Creating Cut-Outs On Your Digital Layouts

     Tutorial written using Windows 7 and Photoshop CS5

Cut-outs are a super-fun look to use on your digital scrapbook layouts. It adds a little “pop” when you cut out a shape or title, and it brings a subtle emphasis that grabs attention. Today, I’m going to show you a couple of ways to create cut-outs on your layout.

The first way is to cut out the object from your paper. This is a method that will work in both Photoshop and Photoshop Elements. Let’s get started!

Begin with two papers layered; the bottom paper is what will show through your cut-out.

For the sample below, I have layered two papers from Together Collection Mini by Laurel Lakey. I have the yellow paper on bottom with the cream paper as my top layer. Next, I pulled over a piece of word art; this is what I’m going to cut out.

Next, hold down the CTRL key and click on your word art layer. You will see the “marching ants” take shape around the word art. Make your top paper the active layer (just click on that layer) and press Delete.

Next, turn off the visibility of the layer with your word art on it and apply a drop shadow to your top paper layer. You now have the look of a cut-out title in your paper.

Now, keep in mind that with this method, since you have cut out of your paper layer, you cannot change it. The next method is a little more flexible since you are adding a shadow to the actual cut-out item.

For the second method, you will not need your bottom paper layer since you are not cutting out anything from your top paper. For this example, I just have the cream paper and word art.

Add a shadow to your cut-out layer, but instead of a drop shadow, you will add an inner shadow. I used the same settings on the word art that I would on a background paper.

With this method, you can move around, change, or add as many new cut-outs as you’d like to your layout.

There are so many different things you can do with cut-outs on a digital scrapbooking layout! I can’t wait to see what you come up with – so be sure to upload your examples to the Scrap Girls Gallery.

Tutorial written by Angie Briggs