Hello
My name is Sarah and I am 38. I live in Toronto. I have been scrapping for a long time and like to make scrapbooks for others. I would like to learn how to design a little but don't know where or how to start. I use photoshop elements 2018. Thanks.
Welcome Sarah.
I'm also in Toronto (Scarborough specifically) and I also use Photoshop Elements.
The easiest thing in my opinion is to learn how to do paper and patterns. (The process is also the same for Elements as it is for the full Photoshop.) Marisa, the site owner has several tutorials in video form here:
https://www.digitalscrapbook.com/forums/digital-scrapbooking/tutorials/making-a-simple-pattern-in-photoshop-video
https://www.digitalscrapbook.com/forums/digital-scrapbooking/tutorials/photoshop-patterns-tutorial-alternating-rows-video
https://www.photoshopessentials.com/basics/repeating-patterns-intro/ (not Marisa, don't use 72 dpi setting, always use 300 dpi for digital scrapping).
I start with an empty square 1/5" x 1.5" at 300 dpi. It's very important to always use 300 dpi, that's the standard resolution for digital scapping. I use a custom shape or graphic that's in the public domain to avoid copyright issues. . (www.pixabay is a great source). After you make the pattern, you select all, then save it as a pattern. You then create a blank canvas 12" x 12" and using the bucket (set on pattern), fill the blank canvas with the pattern.That makes a transparent overlay. You then add a layer underneath, select a colour and using the paint bucket again set on paint this time (not pattern) and colour the layer. At this point, I save it as a psd. Then I merge the layers and save it as a jpg. (I usually use a style to texturize it first before flatterning.)
The only drawback with Photoshop Elements is you can't check gamut with it unlike the full Photoshop. Gamut is the different between rgb colours from light (like on a monitor) and the narrower range of colours (cymk) that is produced by ink This is the reason occasionally why things don't print out as seen on your screen (most common with very bright/neon colours).. I have a copy of full Photoshop and I'd be willing to check any designs you make to see if they are in gamut if you like.
(BTW the freeware program GIMP will also check for out of gamut).
Thanks. I will try these things.
Welcome Sarah! So glad to have you here. Let me know if you have any questions.
Hi Sarah
Thanks. I am not sure how to start designing but I want to try
Hello
Here is a basic paper that I made. I am uploading it 600 x 600 jpeg for web. dont know how i would upload it if i wanted to share it for others to use? I hope you like it. really want to learn to design. btw. I said i had pse, but recently switched to photoshop. thanks for your help
ps. sorry how do i upload an image from my computer
You can learn here how to post an image.
If you're interested in learning to design and sharing what you're making, you can check out the Commons.
I'd never heard of that syndrome before.