Tuesday

Sizing for Posting / Creating a Preview

Sizing for Posting / Creating a Preview


PC-ArtDSCKit1Prv.jpg - Click on image to see full size PREVIEW
weight for e-mail or web approximately 165kb

12 inch x 12 inch papers at 300 pixels per inch
Resized to
600 pixels x 600 pixels at 78 pixels per inch "smart size"
Elements resized to 17% or 20%

1 - Picture this.........

You have created a great collection of papers and elements and they are created for a 12 inch by 12 inch and 300dpi layout.

Now you want to show your kit to the world via e-mail or on the web but they are so huge!

Here is what to do.......This way you will maintain most of the detail and quality even though you are
downsizing everything.

2 - PAPERS - When you are satisfied with them - save each of them as yourpapername.jpg
I do this and then delete my paper .psp images because they are just way too big!

3 - Now you want to create a preview of your papers and you want to place all your gorgeous elements on to it as well.

4 - Open any one of your papers that are in .jpg format
Resize it from 300 dpi to 72 or 78 dpi
and change the size from 12 inches x 12 inches to 600 pixels x 600 pixels - "smart size"

5 - Now SAVE it AS yourkitnamePRV.psp

6 - Selections - select all - add a new raster layer - keep selected

7 - Open another paper and copy and paste into selection on the new layer

8 - Repeat steps 6 - 8 until you have all your papers on their own layers

9 - Selections - select none - move and rotate and position all your papers where you want them to be.

Save

10 - ADD ELEMENTS - open one of your elements
- copy and paste as a new layer onto your preview
resize only the element layer to 17% or 20%
this will show you approximately how big your element is against your 12x12 layout

11 - continue adding your elements in this way and moving them to your liking

12 - when you are happy with your preview add your name and kit name etc to the top

13 - add a new layer "select all" and crop to selection - this will get rid of all the paper edges that went out of view whilst moving them about.

14 - Merge your layers and Save your completed preview as .jpg for posting to your blog or group

Monday

Zipper

Paint Shop Pro Zipper Tutorial
by ©PCArt 26 May 2008
Using Paint Shop Pro

This is a basic tutorial guide to create a zipper in Paint Shop Pro, for your scrapping. It might be rated as an advanced tutorial because, a lot of imagination is required as I want your results to really be your own!
You will need Mura's Meister Copies. If you don't have it, do a Google search and you are sure to find it quite easily.


Tutorial - see the image for guidance

Open a new Image 650 pixels x 1850 pixels at 300 pixels per inch
Transparent Background.
Preset Shape Rectangle Anti-alias and Create as Vector checked
Retain style unchecked
Line style default solid Width 10
Foreground Colour #808080
Background Fill Colour #c0c0c0

1)Draw out a tall narrow rectangle and Convert to Raster layer
2)Draw Small rectangle at top of zipper and Convert to Raster layer
3)Draw out an even smaller rectangle for a zipper tooth - Convert to Raster layer
4)Effects Plugins Mura's Meister Copies - Reset and then change Tile Mode to V Tile
and change Number to 1 and Gap to 1 or 2 (depending on the size of the tooth)
See Zipper Teeth Image below if you want to make the teeth first and build your zip around them.
5) Use your selection tool to select and cut away extra teeth at top and bottom.
6) Apply Your Sculpture or bevel to the teeth.
7) Apply your sculpture or bevel to the small rectangle.
6) Apply your texture or colour to your long rectangle.
8) See images to place your zipper parts together.
9) Duplicate and position where necessary.
10)Use your imagination to draw the extra pieces to make your zipper details.

Once you see how easy it can be and you have got the idea of how your zipper is constructed and fits together, you can start experimenting with different shaped teeth and fabrics. Go your own way with your imagination, making your own styles and shapes and improving on details for the shaping, the teeth and zipper pull and fabric etc.,

*Idea* When you have created a set of zipper teeth that you like save as a separate image and add your fabrics to it.


Click on Image above to see a larger Preview


Have a look at different zippers to see how many styles there are.

Tuesday

Sequins Tutorial using Paintshop Pro

Sequins by PCArt Creativity
Created with Paint Shop Pro XI


After a number of requests for a tutorial to create digital scrap sequins, I decided to try and figure out a way to make them, this is my result.

