Movable Cutouts
Movable Cutouts
by Nannette Dalton
Cutouts are a fun design element on a scrapbooking page. They can add a little dimension to an otherwise flat looking page.
Maybe you find you are like me. You love the look of a cut out on a page, but you are a Ctrl Z kind of girl. What if, after you cut out that cute star, you decided to move it to a different place on your layout? I totally hear you! We like our options and the ability to change our minds if we want to—without a whole lot of trouble.
If this sounds like you, then I have a tutorial for you. Go ahead and cut away. In the end you can still feel free to change your mind at any time.
Step One: Prepare the Workspace
- Open a layered scrapbook page (File > Open) or other digital project.
- In the Layers panel, click to activate the layer that you want to cut out of. In this case, I’ve activated my gray background paper layer.
- Press the letter D to reset the Color Chips to the default of black and white.
Step Two: Create a Shape
- Get Custom Shape tool.
In Photoshop Elements: In the Tool Options, open the Custom Shape Picker and choose the 5 Point Star. If you don’t see the 5 Point Star, open the flyout menu and choose Large List. Then, open the drop-down menu and choose Shapes. Set the Style to None. Click on the Color Chip and choose white. Open the Geometry Options and choose Unconstrained. Click on the Create New Shape Layer icon.
In Adobe Photoshop: In the Tool Options, set the Tool Mode to Shape. Click on the Fill Color Chip, choose Solid Color and then click on white. Set the Stroke to None. Open the Path Operations and choose New Layer. Open the Geometry Options and choose Unconstrained. Open the Custom Shape Picker and choose the 5 Point Star. If you don’t see the 5 point star, open the flyout menu and choose Large List. Then, open the flyout menu, choose Shapes, and click OK to replace the shapes.
- On the scrapbook page, hold down the Shift key to maintain proportions and click and drag to create a star shape. Press and hold the Space Bar to reposition while dragging.
Step Three: Add a Style
Photoshop Elements Only:
This tutorial requires the ability to create a style that uses an Inner Shadow and Blend Modes. Because Photoshop Elements does not offer this option, I’ve provided a work around for you.
- Unzip the downloaded folder and install the DS-Cutout.asl file included in the folder. You can find instruction for how to load the style for Photoshop Elements HERE.
- With the shape layer as the active layer, open the Styles panel (Window > Styles) and click on the DS-Movable-Cutout-Style style to apply it to the shape.
Adobe Photoshop Only:
- In the Layers panel, make sure that the star shape layer is still active.
- In the Menu Bar, Choose Layer > Layer Style > Inner Shadow.
- In the dialog box, set the Blend Mode to Linear Burn. Click on the Color Chip, set the Hex# to 2f1708, and click OK. Set the Opacity to 60%, the Angle to 120°, the Distance to 9 px, the Choke to 6%, and the Size to 10 px. Click OK.
Step Four: Clip Paper to the Shape
- Open a patterned paper (File > Open) of your choice.
- Get the Move tool.
- On the document, holding down the Shift key, click and drag the paper onto the scrapbook page. The paper should be above the star shape in the Layers panel.
- In the Menu Bar, choose Layer > Create Clipping Mask.
- In the Layers panel, hold down the Shift key and click on the shape layer. Now both the paper layer and the shape layer should be active.
- In the Menu Bar, choose Layer > Merge Layers.
Step Five: Move the Shape
Here is the layout using my cute cut out stars… but wait, changed my mind. I want to move one of the stars.
- In the Layers panel, click on the shape layer to activate it.
- Get the Move tool.
- On the document, click on the shape and drag it into a new position.
I love that I can do that!
Here’s what my page looks like after I’ve repositioned the star.
Credits:
Page & Photo: Nannette Dalton
Kit: Duty Honor Country by Danyale Lewis
Font: Allura
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Author: Nannette Dalton | Contact Us
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Excellent! I did something like this the other day. The way I did it was with a mask. I ‘punched’ out a hole(star), added a drop shadow, un-linked the chain between the mask and the thumbnail, then, moved the mask around. I like positioning my punch-out over a cool part of the paper beneath it. But, your way is easier!
Thank you!
Su
Thanks for sharing your way of doing this. I hadn’t thought of using a mask. There really are many different ways of accomplishing the same tasks.
The only difference that I can see is, your way, the star becomes an element, whereas, with the mask, where ever you move it, you see the background beneath it that is static.
There are soooo many ways to do everything! LOL
Ahh, sis what a wonderful page you did on dad. I loved seeing his face when I opened up my email this morning. Your idea of punching out a shape was new to me. I always added things on top of the page, never thought to go the other direction. I will be doing this on my next Layout.
Thanks!
Hi April, So fun to have you pop in! I hope you do give the tutorial a try and thanks for the sweet words!
This is awesome! Love that they can be moved around. Thank you for sharing – going to try it tonight!
You always come up with such interesting fun ideas. Thanks once again for sharing your talent. Terri
Thanks Terri, I am glad you like them!
This is so great – and so easy to do! I appreciate moving it around! Thanks!
Thanks so much for the lesson – and the style! So appreciate both.