Tut: Pattern Paper Part 2

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Ok, so I’ve shown you how to create pattern papers using ColourLovers pattern swatch and stripe papers. Super easy. Today, we’re adding on and for my example I just used simple circles. But, if you get all creative, you can use your brush or create the shape in Illustrator (maybe you want to draw a bird or your own swirls) and import it into Photoshop as a smart object and then follow this tutorial. Whatever it is you do, here’s how to put it together so that you can easily use this for your digital or hybrid projects. You’ll never run out of paper AND it’s your creation.

The trick is to feel the snap. Once you feel the snap, let go of your object and move on to the next shape.

You can download my pattern on the left if you like it. After the tutorial, I rearranged my circles a little bit and added a filter. Before I added the filter I turned the layers into a smart object. Then I went to the texturized filter and added a burlap texture to it.

Here’s the original Pattern Burlap PSD file just in case you want to see how I have mine set up.

Have fun!!!

Tut: Smart Objects, Copic, and Beate’s Challenge

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First I want to share some Copic info that this super talented lady, Amy, sent me (thanks, Amy!). If you haven’t checked out her blog, you should. She’s so elegant and I love her simple designs — or complicated ones. She sent me this Copic chart. It’s pretty nice because I buy my Copics a little bit at a time when Hobby Lobby has a 30% off markers. They’re so expensive and I don’t feel like they’re a must have (I’m no artist and I don’t think some more expensive markers are going to change this fact) that I just think buying them here and there are just fine. I just like them because of all the pretty colors {::SMILES}. So the chart is nice and each time I buy a new marker I’ll mark my sheets and when I go shopping, I’ll take the sheets with me. If you want to know how to color with the Copic markers, Gina K has a nice tutorial.

I did this card for Beate’s weekend challenge but uhm, I got dyslexic and I plopped the eyelets or circles on the right instead of the left. But here it is… I used more of my leftover paper.

Here’s the part II of last night’s video.

Smart Objects, there is some good info on Veerle’s blog. She’s in my favorite blogs to visit. She’s in the same field that I am but she does more graphic work so way more experience than I am. Plus she’s more talented in art than I am too.

There’s also good info on raster vs vector graphic at Sign Industry. Photoshop is a Raster Image editor where Illustrator is a vector. That’s why when I’m in Illustrator I can resize whatever I make and I don’t loose quality. I can then import or place it in Photoshop as a Smart Object and it’ll keep it’s vector quality. I think Veerle talks about this too.

There are different ways to organize or “link” layers in Photoshop. It all depends on what you want to do really. One way isn’t wrong and the other way isn’t the best or perfect either. Try all of them and see which one fits what better.

Tut: Matting and a Card

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I think I have what’s going around. Not feeling too hot but I have to go to work because this week is just training, training, conference. I hope I don’t loose my voice until Thursday afternoon at least or hope that I never get to that point. I hate to cancel any of my training sessions (I don’t have one job but 15% of the time I do software training — this week it’s Word and Excel 2007) and Thursday I’m presenting at a conference.

So before I feel any worst, I did this card last night and also the video. This is the SCS sketch challenge 163 from last week. Thought I’d try it out. It’s a square card. Mine isn’t 100% square but square enough. I used my new Just Celebrate set with the Christmas paper… oh what is it… anyway… here it is. I love the stripe ribbons. I wish Stampin Up had more colors!

The video is a simple one. If you’ve watched me expand and contract the last few weeks you probably figured this technique out. If not, here it is. The other way of doing it is by using Stroke in the Blending tool. I like the first method but I think it’s a preference thing. Try both out and see what you think is best for you. In this video I also introduced you to Smart Objects. There’s a part two to the Smart Objects… coming soon. I’ll talk about some of the things I know about it and I’ll compare it to a folder. Smart Objects is in CS2 for sure but not sure about the previous versions of Photoshop. If you don’t have this feature, I’d Rasterize the text or flatten the “books” layers first then do the rest of the steps of either using Stroke or the Extract.

Enjoy! I did a page with this technique but I’ll show you later since I need it for my Virtual Scrapbooking Night at SCS February 23 and March 1-2. I am one of the host, yeah!!! The theme… well… just got there and check it out {::SMILES}. Putri is my SCS username — actually it’s my username is all the forums and galleries. I’ll share the story next time. I’d love it if you play along with me. Any media is welcome.