Filters: Watercolor Effects

Hi everyone! I've had a rough week already, so it is nice to be able to check out the forums, and pop into the blog here and share a fun technique!

We are going to delve into the Filters that you have in Photoshop! I know, you are probably repeating what I said when I first heard of Filters. "Fil... what - is that another tool in Photoshop?" The first one that I am going to show you is the Watercolor Effect. This is a part of the Artistic submenu in your Filters Menu.

First, here is Colin... don't mind the pic... it was taken after a bad haircut, lol!

OK... First things first. Open your image, and edit as you need. Save the file with a new name. This way you have the original to fall back on if there are any problems.

Next, in your layers Palette, duplicate your background image (your picture), and then turn off that layers visibility. Using the Eraser Tool, you will slowly erase the edges of your image, and with each pass, get a little closer to the main subject. Removing the image can allow for focus, as well as a cool option in the end!

Here is my Eraser's settings when I erased my picture edges.

Here is Colin, less the pesky edges. :) Below Colin, you can see my Layers palette and what yours might look like up to this point.

Up next is the fun filtering! In the top menu toolbar, you need to choose Filter > Artistic > Watercolor.

After you click on Watercolor, a big screen will pop up, and then your photo will appear -- a rather large version! I made mine smaller and started to play with the filter. First, here are just some of the filtering effects you can play with, and under each subheading are more! You have to try them all out!

On the right of the menu you can see the list of the filters that you can play with on your image. Next to that, on the right, there is a small area with different levels and options you can change. This potion will change for each filter.

So, for my example, I click on Watercolor and this is what I came up with:

It is a little hard to see, so I've added a closer view:

A nice little effect to change up your photos. That is it... nice, and simple! Remember above, I said to turn off the visibility of your original picture.... well, here is what happens when you turn it back on. I've added the picture of Colin close up again, so you might be able to really see the detail.

Take a closer look at the meeting point between the areas that I had erased and the areas that are watercolored. There is a slight blend of the original and the Watercolor Filter. Looks pretty cool! I know it is a close up, but on something a little more focused, I think this will look really cool.

Some final tips with the Watercolor Filter:

• For the best results - erase most or or all of the background before applying the filter.
• Lighter colored photos give a delicate feel, while darker colored photos will provide a moody after effect.
• If you lose a lot of details, duplicate your original photo and layering the duplicate on top of the Watercolored Filter layer. After moving it above, choose the Multiply Blending mode, adjust the opacity, and this will allow you to bring those details back.

Well... that is a fun technique... I hope you liked it! If there is something that you would like to see, just leave a comment. :)

Happy Day to you all!

Jenn (aka jk703/The Typative Scrapper)

Birthday Bash Blog Hop

Hi Everyone!!!! Aren't you excited?! I am, lol! It's ScrapMatters 4th Birthday and there is a lot going on! Don't miss it!

If you are chugging along on the birthday blog hop, you may have come from Kim's blog at http://kimbsdesigns.blogspot.com/ and after this stop, head on over to Fran's blog here: http://franscraps.blogspot.com. Don't forget to visit EVERY blog on the blog hop - there is a 10 piece puzzle within the downloads that can get you a fantastic prize!

If you've fallen off the blog train, you can just visit the ScrapMatters Blog, http://scrapmatters.com/wordpress/

Here are the plans for the fun filled Birthday bash!  Make sure you check out all the awesome sales going on in the shop!

Don't forget to hop in on a Speed Scrap or Chat!  Lots of fun and laughs - plus I'm sure there are awesome participation prizes!

Lastly, don't forget to pick up your freebie!  The image is linked, and the link is also below, just in case!  If there are any problems, please e-mail me at thetypativescrapper@gmail.com.

ScrapMatters Birthday Blog Freebie by Jenn (jk703)

I'm so happy you've stopped by me blog!  I hope you like my cluster; I loved this kit!  Be sure to check out the forums for games, prizes and some more birthday fun!   I'd love if you'd visit or follow - so be sure to check out my blog!  I'd love to know what tutorials you would like to see!  

Have a great weekend!

Jenn 

(jk703/TheTypativeScrapper)

I'm back.... well....

After I catch up that is.... lol!  

I've recently been a little inactive here on my blog, but I have good reasons.  I've lost two of my grandparents this year, one in April and one in July.  Both funerals and burials were held within the same week and in 2 different states!  My month of July was a whirlwind of travel, funerals, and actually, a delightful upside, family!  

My grandmother (mother's mother) was a beautiful woman, whom I will miss greatly.  It still seems like she is still in her home, and I will see her the next time I visit. But I know that is not true, especially since there is a big lump in my throat!  She passed unexpectedly in April, but for various reasons her burial was in July. It was a nice quiet affair with just family. I really enjoyed seeing my family from California and South Carolina, and after the burial, we all spent a week down at the New Jersey Shore, together. Beautiful.