1)
Open a 2 inch x 2 inch Transparent canvas 300 pixels per inch
Click on preset shapes and choose Dodecagon
Line solid width 2 Create as vector and Anti-alias checked
and Retain Style un-checked
On the materials palette foreground colour #808080
background fill colour #c0c0c0
Draw out your Dodecagon whilst holding down your shift key
Objects/Align/Centre in Canvas
Convert to Raster
Save as Sequin .psp image and keep open in your work space.
2)
Open another 2 inch x 2 inch Transparent canvas 300 pixels per inch
Go Back to Preset Shapes and with the same settings as before
and holding your shift key down draw out a Hexagon
Objects/Align/Centre in Canvas
Convert to raster
Save as Honeycomb .psp image and keep open in your work space.
3)
Duplicate Hexagon 6 times and move each to form a honeycomb pattern
Merge Visible
4)
Copy Honeycomb and paste onto the Sequin (Dodecagon) image as a new Layer
Move Honeycomb Layer to bottom and keep visible
5)
Go Back to the Dodecagon layer and click outside the shape with magic wand
expand by 1 pixel
go to down to honeycomb layer and click delete selection to get rid of the outside pieces
Move Honeycomb Layer to the top
Merge Visible
Save
6)
Use the Magic wand to select each area - clockwise - starting from the top one.
Top section - Adjust / Brightness and Contrast / Highlight/Midtone/Shadow / Absolute Adjustment
Shadow 0 Midtone 50 Highlight 100
Second Section change Highlight to 75
Third Section change Highlight to 55
Bottom section change Highlight to 40
Fifth Section change highlight to 50
Sixth Section change highlight to 70
Centre Change Highlight to 0
Cut a small circle out of the middle
Save
7)
Click outside your shape with your magic wand
invert and contract by 1 pixel
Keep selected
Add New layer
Layer Opacity set at BURN - fill selection with a linear gradient
Apply Noise at Gaussian Monochrome 12 if you wish
Merge visible
Re size as you wish.
SAVE as .png

Wednesday

Quick 'n Easy Buckles Tutorial

Quick 'n Easy Buckles
by PCArt


I know I had some problems making the buckle and I also know I'm not the only one who had difficulty following the tutorial we have. So here is my quick 'n easy solution!
(My buckle was drawn out on a 300 x 300 pixel canvas at 300 pixels per inch.)
Fill your canvas with a light grey.

1) Using your square preset shape - vector and antialias checked - background fill colour black - draw out a square for your buckle as large as you want it to be. Object / align / centre in canvas. Convert to raster.

2) On a new layer using your rectangle preset shape - vector and antialias checked - background fill any other colour - draw out a rectangle where you want the left hand opening of the buckle to be. Position it exactly as you want it to be. Duplicate this layer and go to image mirror. Close your bottom layers. Keep only the twin rectangles visible. Merge visible.

3) View all layers again. On the twin rectangle layer - selections / select all / selections / float / selections defloat. Selections / Modify expand x 1 pixel - go to your black layer and press delete. Selections None.
Go back to your twin rectangle layer and delete it. Go to your grey layer and delete it.

4) You now have a Template for your buckles. SAVE AS BUCKLE TEMPLATE.psp image

5) Use your template "selected and expanded x 1 pixel / antialias checked "
- then on a new layer - fill with colours, patterns, apply bevels, sculptures, etc.
Cut your finished buckles and paste each as a new image and Save As .png

Thread your Buckle Tutorial

Thread your Buckle
Quick Tutorial from PCArt


Place a ribbon on your canvas
place the buckle on top of the ribbon on a new layer where you want it to be
duplicate the buckle layer and move the duplicate layer to the bottom
go back to the buckle on the top layer
selections / select all / selections float / selections defloat
stay on top layer and keep selected
use the eraser to erase the buckle bar in the middle so that the ribbon underneath shows through.

OR erase the outer bars instead so that the ribbon threads through the opposite way.

Monday

Doodles

DOODLES

Get your pen and paper out and start doodling!

Tutorial Note

**If you are drawing your doodles by mouse on your canvas in Paint Shop Pro...You will find that if you adjust your tracking to a higher number, your doodle lines will be smoother. Do a test and see with tracking at 1, you get jagged edges, then change the tracking to around 50 - 100 and the edges become smoother.



**Doodles above drawn on White paper with a black Paper Mate Fineline pen.
I browsed though some fairy images I have on my PC to get a few ideas for the doodles. An artist I once knew always said that we do need reference material!




