I've recently been trying to work on clustering. Previously any clusters I've made were like 3-5 elements and took forever to make. Well, they still take me forever to make, but I am trying to work on making larger clusters. I was hoping some of you 'clustering pros' could lend me some tips for making good clusters. Thanks!
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I really suck at this too, so I'm looking forward to any replies.
I'm certainly no pro at clusters but have you tried using a cluster template to help you jump start the ideas? Then too you can look at clusters you like from other kits to get ideas on what items work well together for clustering. There are a lot of inspiring clusters you can find on pixelscrapper if you search in graphics for "clusters".
Shadows can be a bit tricky. This is how I handle things if making clusters for kits. Once you get the cluster finished make a copy of each item in the cluster then fill the copied layer with a solid color. After that merge those filled pieces so you end up with a solid "mask" to clip to. Once the "mask" is finished, then I make another layer of each piece from the original and fill it with my shadow color, use gaussian blur it and warp it to taste
. When that's done I clip the shadow layer to the "mask". That way I can keep the outline of the cluster free of shadows for others to apply their own shadowing. However, if you are making a cluster for layouts I would skip creating the "mask".
I haven't done a whole lot in the cluster department outside of layouts but it's easy to get addicted once you are on a roll
I'd also like to learn a bit more about clustering as it's something I really struggle with but am interested in! Sunny is amazing at clustering, I love her pieces!!
@Jessica, though it sounds a bit complicated when written out, your mask process seems fantastic! I will certainly be doing something like that if I manage to bring myself to cluster-making!
I've never seen a cluster template. I've seen layout temps with clusters in them, but never just a cluster template. I think that would be an awesome product line for someone to go into. I mean a lot of people start scrapping using layout temps so for those of us who want to learn to cluster, clustering temps would be great! Kind of like clustering 101(small clusters), 102(medium clusters), etc... I could work on clustering without making a layout with each one. I have plenty of kits that I can do that with. I could use my own kits and give them away on my blog while I'm working on them. Soooo anyone volunteer to make some cluster templates?? LOL!
@Kayl I agree Sunny has always been so graceful with her clusters. Always beautiful! Also I'm sure its just my inability to explain things that made it sound complicated lol!
Truly explaining has always been a complicated/long winded process for me. 
@Jody Well I have to say there isn't much out there for cluster templates but after a designer challenge featuring cluster templates I really liked the idea & learned it really isn't that hard! I added my Into the Woods Cluster Templates here.
I agree layout templates often have clustering you can work with. And I like looking around for inspiration too. I've actually been wanting to practice some more in the cluster work. I might try & tackle this some more in the near future.
@Jessica Thanks for the templates! I searched & searched and I couldn't find any templates, just actual clusters. Obviously I was using the wrong search terms. As for the designer challenge, I may try that.
Interesting topic; I'm not sure that I'd be able to offer any guidance but, I know that when I first started to do digital scrapbooking, I wanted to do everything myself and just dove in. It was a matter of gaining experience and confidence. Initially, I equated the process to being like making flower arrangements (which I've never mastered); I just kept moving things around until I saw something I liked. Then of course, the proper shadowing is important too. One wants to achieve a cluster that looks realistic (as if it were a photo of an actual, tangible, object). And, yes, it takes a long time.
Not a guide really, just m "two cents".
I agree...it would be great to have some cluster templates...some with wordart & some without...
Holly Wolf has some nice cluster templates on her blog/shop for sale...
I've never quite got the hang of clusters either, they're tough! Tips would be great!
Sounds like quite a few would like to work on this. Maybe we can have it for a challenge sometime.
I love the idea of a challenge and would love to participate!
Hi... here r some clusters I had made a long time ago for PSBT...certainly not the best, I know...so your honest opinion?
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@chitra those are very nice! I especially love the ones with the Native American feel to them. Very pretty.
I hope posting this is okay - I worked on a cluster yesterday and enjoyed the way it turned out so much it just kinda evolved into a layout. I basically started from the bottom with paint splatters and various scatters then worked my way up to a frame and the rest of the elements just kinda fell into place. Constructive criticism is welcome, especially in the shadow department! Shadows are hard! lol
Very nice, Shanta...yeah, shadowing is really difficult!
Clusters .... to make them look right follow a design line ... place a flourish layer then try creating circles on them, down or across the line .... larger ones and smaller ones until you have a line you like .... you now have your template. Save it .... next start filling in those circles with your larger elements and then start filling ... you can then move around elements until you have a piece that pleases your eye ... don't try and fill too much at first. It takes practice and work the first couple of times you do them but then it will come more naturally. You can make more templates with a different flourish as the lowest layer. This is how I started working them anyway and I found it worked well
...cluster is made up of all CU PS items, except for the frame (mine but cu) & bee & butterfly gems which I extracted.
...used in a LO, bg paper Ania Archer's 'bohemian breeze' paper.
*Sorry guys, the .png image of the cluster does not upload well ...
Pretty Chitra!
Thanks, Jill!
Thanks for the tips, Susan!
Beautiful layout! I love every thing about your cluster, Chitra!
Thank you for your lovely response, Jody!
aww, I thought I´ve pointed you all to this topic earlier ladies - but somehow I am not seeing my own comment. Maybe I close the tab before it was registered? My computer is very slow these days... There are some great tips there...
And, well, another tip is practice, practice, practice....
I also learned through the years that you can put your shadows on a seppparated layer photosop - and this way you may erase part of them, nudge it so it look longer in parts of the element that seems to be farther from the background, etc. It makes difference on clustering.
I also think that imagining whether it would work on paper scrap makes difference to - with the actual elements, would be possible to layer this on top of that?
Thanks Lorien! 2 of the tutorial links still work plus there are some good tip!!