At the end of the shore week, I, with my husband, and little boys, headed out to the middle of the country for my grandfather's (father's father) funeral and burial.  He passed on July 5th, and lived a long, happy, blessed life!  He was a wonderful, giving, and loving man and will be missed by me and my family.  It was a sad experience at the funeral and burial, but seeing my family for this event even puts a smile on my face! This side of my family is HUGE, so to get everyone together, laughing and having a little fun was so memorable!  

I just thought I'd share why I've been absent and what happened!  Hopefully, you will all visit again soon!  I'll be posting my tutorials again, and possibly 4 a month!  On top of that, I'd love to start posting more of my layouts!  I just have to squeeze it in, lol! I think I need more hours in the day... or I just won't be sleeping! 

Thanks for visiting and I hope you'll forgive my absence! 

Jenn (jk703)

Guiding Me.... er... you! :)

HI Everyone!  I'm had a chance to stop in on Liz's (Scrapping With Liz) blog during my guestie month of May!  After May, i got to stay on as a perm member!  So excited!  I decided to share some info about guides and why I use them in my layouts.

Guides are a easy and smart way to be able to line up items on your scrapbook layouts.  They are non-prinatble, and available in Photoshop and Photoshop Elements.  In the Elements version, they are only available as presets. Whether you are working on a row of flowers, a title or keeping inside of the guides, they are a great tool to use.

For my example below, I used Liz's Blocked Templates and Jennifer Labre Designs, Color Me Happy Kit.  I am slowly working on my P52 album, and this is my week 4 double spread.

My own personal use of guides is for every layout, and help me to get my pages ready for printing - from before the page is created or the first paper placed! I know that when printing pages, approx 1/4 of the edge will be cropped on my pages.  So, since I create double layouts, I've created a template document with guides placed at a 1/2 inch interval at every edge of my page.  Here is what it looks like as I am creating:

See the blue lines on my pages... I try to keep everything inside of those lines that is important.  My journaling is just on the edge, but should be fine, since my guides are set at 1/2 inch.

By using guides, I can get my pages ready for an album upload right away!  I save a web version, and I also save an album version right after I've completed the page!  Saves me more time later on!

So, here is how you can add a guide to your layout. Click View > New Guide on the top menu bar.

Next, you can choose where you want your guide placed on your document.  Choose Horizontal or Vertical as well as the location using inches within your document. My guides are vertically set at  .5, 11.5, 12.5, and 23.5 for my double layouts. Horizontally, my guides are .5, and 11.5. 

Click on OK... and you are done!!!

Another way to add guides is also just as easy.  If you have the Move Tool selected, as well as enabling the Rulers and Snap items, you can just drag a guide from the ruler to the spot you need one at.  Just click and drag... easy.  

 One last tip... If you work with guides and you are zoomed in close to your document, but need to see the whole document in your window, just double click on the Hand Tool. Instant  view of your whole document. 

Hope you've enjoyed this!  I'd love to know what you think too!  :)

Originally created for Liz on her Blog:  Scrapping with Liz: Here!

Have a great day, and thanks for visiting!

Jenn (jk703/The Typative Scrapper)

Gradients... and a fun use!

Hi Everyone! I'm here to share a fun idea to use on photos, and even background papers.

Gradients That Fade

Start a New Document, by Right Clicking and Duplicating your photo in a New or Untitled file. Save. You will have the original if you need it by doing this step.

Within the Layers Palette, click on the "Mask" icon at the bottom of the palette.

This will add a layer mask, which you can see next to your photo. This fade is essentially a white/black fade, a transparent mask for your photo. The white in the mask will allow the picture to show through, while black will hide parts of the the picture. The middle grey areas will affect how transparent your picture will be.
Go to the Toolbars, and use the Gradient Tool.

In the top toolbar, you will also see the options that you can change for your mask. How it looks, the colors and the transparency.Next, you will click on your layer mask in the Layers Palette, so you know you are going to create your mask in the correct location.

Now, click on the bottom of your picture in the middle and hold your mouse. Slowly, drag the cursor upward, diagonal, or whichever way you want the fade to show. Stop where you want the fade to end and let the mouse button go. A faded layer mask - complete.

First, here is my original picture:

For this example, I used the faint grey gradient in the lower right corner. There is a slight darkness that comes from the lower left corner. I was adding a little more shadow to make the sunrise really pop!

In the following example, I used one of the colored ones, specifically the yellow into orange gradient. I also adjusted the opacity so it wasn't so bright.

It added a fun color to my photo and really makes the colors of the sunrise stand out.  A simple but fun addition to my photo.  


This is what my layers palette looks like:

Here are one last interesting examples of the gradients and playing with the different features! All from the same picture!  

Hope you enjoyed this tutorial and we would love to see what you do with your photos!  Happy Friday!

Thanks for visiting!

Jenn (jk703/The Typative Scrapper)