dsa18 handouts lesson09 - Amazon S3€¦ · Welcome to Lesson 09 for Photoshop & Elements Users 3 1: Gradient Blending 4 a. Create a New Workspace 5 b. Add a Background Paper 5 c.

Digital Scrapbook Academy September 2018: Lesson 09 The Next Level for PS & PSE Users

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LESSON 09: THE STYLISH SCRAPPER

FOR PS & PSE USERS

COMPANION BOOK


Table of Contents

Table of Contents 2

Welcome to Lesson 09 for Photoshop & Elements Users 3

1: Gradient Blending 4

a. Create a New Workspace 5

b. Add a Background Paper 5

c. Add the Photo & Enlarge 5

d. Blend the Photo Using the Gradient Tool 5

2: Mask Cut Outs + HSL Coloring 7

a. Develop the Mask Cut Out 7

b. Add a Pattern & Modify the Color 8

3: PNG Embellishments & Drama 9

a. Add PNG Embellishments (Above Mask) 9

b. Add Dimensional Embellishments (Below Mask) 9

c. Add Drama Using Color 10

4: Text In a Path (Photoshop Only) 11

a. Add a Title 12

b. Add Journaling 12

c. Create a Text on a Path (PS Only) 12



Welcome to Lesson 09 for Photoshop & Elements Users

We’ve reached the 9th and final lesson of Digital Scrapbook Academy! We’ll use

Adobe Photoshop® CC 2018 or Photoshop® Elements® 2018 to build a complex, digital

scrapbook layouts.

All of your practice has led up to this point — the point where you can mix your

knowledge of the foundational tools with your style and your unique eye for digital

scrapbooking! This is where you start to learn techniques that aren’t necessary for

storytelling but standout on your layouts. This is where you can start truly having fun

with this hobby.

In this lesson, I’ll share some of MY favorite intermediate techniques for layout

creation. Most of these tips were techniques I sought out or taught myself because of

my own unique style.

We’ll accomplish the following objectives:

• Change the color of papers/embellishments using the HSL Panel

• How to create an inner shadow effect using masks

• Change the mood of a textured paper using color

• Blend a photo into a background using a gradient

• How to embellish using only PNGs

Let’s get started!



1: Gradient Blending

Years ago, my first step into intermediate techniques started with blending — the art

of seamlessly transitioning the subject of a photo into the background. We’ll use the

Gradient tool and the Eraser tool to blend multiple pieces together with ease.

For best results with gradient blending, choose a photo with a subject near the

middle of the photo and not too close to the edge. In addition, select a background

paper that compliments the colors in your photo AND lacks a repeating pattern.

Supplies you’ll need:

• Penelope kit from the Lesson 09 supplies

• 2 photos



a. Create a New Workspace

i. Start with an empty workspace. Go to File > New. Create a custom

workspace sized 12 x 12 inches; Resolution: 300 pixels/inch; Color Mode:

RGB; Background Contents: White. Click Create.

ii. Save your file. Go to File > Save As. Give your file a name. Click Save.

b. Add a Background Paper

i. Open and add the background paper to the workspace. Go to File >

Open and navigate to the paper. Click Open. Drag the paper into the

newly created, empty workspace.

c. Add the Photo & Enlarge

i. Open the photo. Go to File > Open and navigate to the photo. Click

Open.

ii. Enlarge the photo. Use shortcut keys CMD/CTR T to enlarge the photo

to ‘fill the frame’ of the layout (from edge to edge of the margins in at

least one direction).

d. Blend the Photo Using the Gradient Tool

i. Hide the photo. Toggle off the visibility of the photo layer by clicking on

the photo’s eye icon. Keep in mind where the photo is positioned.

ii. Select the right layer. Target the background paper layer.

iii. Create a new layer. Click on the Create a New Layer icon in the Layers

panel.

iv. Select the right tool. Select the Gradient tool in the Tools panel.



v. Fine-tune the gradient’s settings. In the context sensitive menu, click on

the Gradient edit bar. Select the Foreground to Transparent preset. Click

on the bottom left marker. Change the color to match the background

paper. Click on the bottom right marker. Change the color to match the

background paper.

vi. Draw the gradient. With the Gradient tool still targeted in the Tools

panel, draw the Gradient on the layout in the direction of the photo. This

takes some trial and error. Be sure to only draw the gradient on the

portion of where the photo will sit on the layout.

vii. Clip the photo. Create a clipping mask from the photo to the newly

created gradient layer.

viii.Erase portions of the gradient where necessary. Select the Eraser tool.

