|
Holiday Greeting Cards
Using the techniques discussed this month you can create a
stand-alone post card style greeting card, or make the photos on the front or
inside of your greeting cards much more personalized.
Although the card above does not look that much like one you
would send out for the Holidays, it uses several important effects and
techniques that are only limited by your creativity.
In class I sold a supplemental CD-ROM that uses video to
demonstrate these various techniques. If you would like me to send you one of
these videos, please email me and I will send you ordering information. The
cost is $3 + shipping.
To brush up on the techniques used make sure you read the
notes from our March meeting called "Solving the Mystery
of Layers."
STEP 1: Create new image by going to FILE -->
NEW. This will open up a window asking what dimensions you want the card to
be. Make sure you design it at around 200-300 dpi (ppi). This will create a
better print later on.
STEP 2: Create a background or graphic. With
most image editing tools this is simply done by selecting the fill tool and
filling the blank area in with the desired color (red in the photo above).
Don't forget about gradients, they can also give a nice effect.
STEP 3: Place in the picture. This is best done
by opening the picture that you want to use, then (with that picture selected)
go to SELECT --> ALL, then EDIT --> COPY. Then select the card image (colored
background at this point) and go to EDIT --> PASTE. This will paste the
picture into the background.
STEP 4: You may need to resize the image. Do
this by going into IMAGE --> TRANSFORM --> FREE TRANSFORM. By holding down
shift and dragging your left mouse button over one of the corner handlebars
you can keep the image proportions while resizing.
STEP 5: Insert Text. Select your text tool from
your main menu bar. Click the cursor where you want the type to be. Type.
STEP 6: Special effects. Use your Layers, Layer
Styles, and Effects pallets to alter each layer with special effects such as
drop shadow, glow, or beveled edges.
Once you are done make sure you save the original file in the
program's proprietary format (PSD or PPS for Elements). This will preserve the
layers. BUT, if you want to email it, save it as a jpg file with a different
name.
TIP: You can also
save these files in JPG format and then insert them into your greeting card
creation program.
Links from this month's meeting
THE NEW USER GROUP ALBUM
TechTV Holiday Card Tutorial
Photoshop Speech Balloons
Worth1000
Photoshop Contest Site
Please visit Gene
Taylor's Sporting Goods.
They provide a great door
prize each month at our monthly user group meetings.
Also, thanks to Journy at
Sam's Club for donating a coupon for free film developing as a door prize.
IMPORTANT LINKS
The
article to end all articles on Digital Photography
Digital
Photography Review
Scanner
help
|
