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Adapting ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Name Frame - Rectangles 7201
Note: Tutorial created using Adobe Photoshop CS4 with Windows XP.
Using Photoshop actions makes digital scrapbooking much easier through an automated series of steps. It can also expand the use of ScrapSimple styles or, as in this case, help create a custom product.
With ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Name Frame - Rectangles 7201, you are able to personalize one side of a frame into twelve preset sizes. But, what happens after the action is finished running? What if you would like text on more than one side of the frame? With a few simple Photoshop tricks, you can easily do this.
To begin, load ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Name Frame - Rectangles 7201 into Photoshop following the instructions included with your purchase.
On the action panel, play the same action twice to create two identical frames. (The text may be different, but the frame size and stroke width need to remain the same.) I am using the "MAD_SSActions_NameFrame_Rect7201_V5x7_left" action.
Click+drag to place the frames onto your layout.
Select the Move Tool (V). On the Layers Palette, select the top frame layer and then Edit> Transform> Rotate 180° to turn the frame. This puts text on both sides of the completed frame.
On the Layer Palette, Shift+click to select both frame layers. On the options bar, use the alignment tools to center the frames on top of each other. It may be necessary to select one of the layers and use the arrow keys to slightly shift the frames over. The goal is to make the frame borders line up exactly.
Select the top frame layer on the Layers Palette and then the Rectangular Marquee Tool (M). On the options bar, set the feather to "0 px." Click+drag to select the portion of this layer that overlaps the lower layer's text. The marching ants will be visible. Click the Delete key to erase this portion of the layer. Use Ctrl+D (Cmd+D) to deselect.
Now, select the lower frame layer. With the Rectangular Marquee Tool (M), repeat the steps to erase the section of the frame covering the top frame layer. When you have completed this section, the frame will appear to be one piece, with text on opposite sides.
To re-color the text, select the Magic Wand Tool (W). On the options bar, set the tolerance to "0" and select "Contiguous." With the lower frame layer active, Shift+click to select all of the individual letters or letter sections (i.e., dot of the "i") on that layer. The marching ants will be visible.
Use Ctrl+J (Cmd+J) to copy and paste the selected text all in one step. A new layer will automatically be created above the active layer and the marching ants will turn off. To easily find the layer as you continue working on your layout, you may want to rename it. I renamed mine to be the same as the layer's text. Use Shift+Ctrl+] (Shift+Cmd+]) to move this layer to the top of the Layers Palette.
Select the top frame layer. With the Magic Wand Tool (W), repeat the steps to select, copy and paste the text from this layer.
Add your favorite styles to the text and frame layers. I am using ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Metals 5001 (Burnished Copper and Iron).
Shift+click to select the top text layer and the bottom frame layer - all four text and frame layers should now be active. Use Ctrl+G (Cmd+G) to create a folder group of these layers.
Layout by Marnie Adams
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Tutorial written by Marnie Adams
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