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"Daddy" by Kelly Favor-Chronister
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Directions for one technique I did on this layout:
I think that ScrapSimple Digital Layout Templates are fantastic! That's really not a secret, but I thought I should share it. To get even more mileage out of my templates, I chose to re-purpose Amanda Sok's ScrapSimple Digital Layout Templates: Tiny Tales by resizing the main cluster to the upper right-hand corner. This gave me room to add larger photographs to my layout. I also added a large wide strip across my layout under the photos. It gave weight to the top of the layout and gave the photos a place to rest so they weren't floating up there all alone.
Software used: Adobe Photoshop Elements 8.0, Adobe Lightroom, and Apple iPhoto
Name of challenge: Father's Day
"My Daddy" by Amy Flanagan
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Directions for one technique I did on this layout:
I wanted a starry sparkle in the background of my layout to emphasize the magical sparkle of the evening of Erinn and Mark's "date". The sparkles from ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Holiday In Lights were a perfect choice, but I didn't want the sparkles all over the paper - just over the darkest portions of it. Since the style will cover the entire layer, I had to find a way to get the style only where I wanted it. In order to achieve that look, I duplicated the brown paper layer. Then, I added the style to the top layer only. Then, using a layer mask on the top layer, I painted away the parts of the paper where the stars needed to be erased. Since the paper beneath is exactly the same as the paper above, you can't tell that anything was altered!
Software used: Adobe Photoshop CS4
Name of challenge: Father's Day
"Daddy's Pockets" by Becca Hauck
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Directions for one technique I did on this layout:
Since all four of my photos were taken using "Auto White Balance" on my camera, I had to adjust the color of each photo. First, I made sure that I clicked on the photo layer in my Layers Palette. Next, I went to Layer> New Adjustment Layer> Color Balance and checked the box marked "Use Previous Layer to Create Clipping Mask." I played with the sliders until my photo's color appeared more natural. I repeated this process four times - once for each of my photos.
Software used: Adobe Photoshop CS3
Name of challenge: Father's Day
Other Ingredients:
"Our Daddy" by Jo Corne
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Directions for one technique I did on this layout:
To create the text running around the border of my layout, I used Valerie Randall's ScrapSimple Type Paths: Squares and Rectangles. I opened up the Photoshop document of the type path of my choice and dragged it onto my layout. The size of the square was smaller than I wanted so I clicked Cmd+T on my Mac (Ctrl+T on a PC), and then I was able to transform the size of the type path. Holding down the Shift key is vital if you want to keep the shape and perspective of the original path without it becoming distorted. Once I was happy with the size of the type path square, I typed in all the words I wanted, changed the typeface to one I was happy with, and then played with the sizing and spacing of the typeface to make it fit as best as possible.
Software used: Adobe Photoshop CS4
Name of challenge: Father's Day
Other Ingredients:
"When Daddy Comes Home" by April Martell
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Directions for one technique I did on this layout:
To change the ribbon color in this layout from blue to yellow, I selected the ribbon by holding down the Ctrl key while clicking on the thumbnail of the image in the Layers Palette. I only wanted to change the ribbon, so I used the Quick Selection tool, set to "Subtract," to deselect the clip portion. With the marching ants still active, I used the Hue/Saturation adjustment (Ctrl+U) to change the ribbon color. I also used the Dodge and Burn tools to contour the ribbon where it goes over the curled edge for a more realistic look.
Software used: Adobe Photoshop CS4
Name of challenge: Father's Day
Other Ingredients:
"Father's Day" by Joann Brown
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Directions for one technique I did on this layout:
I love the look of Shalae's ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Transparency 4901. It's such a fun style to use for a subtle punch on a layout, as I've demonstrated here. On this layout, I used the Transparency style to emphasize my word art, "Dad." It's a fun effect, because while I'm enhancing and emphasizing certain parts of my photos, I'm also creating a title. You can see through the transparency, and so you're not taking anything away from the overall photo. When I first added the transparency style, I wanted a little more punch to the letter. So, I duplicated it. It darkened my transparency, which was a great effect, but I wanted still more. I added a stroke (Edit> Stroke), selected "2 pixels," the color "black" and "Outside." With that simple step, my transparency letter got a small black outline - just enough to make the letter really stand out, but not so much that it completely overwhelms the letter.
Software used: Adobe Photoshop CS4
Name of challenge: Father's Day
Other Ingredients:
Journaling: you work hard for us :: you are nice :: you help me with my homework :: you take us on fun vacations :: you are a good example :: you help me with my puzzles :: you read me stories before bed :: you helped me with my space Derby rocket :: you always support us, and come to our activities :: you help out at every service project, and you help people :: you are good at yard work, and you work hard :: you make me want to be a better person :: you tuck me in at night :: you play with us :: you are good at video games
"Always Hold My Hand" by Julie Moberly
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Directions for one technique I did on this layout:
The photo used in this layout was a scanned black and white photo. I wanted it to have more dimension, so I duplicated the photo layer and changed the Blending Mode of the top layer to "Multiply." The effect was too harsh, so I experimented with the Opacity until I achieved the right amount of contrast. The final Opacity setting was 14%.
This first product is included in this month's ScrapSimple Club offering. Members receive a substantial discount on these club supplies. They are also available elsewhere in the Boutique at regular prices for those individuals who would rather not join a club.
Software used: Adobe Photoshop Elements 8.0
Name of challenge: Father's Day
"Daddy" by Gisele Queiroz
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Directions for one technique I did on this layout:
Sometimes one element is simply perfect for the layout that I'm doing, but the color does not match. In this layout, I wanted to use the word art from Sheri Johnson's Assemble Your Own Zoom Pages: 4x6 My Dad, but I did not want the color green in the letter "Y". So, using the Magic Wand tool, I carefully selected only the green part of the letter "Y" and then I went to Image> Adjustments> Hue/Saturation and I moved the Hue, Saturation and Lightness sliders in the dialogue box, until I got the color blue I wanted.
Software used: Adobe Photoshop CS4
Name of challenge: Father's Day
"Someone Special" by Janine Buckles
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Directions for one technique I did on this layout:
I wanted the quote that I placed on my image to coordinate with the colors in the dock my husband and son were sitting on. In order to do this, I clicked on my Foreground Color picker and chose a soft color from the dock. Next I chose the quote from Brush Set: Timeless and stamped it onto a layer above my photo. Finally, I applied a style from ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Watercolor 4901 - Biggie. To emphasize the beige colors, I used a piece of cardboard paper from the Waters Edge Collection. The rest of my color scheme comes from items in the photo; green from the tackle box, yellow from the canister (of worms!), red from my son's shirt and my husband's hat and blue from their denim. Choosing colors from your photo(s) makes creating a coordinated layout easy!
Software used: Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0
Name of challenge: Father's Day
"A Little Boy's Dad" by Shari Payne
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Directions for one technique I did on this layout:
My original color photo didn't give me the feel I was looking for in my layout, so I opened it up in Adobe Lightroom 2 and made some adjustments. First I turned it into a "Grayscale" photo and then I increased the Exposure by quite a bit, blowing out some of the whites. I brought some of the darkness back by increasing the blacks, Recovery and bringing the Clarity slider to over 80. This gave me exactly the look I wanted for my layout.
Software used: Adobe Photoshop CS3 and Adobe Lightroom 2
Name of challenge: Father's Day
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