Tutorials - 2/2 - Chelle's Creations

6.14 Tutorial: Using the Eraser to Make a Mask

June 14, 2012
Tutorials
Jenn (jk703)

Hi Everyone! I’m Jenn, aka jk703, here to bring you a quick and easy tutorial for blended masks. For this tutorial, you will use the Eraser Tool. Something a little different – but so easy! Let’s get started!

For my Example, I used Chelle’s Traveler Kit. This is a kit that can be very versatile for Men, Traveling, and Everyday Memories. Lot’s to work with and works with all types of pictures.

Step 1: Open the image and save it to a new file, allowing the original image available if needed. You don’t want to ruin your only copy of a picture. This is a good habit for anything that you open and plan on changing.

Step 2: Import the paper that you want to have the Brushed Mask on, and make sure it is the layer above the photo. Change the opacity to 70% or so. Save your file, so that this is a working copy of your layout. This way the original paper is still available to use for later.

Here is what the papers look like with the photo and Opacity lowered to 70%:

Step 3: Choose the Eraser tool, and click on the small arrow next tot he number in the brush tool menu. Choose a brush you like, and make the size somewhere around 100 to 500. For my Example I used a Watercolor Wet Flat Brush, with an Opacity of 20%, and I actually turned the flow down to 60%. My brush was on the larger side at 432 pixels. Remember, you can use multiple brushes to change the end result.

I decided to use another brush on top of this one. A splatter brush, 55% opacity, 422 pixels, and 55% flow.

Step 4: Make sure you have the paper layer chosen in the layers palette. Brush on the layer and slowly show the image through the paper. Continue to brush the layer until your photo appears to your liking. Try out different types of brushes, sizes and opacities.

Step 5: After your have completed the brushwork, change the opacity of the paper layer back to 100%. Your image now looks painted on that layer.

Close Up of the rose:

Super Easy technique there, and each brush will give you a different look on your paper and photo. Play with them and try it out! Some of the girls on the CT give it a try! Check out their layouts:

From Jenn:

From Jennifer:

From Erica:

We would love to see what you create! Please let me know if there are any questions.

Thanks for visiting and I hope you come back soon!

5.30 Tutorial: Easy Blend

May 31, 2012
Tutorials
Jenn (jk703)

Hey Everyone! It’s Jenn, aka jk703 here for a tutorial for you! Yay! I love learning new things about my software, as well as showing people a couple of new techniques! Today, I’m going to do a quick but easy blending technique.

First, open a blank document, a plainish background paper to practice on and a copy of a photo. When I am working on something, I save it with the title Working Copy, this way I know what I am working on, and can title it will all my used products at a final save. Plus, by using a copy of a photo, I know the original is always available to me as a backup!

I’ve used Chelle’s Spic n’ Span, along with some added items from the Rainbow Collection for my example, and a template from Scrapping with Liz. The picture from a cruise vacation my family went on in 2007. It is a favorite sunset – and I love taking pictures of nature and landscapes. Here is my photo on top of a paper.

Remember, place your background paper, and then the photo on top. When placing your photo, place it where you would like the main part of the image to remain.

Next, within the Layers Palette, and the photo selected, you can scroll through the different Blend Modes that are available to you in PS or PSE.

To “see” what all the blend modes look like with your picture is to do this: Choose the layer that will be blended in the Layers palette. Now, press the Shift key, and use your + and – keys to “scroll” through the different blend modes. How easy and cool is that?!

Next, there are two ways to go about blending. Either erasing first or erasing second. For this example, I am erasing first – but you can choose to flip flop the next few steps.

Choosing the Eraser Tool from the Tool Menus, you will choose a large soft brush. You can change your opacity and flow to dictate how much you will erase, and how drastic it will be with each brush stroke. I lower mine to about 25% when first erasing. But, with digital scrapbooking, there is always the Undo button, so I am usually not too worried about mistake brush strokes.

Erase away at the edges. Remove the blunt corners, and slowly make the shape that you want to show off from your photo. This may take multiple steps and different opacities while erasing.

Here is what I have so far:

I still think the erasing needs work, and the opacity seems harsh to me. So, I will keep erasing and working on my blend at this point. After some more brush work, and playing with the blend modes, here is my photo blend.

I really liked the Luminosity blend mode and I also liked the Linear Burn, and Multiply. Look at them all though – each picture will have a different effect determined by the background paper you choose as well as the picture itself. Here is the Luminosity blend mode:

At this point, I will duplicate my photo and background paper onto my layout. To do that, all you have to do is highlight both layers in the Layers Palette, and right click. Choose Duplicate Layers, and copy them to the layout that you are working on!

Another fun idea is to combine the blends. Try duplicating the blended photo, and change each layer’s blend mode. You might be surprised what your blended photos look like when mixed with different blend modes!

I ended up layering it, and showing off the original with the blend. I also switched my blend mode. I love this photo and love how the blend really pops with the original photo next to it!