Snowflake Lace B - E

I have only managed to find time to make the letters B to E for the start of Worldwide Christmas Scrapbooking Freebies.  I will make the rest of the letters available as I finish them.

Snowflake Lace Alpha B - E

Elegant Christmas

I made this for SNL81.  I hope people will enjoy it this holiday season.

Elegant Christmas Alpha

CMYK to RGB in Photoshop

I accidentally started a new layout as CMYK in Photoshop and didn't realize this mistake until I went to save the element.  When an image is CMYK, it isn't possible to save it as a PNG, so I needed to convert it to RGB.  It took me a couple clicks to find the right menu to accomplish the conversion from CMYK to RGB, so I thought I would make a note of it on the blog in case I needed to do it again in the future.

1.  In the Edit menu, choose 'Convert to Profile'.

2.  In the Convert to Profile dialog, choose an RGB profile under Destination Space.

Snowflake Lace A

I was trying to make lacy letters in a winter theme for the Worldwide Christmas Scrapbooking Freebies.  I don't know if I like my attempt.  If people like it, then I will release the entire alphabet for the blogtrain.  For now, here is the letter A.

Letter A

How to Default to the Edit Tab in PSP X4

With the computer collapse and construction of a new computer, I have had to switch to PSP X4 and Windows 7.  I am very sad about this.  First, I cannot seem to run two instances of PSP X4 at the same time, so tutorials are going to be a little slow until I can figure out a better way to take screenshots.

First, some notes as I try to get PSP X4 set up the way I like it.  I figured I should record how to make the Edit tab the default workspace in PSP X4 so that it always shows up when I open the program.  I hate defaulting into the Manager.

 1.  When PSP X4 first launches, it defaults into the Manage tab.

2.  To keep it from doing this, I first switch to the Edit tab.

3.  Next, select General Program Preferences (File > Preferences > General Program Preferences).

4.  Select 'Default Launch Workspace' in the window that opens and click the button next to 'Edit'.  

 

5.  Click 'OK'.  Now the Edit tab will be the default whenever PSP X4 opens.

Update on Downloading

4shared never responded to my emails, but I had a friend test last month and it would appear that it is possible to download from my 4shared account.  So, I am going to try to start posting again.  I wish someone had mentioned that they could download from 4shared or that 4shared could have had the courtesy to respond to my emails.

I am also on Google+ if you want to follow me there.

4shared blocked

Today, someone tried to claim ownership of one of my alphabets and reported the item to 4shared for copyright infringment.  I am not sure why this happened as the alphabet in question was made entirely by me and I have all the original, timestamped files that I used to make the alphabet.  Until 4shared is willing to believe my signed affidavit, I have been told that downloading of my files has been disabled.  I apologize to everyone for the inconvenience.

Wire and Alexandrite Heart Alpha

I was asked to make an alexandrite version of this alpha about three months ago.  It is definitely far too late for June, but perhaps someone can still use it.

Alpha

Temporarily Loading Fonts in Windows 7

Given that I have had to upgrade to Windows 7, I can no longer open a font, minimize it, and have it available for use in Paint Shop Pro.  I knew about the small program for temporarily loading a font, but since I had my lovely Windows XP, I didn't have to use it.  Alas, those days are over.

For people needing to temporarily load a font (and I have thousands, so I am not installing them), there is a program called Font Load Unload.

1.  Download Font Load Unload.

2.  Unzip the file to a folder.

3.  Go into the folder and launch (by double-click) the file called 'Font Load_Unload' (or Font Load_Unload.exe if you can see your extensions).

4.  Open the folder with the font to be the temporarily loaded.

5.  Drag the font to the Font Load_Unload window.

6.  This will load the font.

7. When you are done using the font, click the 'Unload' button to remove the font.

8.  Or, shutdown Windows and at the next boot, the loaded font will be gone (from the Font Load_Unload window and from Windows).

Computer Up, but Internet Down

I have spent the last two weeks building a new computer.  It took this long because the original hard drive that I bought was DOA and I had to send it back to Newegg.  This took a week.  I now have a computer with an operating system and no software.  I also do not have functioning internet as the wireless network card that I had with my old computer is not compatible with Windows 7.  My installation disk is for Windows XP.  I can only have internet if I steal the PowerLine adaptor from my kid's Xbox360.

I am going to try the Atheros driver that appears to show up on Google for the Belkin F5D8001 wireless card.  Here are some notes for myself:

1.  Go to
http://www.station-drivers.com/page/atheros.htm and download the
Windows Seven 32/64bits driver for the AR5008X.
2.  Unzip the file into a folder.
3.  Run the setup and install drivers.
4.  Open the device manager and select non-functioning ethernet control device (Belkin).
5.  Select Update Driver
6.  Choose “let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer”.
7.  Choose Qualcomm .
8.  Then, select the “Atheros AR5008X Wireless Network Adapter” from list.
9.  Get a warning message stating that the driver has a problem because it is not signed.
10.  Install it anyways.
11.  Reboot.

Computer is Dead

I was planning on returning to creating once I developed some free time. Unfortunately, my computer has decided to stop booting so any return to digital creativity is on an indefinite hold.

Opal Gemstone

Opal is not a faceted gemstone, but if I didn't make it, then October is without a birthstone.  This is it for the series if no other ideas pop into my head.

Opal Gemstone

Customizable Stencil Chipboard

I made this alpha for SNL73.  I am posting it because someone request an alpha that they could fill with their own image.  It is customizable.  Select the white space inside each letter and fill or clip with the paper or image of your choice.

Alpha

Sticker Alphabet

This tutorial will show you how to make a paper sticker alphabet in Photoshop.