I made this lot playing with lines and vectors and preset shapes and used the wave setting and also played with layer opacity .....and the vine is supposed to look like lizards :) I remember seeing an armband tattoo on a friend, designed by her husband a few years ago, so I kind of played with that from memory.


Sunday

Eraser Brush Paper

Eraser Brush Paper
by PCArt

The eraser can be a useful tool when creating papers - decorate the top layer using various brush patterns along with the eraser instead of the paint brush to pull the bottom colour through in places.




Open a new Canvas (12 inch x 12 inch at 300 pixels per inch)
Fill your canvas with a colour or a pattern.
*I filled the bottom layer with a pattern fill "Cracked paint"
Add a New Layer and fill with another colour or pattern.
*I filled mine with colour #989dc4
Click on your eraser tool and then choose a brush pattern.
Then on the top layer
Use the eraser at various settings, changing the size, step, density and opacity to see how your eraser works.
Then change your top layer opacity options to dodge, or burn or difference, or luminance etc.
and notice the various results! You will be pleasantly surprised by the different effects you can create.,
*Mine is on Multiply.
Apply additional Texture if you wish or even more layers and repeat what you have done.
* My texture is Effects / Texture Effects / Textures set to Default - then Texture - Grain Long - size 270 and depth 3
- then merge the layers and save as yourpapername .jpg
Preview resized to , 78 pixels per inch at 600 pixels by 600 pixels smart size.

When creating Grunge effect on Papers or items - the trick is to play with multiple layers set at different layer properties such as overlay, burn, dodge etc., and also the opacity of those layers - and distressing your layers even more by using your eraser brush.


I made the brushes from photographs I took of seagulls flying past my window, and from a bunch of lilies and twigs at Christmas time,the others were from preset shape star just brushed on in different colours and at different sizes, and a stamp from a horseshoe I tubed previously. I made the background from pieces of photos from some bits of some of my other odd photos all pieced together and overlaid and layer properties blend modes and opacity played with.

Faux Felt Shapes


Tutorial - ELEMENT: Faux felt shapes - (By Tracey Renemo 2006) -

*2017 - The link to the tutorial is no longer available - please see my notes below.



Note from Pat

Here are my step by step instructions - all credit goes to Tracey Renemo for originally writing the faux felt tutorial.

1) Open the felt-like pattern in your work space and minimize it.

2) Open a new canvas 6 inches by 6 inches at 300 pixels per inch transparent
3) Go to your materials palette background and select your felt-like pattern there, Scale 100 Angle 0
4) Go to your materials palette foreground and choose your colour
5) Flood fill your canvas with your colour
6) Add a new Raster Layer, swap your materials to your felt-like material and flood fill
7) Your Material layer should be the one on top and colour on the layer underneath
8) Change the Opacity on the material layer to Luminance
9) If you don't like the colour go back to your bottom layer and change it
10) When you are happy with your colour Merge Visible layers.
11) Add a new Raster Layer
12) Choose the shape you want to use and draw it on the new layer - if it is a vector convert to raster

*Before converting to a raster layer you could add stitching around the edge using your vector tube script and stitches tubes

13) When your shape is converted to Raster -
Click on the magic wand - change the Feather setting to about 5
14) Click on the outside of your shape then go to your bottom layer and delete the selection
15) Close the top layer with the drawn shape and see your felt shape
16) Use the undo button whenever you want to and repeat steps until you are satisfied.
17) Happy with your result? Delete the layers you don't need and then save your new felt shape
18) Selections / Select All / Selections / Float / Selections / Defloat
19) Image / Crop to Selection
20) Save as .png

If you have any problems with this tutorial please contact me and I will do my best to assist you.


Saturday

Paper Piecing





Simply draw out different colour preset shapes and rotate them to suit what you want, add textures, slight bevels and shadows - do your own thing!


Wednesday

First Layout

First Layout


Note from Pat

First decide which image or photo you want to use in your layout.
Then you can use it as a guide as to the colours and journaling that you want to put into your layout.

Make your layout similar to mine above if you wish.

You could use your own - Glitter Elements from Lesson 36 - Charms from Lesson 4 - and any Ribbons or Papers or other Elements that you have already made yourself!

I am using my poem "A Mother's Love" for the journaling and an image of my Grandmother.
Resized Preview is 600 x 600 pixels at 78 pixels per inch smart size