QUICK TIP #2:
Tutorial #3: Cool Simple Tricks for Creating
Digital Scrapbook Pages
You've created your first modern digital scrapbook page! Now that you've mastered the basics, there are
many ways to add more interest to your page in just seconds, using a few simple actions.
Note that as well as a video tutorial, you can download the folder with the files I use, so you can perform
the same actions.
If you've printed the free e-book version of the 10 Quick Tips, it will be helpful to have the printed
version by your side as you go through the tutorial. Good luck! You're on your way to creating your
own beautiful pages and albums.
In this tutorial you'll learn to:
- Rotate text or photos
- Add frames to photos
- Change the color of any page element
- Make a photo a round page accessory
- Change a color photo to black and white or sepia
- Add a drop shadow to any page element
- Make a page element semi-transparent
- Correct red-eye
1. LAUNCH Photoshop Elements (PC users may be asked whether you want to Organize,
Edit, or Create. Select Edit.) In the workspace, you'll see three tabs at the upper right. Select
Edit.
2. OPEN TEMPLATE. Go to File>Open, browse to the folder titled "Tutorial 3 Project Folder." Find First
Scrapbook Page.psd, and click Open. Because there is text on the template, and your computer might not have that exact font, you
may be asked whether you want the text updated. Click "Yes."
To rotate text or photos: Select the Move Tool and click on the phrase "Joyful Day!" Two different icons
appear in the corners as you roll over them: a straight double-ended arrow allows you resize, and an elbow-shaped double-ended
arrow allows you to rotate. Click and drag the elbow-shaped arrow. When you've got the rotation you like, click the green
checkmark to confirm. Use your Move Tool to position the headline. You can use the exact same action to rotate a photo.
To add frames to photos. Every template has an "Optional Photo Frames" layer. Just go to the Layers Palette
and click the "eye" icon next to the layer name.
To use the Magic Click to change the color of any element: Let's make your headline the same Dark Blue
Linen that you already used. Browse to the Tutorial 3 folder and open Dark Blue Linen.jpg, and drag it to your page, right
over the headline. Within the Layers Palette, move this layer directly over your Type Descriptive Words layer. Hold down the
Option key (PC users hold down ALT key), and hover the mouse on the line between the two layers. When the linked circles icon appears, click, and your
headline now becomes filled with Dark Blue Linen.
To make a photo a round page accessory: When you created your page, you had added the snowflake as
your page accessory and turned off the placeholder layer, which was called "Place Page Accessory 3 Above this Layer." Now,
we're going to turn OFF the snowflake by clicking on the eyeball icon next to its layer name, which I renamed Snowflake 3.
Then find the layer called "Place Page Accessory 3 Above this Layer" and turn it back ON by clicking the eyeball icon. The
placeholder will reappear.
Browse to the Tutorial 3 folder, and open Hands.jpg. Use the Move Tool to drag the photo to your page, and close the photo.
On the layout, use the Move Tool to position the photo over the round accessory placeholder we just turned on. In the Layers
Palette, make sure the photo layer is directly above the layer titled "Place Accessory 3 Over This Layer."
Hold down the Option key (PC users hold down ALT key), and in the Layers Palette hover the mouse on the line between the photo and the accessory
placeholder, wait for the linked circle icon to appear, and click. Move and size the photo until you like the effect.
To change a color photo to black and white or sepia (antique brown tones): Using the Move Tool, select the
photo you wish to change. Go to Enhance>Convert to Black and White. You will be shown a "before" and "after." To confirm, hit "okay."
To change to sepia, the photo must already be black and white. Go to Enhance>Adjust Color>Hue/Saturation.
Make sure the "colorize" box is checked. Set the sliders to Hue: 34 and Saturation:20.
To add a drop shadow to any page element: As you can see, each layer in your layers palette can be changed,
and that includes adding a shadow to any of your elements. Let's add a shadow to the round photo we just created.
You are familiar by now with the Layers Palette. Now we're going to introduce you to another helpful palette called the
Effects Palette. Go to Window>Effects, and it will appear on the right, below your Layers Palette. In the Effects Palette you
will see a little drop down menu on the upper right, and you'll choose "Drop Shadows." Several types of drop shadow will appear.
In the Layers Palette, make sure your round page accessory placeholder layer is highlighted. To apply a drop shadow, double click
in a type of shadow on the Effects Palette.
To make a layer semi-transparent: You know that each layer can be changed separately. "Opacity" for a layer
ranges from 100% (fully visible) to 0% (completely invisible). Let's change the opacity of Snowflake 2 by selecting that layer in the Layers Palette. At the top of the Layers
Palette is the word "Opacity," and if you click on the little arrow to the right of the percentage window you'll see a slider
you can change from 0% to 100%. Play with it a bit and watch the snowflake fade!
To correct red eye: Open the problem photo in your folder for Tutorial #3 named Caddie.jpg. Select the
Red Eye Removal Tool, which looks like an eye with a cross bar above it. Click and drag to marquee around one eye, release,
and repeat with the other eye. Be sure to save the photo with the correction.
Those are just a few of the simple things you can do to add pizazz to your page. With every page you make, you'll find the
creative possibilities expanding. Have fun!
Further training: I am confident you'll master these basics in no time. If you want to learn more about this
amazing program, look around the adobe site; and be sure to check out the National Association of Digital Scrapbookers,
www.naods.com, and
www.PhotoshopElementsUser.com.