Supplies:

6x6 Grid Template

1.  Open up the 6x6 grid template.  It is 3000 x 3000 pixels and will create 36 500x 500 characters so that you can have 26 letters and 10 numbers.  You can also make one letter at a time and not use the grid template.  I think it is easier and faster to make all the letters at once.

2.  Select a nice font.  I am using Copse.  It is a commercial use ok font from Font Squirrel. With the text tool, write out your letters and numbers as vectors. Try to position each letter in the middle of a grid square.  Choose any color you like.

3.  With the Move Tool or in the Layer Palette, select all the letters or type layers.

4.  In the Layer Palette, right-click the selected layers and choose 'Rasterize Type' from the menu.

5.  In the Layer Palette, right-click on the selected layers and select 'Merge Layers' from the menu.  This should merge all the letter layers but not the grid template layer.

6.  Select the paper of your choice and open it in Photoshop.

7.  Drag the paper on top of the layer with the alpha by selecting the Move Tool.  Next, left-click on the paper, then while holding down the button, drag it over to the canvas holding the alpha.

8.  Right-click on the new layer that is your paper and select 'Create Clipping Mask'.

9.  The paper is now clipped to the text.

10.  Select the layer with the text and apply a white outer stroke using the Layer Styles (Layer > Layer Style > Stroke) the letters in white.

Size = 20 px
Position = Outside
Blend Mode = Normal
Opacity = 100%
Fill Type = Color
Color = White (#FFFFFF)

11.  Hide the grid template layer by clicking the eye next to the layer and the alphabet is ready to be saved as either a single sheet or sliced into individual files.  If you have used my grid template, then you can use my Alpha Cutter Action to slice the image into individual files.

Just Hatched

I made alphas and some decorative items (grass, chicks and wordart) for SNL 60 and then I forgot to post it last year.  There are two zip files, one with all the different alphas and one with the decorative items.

Alphas

Decorative Extras

Topaz Cut Gem

Topaz Cut Gemstone

Citrine Cut Gem

Citrine Cut Gemstone

Peridot Cut Gem

I am still trying to recover from my cold.  Only a few more left in this series.

Peridot Cut Gemstone

Black Diamond

This is just for fun because I don't think you can actually buy black diamonds anywhere.  I used to think that synthetic diamonds were cubic zirconia, but Wikipedia claims that we can now artificially make gemstone quality diamonds.  So, I guess it might be possible to make a synthetic black diamond.

Black Diamond Cut Gemstone

Alexandrite Cut Gem

Alexandrite Cut Gemstone

Ruby Cut Gem

Most real rubies that I see are much more pink, but when I think of ruby, I like a deep rich red, so this is sort of a fantasy ruby alpha.

Ruby Cut Gemstone

Apatite Cut Gem

I am sick with the disease that will not go away.

Wikipedia says:

Apatite is infrequently used as a gemstone. Transparent stones of clean color have been faceted, and chatoyant specimens have been cabochon cut. Chatoyant stones are known as cat's-eye apatite, transparent green stones are known as asparagus stone, and blue stones have been called moroxite.

I don't know that I have ever seen apatite as a gemstone, but I was Googling for a cut stone that would match this color.

Apatite Cut Gemstone

Emerald Cut Gem

Emerald Cut Gemstone

Tanzanite Cut Gem

I've always wanted tanzanite jewelry, but I read that it is worse than blood diamonds.  At least nobody died for these.

Tanzanite Cut Gemstone

Bracket Frame Sample

An anonymous person left a comment that he/she/it wanted the bracket frame sample that I made for my bracket frame tutorial.  So, here it is.

You will need to click on the image to go to the largest size. Then right-click to save it.

Sapphire Cut Gem

This series isn't being posted in any particular order, but I do happen to like Sapphire a lot.

Sapphire Cut Gemstone

Bent Photo Frame

This tutorial will show you how to make a bent photo frame in Photoshop. At the end of the tutorial, you will have a template to which you can clip a photo.

1.  Open a new canvas the size of the photo you want to frame.  I am going to make mine a 4 x 6 because that fits well on a scrapbook page.

2.  Fill the layer with 50% grey (Shift + F5 or Edit > Fill).

3.  Increase the size of the canvas so that there will be room for the shadow.

5.  Add a drop shadow to the layer.

Blend Mode = Multiply
Opacity = 85%
Distance = 50 px
Spread = 15%
Size = 75 px

6.  In the layer palette, right-click on the effect (not the layer) to get a menu where you can create a layer from the drop shadow effect.  Select 'Create Layer' from the menu.

7.  Optional.  You may receive a warning message.  If you do, select 'OK'.

8.  Now you should have two layers.  One is the frame and one is the shadow.  Choose the layer with the frame.

9.  From the Edit menu, select 'Warp (Edit > Transform > Warp).

10.  Click the square on the bottom left and drag it up and to the left.

11.  Click the square on the top right and drag it up and to the left.

12.  Now any photo you clip to this frame will like it is bending off the page.  It is complete if you don't want a border around the photo.

13.  Optional.  To add a border to the frame, load the opaque region of the image as a selection (Select > Load Selection).

14.  Optional.  Contract the selection (Select > Modify > Contract).  I made mine 50 pixels but you can make it any size.

15.  Optional.  Ctrl + Shift + I to invert the selection.

16.  Optional.  Intersect the transparent region of the layer with the current selection (Select > Load Selection).  Go to Load Selection but choose 'Intersect with Selection' as the Operation.

16.  Optional.  Ctrl + J to create a new layer via copy.  The template now has all the necessary layers.

17.  Optional. Afterwards, you may wish to fill your selection with a different color so that you can see the frame better.  I did this by loading the selection as in Step 13.  Then I filled with a color as in Step 2.

I have made the frame template that I generated from this tutorial available.  I hope people can use it.

Bent Photo Frame Template