Using a Soft Round preset brush, remove portions of the gradient along

the edges to help blend the photo into the background.



2: Mask Cut Outs + HSL Coloring

With our blending complete, we’re ready to decorate the remainder of our layout.

Mask cut outs are an easy way to create areas for embellishments, journaling or other

photos. We can also make fine-tune adjustments to the colors of products to help

them match our photos.

a. Develop the Mask Cut Out

i. Select the right layer. Target the background paper layer.

ii. Create a layer’s mask. Click on the Add Layer Mask icon.

iii. Ready the cutting tool. Select the Brush tool. Choose a Hard Round

brush preset. Play with the size of the brush to determine the size of the

hole. Change the Foreground Color in the Color Picker to black.



iv. Cut holes out of the mask. Make sure the mask is highlighted in the

Layers Panel. Click on the workspace to ‘cut out’ holes. Change the

diameter of the brush tip to change the size of the holes cut.

v. Apply a shadow to the paper. Add a drop shadow to the paper layer to

imply dimension.

b. Add a Pattern & Modify the Color

i. Add a patterned paper behind the masked paper. Navigate to and

open a new background paper and add it to the workspace. Arrange it

behind the masked paper in the Layers panel.

ii. Apply an HSL Adjustment Layer. Target the patterned paper. Click on

the Create New Fill or Adjustment Layer icon and select Hue/Saturation.

iii. Modify the color of the paper. Play with the Hue & Saturation sliders to

recolor the patterned paper.



3: PNG Embellishments & Drama

With the foundation of our page complete, we can concentrate on decorations.

a. Add PNG Embellishments (Above Mask)

i. Add PNG files. Go to File > Open and navigate to the kit’s PNG. Click

Open. Drag the smear into the workspace. Use the Move Tool to position

the smear. Duplicate the smear using shortcut keys CMD/CTRL J and

use the Move Tool to reposition the duplicate.

b. Add Dimensional Embellishments (Below Mask)

i. Add embellishments. Add layered embellishments to the workspace

and order them behind the masked paper in the Layers panel. Use the



Move tool to reposition the embellishments to peek out from

underneath the masked paper.

ii. (Optional) Add additional photos. Include photos in lieu of

embellishments.

iii. Add shadows where necessary.

c. Add Drama Using Color

i. Target the right layer. Select the masked paper layer in the Layers

panel.

ii. Add dramatic color. Click on the Create New Fill or Adjustment layer

icon. Select a color (I used black to match the dark gray paper in my

layout). Create a clipping mask from the Solid Fill layer to the masked

paper layer.

iii. Temper the result. Reduce the Opacity slider to taste to tone down (or

up) the masked paper.



4: Text In a Path (Photoshop Only)

Our final step is to add a bold and simple title and journaling. However, if you’re using

Photoshop, you can customize the area and shape of your text using the Paths panel.

Side note: Elements does include a Text On a Path tool set; however, the end result

for journaling is not the same and will not result in a similar look.



a. Add a Title

b. Add Journaling

c. Create a Text on a Path (PS Only)

i. Create a new layer. Click on the Create a New Layer icon in the Layers

panel.

ii. Draw a rectangular-shaped selection box. Select the Rectangular

Marquee tool. Draw a text box on your layout.

iii. Subtract from the selection box. Select the Ellipse Marquee tool. Hold

down the Alt key. Remove an area from the selection near the masked

circles.

iv. Contract the selection box. Go to Select > Modify > Contract. Enter a

value between 20 - 50 pixels. The amount will vary depending on the

size of the selection.

v. Create the Work Path. Go to Window > Paths to toggle the Paths panel.

Click on the Make Work Path from Selection icon.

vi. Type the text with the Path. Select the Horizontal Type tool. Type the

journaling text.

vii. Fine-tune the type. Use the Character Panel or context sensitive menu

to adjust the type within the Path.


dsa18 handouts lesson09 - Amazon S3€¦ · Welcome to Lesson 09 for Photoshop & Elements Users 3 1: Gradient Blending 4 a. Create a New Workspace 5 b. Add a Background Paper 5 c.

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