortunately, I was able to get all the paper off.

Franny

03-05-2007, 03:21 PM

Thanks for the reply, Sarah. Actually I have had a Memorex CD label maker for about three years and have been afraid to use it. But-how do the professionals do it is what I am wondering.

Dot

03-05-2007, 05:30 PM

Some printers will print right on a special type of cd or dvd after you have burned it. I have not had the nerve to try this yet but my printer will do it.

NMarti

03-05-2007, 06:03 PM

Dot
I have the Epson R300 that does it. I have done it dozens of times when I catalogued my photos and it works great. I have maybe messed up 2 CD's in about 150 that I did by it slipping out of the tray and scratching.

Applying labels to CD's / DVD's is a major NO-NO according to manufacturers. It throws the spin out of balance. I have had some music cd's get stuck and not play and also a DVD mess up because they were not spinning even when I used those labels. Now I print them directly on the CD or use a special pen to label them. Be aware - you have to have printable CD's though - not just any CD will work.

Franny

03-07-2007, 10:08 AM

I got a new computer last year. It has Lightscribe, but I have not learned how to do it. I really did not like the yucky gray and gold color. My granddaughter told me that the professionals use a really expensive thing to do it. So we are leaning here.

sueboop

03-08-2007, 09:50 AM

I just had a new DVD drive with Lightscribe installed in my computer. Can't for the life of me figure out how to use nor have I had time. If anyone knows how to use, I would love to know how. After the drive was installed, I realized I had to reformat the hard drive on the computer, so I am still recovering from that and putting things back on my computer while working a full time job all of a sudden with overtime. YIKES. Too much going on to even do the WBWT. This month's plan looks wonderful. Want to be able to get going on that maybe this weekend.

Franny

03-08-2007, 09:54 AM

Sue, If and when I figure it out I will let you know.

sable51

03-15-2007, 06:18 PM

Hi,

I would like to learn how to make the color chips or whatever they are called that you see in so many of the kits.

Diane :)

Priss

03-15-2007, 07:50 PM

Please be sure to visit the WBWT Forums (http://www.scrappersguide.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=51) for the Album in a Month Challenge. I have a tutorial there for how to do this in this week's support forum. It's just the greatest thing to have when you are designing papers yourself, or wanting to recolor papers you find--and won't you join in on the fun of creating an Album in a Month? Are you a weekly e-zine subscriber (http://www.scrappersguide.com)with all Linda's Week By Week Technique Tips and Guidelines.