Journaling tip

Hi there!

Over on the message board a couple of people had questions about how I did the typed journaling on this layout I made using the Bedford Falls kit.

Well it is not basic typed journaling that you would do in Word.
I actually used Photoshop!

So I thought I would hop over here and try to walk you through how I did it.

****
PREFACE...

I am very much a paper scrapper!
This journaling technique is about as close as I get to digital/hybrid scrapping.

That being said, these instructions are going to be very elementary!
And that is not because I am trying to talk down to you.

No way!!

I just don't know all the technical, fancy computer/Photoshop terms, etc. etc.

ha!
****
OK here goes...

{I am using Photoshop Elements}

Once you open Photoshop, go to

File > New > Blank File

Then a box pops up this is what I put in there:

“Preset” is Custom.

Then I make my “Width” 8.5 inches and “Height” 11 inches because that is what size my printer is going to print.

I have no idea what “Resolution” is but mine defaults to 72 pixels/inch so that is what I leave it on.

“Color Mode” defaults to RGB color and that is what I leave it on.

“Background contents” are white.

Now you have a blank canvas to work with!

Look for the “Horizontal type tool”.
It looks like a capital T.
For all you University of Tennessee fans, it looks like your T.
:)

With the “Horizontal type tool” you can pick the font, color, and size that you want.

You can also use it to drag your typing and move entire phrases/sentences/paragraphs around the page.

OK so click on the “Horizontal type tool”.

Then go click somewhere on your blank canvas.

Now what you have done is create “Layer 1”.
{the layers show up on the bottom right corner of my screen}

Try typing something. What you are typing is your “Layer 1”.

If you hit “Enter” you will create another layer: “Layer 2”.
And so forth.

So basically what I did on this layout is create a layer for each line of my journaling.

{I ended up with like 17-18 different layers. Each layer was a different sentence basically}

By doing that I can move each line around and change the size of the font.

Take the first 3 lines of my journaling for example:

“This year is going to be better.”

“It has to be better!”

”I used to love Christmas!”

Each of these sentences is a separate layer.
You know how in Word everything is so evenly spaced like single or double-spaced??
Well by doing your journaling this way, you can move your sentences around to create as little or as much space as you want between your lines instead of having to stick with what the program makes you do.

It is fairly easy to move between layers to make edits and stuff.

All you need to do is click on the layer ("Layer 1", "Layer 2", etc) over on the right side (not actually on your canvas).

Once you click on the layer over on the right, you can go back to your canvas, click on that sentence and make edits.

It is almost like clicking on the layer over on the right brings to life that layer on the canvas and you can edit it.
If you have not clicked on a layer, then you cannot adjust it.

Then once you have all your journaling like you like it, you are ready to print it out!

Cut your patterned paper down to the size of your printer.

Feed it through your printer like you would regular printer paper and print away!!

Gosh, I hope I explained that process so it makes

some kind of sense!

My recommendation: play with it and experiment!
Get the hang of how your Photoshop works!

Let’s discuss!
I will start a thread on the message board if you have any questions or need me to explain something better!

Happy scrappin’!!

gretchen

Photoshop Tip

Ever have a picture that would be perfect if it didn't have such and ugly or distracting background? or ever have a picture that you want to highlight something in it while minimizing the view of the rest of the photo? Well here is how you do it.

Now i am using PSE 5 but the instructions should still be pretty much the same.
Now i know it looks like a lot but trust me...this can be done in a matter of 5 minutes. I just did every step to show you without missing anything. it truly is only about 3 major steps. So don't feel overwhelmed.

here we go: **note** you will probably have to click the pics to enlarge it..this was the best i can do. grrrrr!!!!

This is my original pic


Step 1:

Open your photo. And make sure when you hit the edit button you are on full edit see the top left hand corner?



Go to Layer > New Fill Layer > Solid Color to create your photo overlay.


Click OK to create a new layer titled color Fill 1.


The color picker tool will appear. Select the color you would like your overlay to be and click OK.


Your photo will fill with the foreground color you chose.


Slide the opacity slider at the top of the layers palette (top right hand corner) to about 50% ( i used 70% for this picture) You should see your original image to show up underneath the color overlay. Adjust the opacity to your likings.


Select the Rectangle Marquee tool if you want square or the elliptical if you want oval or round. While holding down the shift key, draw a circle or square (whichever you choose around your photo's focal point. make sure the box in the lower left corner that has a black and a white square that BLACK IS ON TOP..if it is not hit the "d" key to change it.

go to Edit > Fill Selection. in the fill dialog box choose foreground from the dropdown list and click ok. Mine is already done like this so i didn't have to change anything. You should see the overlay within the selection disappear, revealing the photo underneath. DO NOT deactivate this because we will be using it next. Your screen should look like this

now go to Layer > New > Layer

click ok.

Now your forground color should now be White. If it is not white click "X".
Go to Edit > Stroke (outline) selection.

In the Stroke dialog box type 10 pixels for the width.

Click ok and print as you normally would do. You can flatten your image if you want to save a copy of the picture you just created.

This is my final layout i did. What i actual did for this was printed 2 pictures just alike. I cut the box out of one picture and adhered it with pop dots to the other picture for more dimension.


Any questions feel free to shoot me an email (greta(dot)adams@gmail.com and i will try and help you.
have fun and I would love to see what you do using this tip!