I wanted to share two tutorials that I recently wrote for the Scrapbook Dimensions blog.
DIGITAL RUB-ONS
What do these two layouts have in common? Yes, they're both digital. Yes, they both have one photo. And yes, they both employ the same very cool digital rub-on effect. The red flourishy thing behind the photo in the first layout, and the yellow flowers in the second layout, are both lifted from patterned paper. Below you can see the original patterned papers. The red one is by CanDesigns and the flowered one is by Amanda Dykan:
All you do to lift the design is use the magic wand tool in Photoshop or Photoshop Elements. Click on the area you want to lift, or hold down the shift key while clicking to choose several areas at once. Because the magic wand tool picks up like pixels, the image you get will be distressed. Once you cut and paste it into your layout, you will see that it looks like a rub-on because you can see the layout through it. Be careful not to add a drop shadow as will ruin the rub-on look. Think about how many more embellishments you now have in your scrap supplies!
MAKE YOUR OWN ALPHABET
Have you ever thought about creating your own digital elements? Well, an alphabet is an easy way to start. Here's how you do it...
1. Open a new 12x12 file with a transparent background.
2. Using a textured brush (I used one of the wet media brushes that comes pre-loaded with Photoshop) write out the alphabet.
3. Save your file.
That's it! It's ready to use. To pick up a letter, simply use the Rectangular Marquee Tool to select the letter...
...then copy and paste it into your layout. Check out how I've used the alphabet below:
So easy! Give it a try!
Wow! These two are Great! I would have never thought of these. They are so easy and have so much you can do with both of them. Thanks!
Posted by: Gina | May 15, 2008 at 06:18 AM
wowsers- you always amaze me how good you are with digital and paper scrapbooking!!!! Awesome layouts and thank you for the tutorial!
Posted by: nat | May 15, 2008 at 07:14 AM
Thank you for sharing this! I love these ideas and never would have figured that out. Very cool!
Posted by: kira | May 15, 2008 at 09:36 AM
I have been browsing through the photos of your layouts and all I'm going to say is you'd better be applying for MM Masters because your style needs to be shared with the world! I'm a huge fan, Julie-- you could totally rock that contest!
Posted by: kira | May 15, 2008 at 09:43 AM
these are fabulous - I can't wait to get photohop
Posted by: Sandra Collins | May 15, 2008 at 12:42 PM
Julie, you always show me somthing new!
I have not ventured into digi yet, but you make it look so easy and fun:)
Posted by: Sue Clarke | May 15, 2008 at 11:54 PM
UR digitals are Beautiful and thanks for the tutorial. I did not know how to do that.
Norma Kennedy
Posted by: Norma Kennedy | May 16, 2008 at 10:51 AM
thanks Julie, more playing for me this weekend!
Posted by: sue brown | May 17, 2008 at 08:41 AM
WOW! This is so cool...thanks for the tutorial. Your pages are wonderful.
Posted by: Erika H. | May 22, 2008 at 07:48 PM