[wings]

I love the look of inked & chalked edges, and I've been working on my technique lately. It's not great, but I think I'm on the right track. Here are couple of layouts where I "inked" and "chalked":

http://scrapgirls.com.ipbhost.com/index.ph...cmd=si&img=3210
http://scrapgirls.com.ipbhost.com/index.ph...cmd=si&img=3214

Here's what I've been doing:

1. Duplicate the layer I want to ink.
2. Choose my "ink" color (usually one of the darker colors in the "to-be-inked" layer; I may alter the saturation & brightness to darken it further).
3. Fill the duplicate layer with the "ink" color.
4. Move the "ink" layer BEHIND the original layer.
5. Using a soft edge brush with an opacity of about 65%, I erase around the edges of the ORIGINAL layer to reveal the "ink" beneath.
6. If I'm "chalking", I then switch to a dry media brush and lower the opacity further (to about 35%) and erase some more of the original layer.

I find that erasing the original layer to reveal "ink" is working better for me than "painting" ink on, especially when I'm working with irregularly shaped objects (like the torn paper in the first layout).

[lesliefavela]

Nice work on your layouts!!!

[Annie]

These layouts are awesome and the digital chalking and inking is just terrific.

[heisiam]

Pam, that looks great! I'm going to try your "reverse" inking and chalking method...sounds fun! And how innovative of you!

I've been messing around with chalking and inking too and like to start out by using the inner glow layer style and tweaking the adjustments to get the effect that I want. Haven't figured out how to get an irregular enough edge using it though so I do have to paint some of that on with a brush afterwards. Here' an example. In this layout I also used some of my transparencies for the inking that I did.

 CBARBR_ThisCLose_600.jpg (118.31K)
Number of downloads: 133

[abbier626]

Very pretty layouts Pam. I have wanted to try inking in my digi layouts but didn't know how. I'll have to try your reverse method. Thanks!

[evariz]

I just tried your technique on Cheryl's "chocolate crimp" from the Nothing Frilly collection. It looks great...specially with the crimped look. thanks for sharing. I did the inking. I am not sure how to do the chalking technique...I have PSP9 and I am not sure what you mean by a "dry media brush".

[wings]

PSE 3.0 comes with several sets of brushes. One is a set of dry media brushes (Pastel on Charcoal Paper, Pastel on Rough Texture, Wax Pencil, etc.) that mimic the effect of the media that you'd get on various surfaces. They are very textured with a lot of show through, so they seem to approximate some of the effects I get with chalk on paper.

[triciadoll]

Great layouts Pam! I need to try your "reverse" method. Thanks for sharing!

[Diane]

Those are beautiful layouts and that technique is so clever. It looks great. I use Corel's Painter IX because of the great chalks, inks and paper textures that are available for getting that kind of look but now I can try your way in PS and have more versatility. Thank you!

[Cropnpix]

Thanks so much, Pam. I have been wondering how to do that and your explanation is so easy! I can't wait to try this. Susan

[ScrappySue]

This is a great idea (loved your LO's too!). I must try it, TFS!!

[needmath]

Sounds like a really neat technique! I just have a question that might seem dumb, I'll ask it anyway.

Why do you have to duplicate the layer and then fill it? Why can't you just make a new fill layer and move it below the original layer?

[Syndee]

Great technique! Thank you so much for sharing! Awesome layouts!

[needmath]

needmath, on Jun 5 2006, 09:38 PM, said:

Sounds like a really neat technique! I just have a question that might seem dumb, I'll ask it anyway.

Why do you have to duplicate the layer and then fill it? Why can't you just make a new fill layer and move it below the original layer?

Well I just looked at the LO's and I now understand the need to duplicate the layer! I was having a DOH moment!

[DDecker]

Too funny that this thread showed back up today, i figured this out this morning before I read it!

Love the LO's

[Shari PV Mom]

As a newbie I was happy to find this. I just thought I'd bump it back to the top for some of the other newbies out there too!

[LeAnn]

Hi,
Here's a technique for PSP X that I just found out about, for me anyway. (I'm determined to learn how to use it to it's fullest potential! LOL)
Open a new layer, flood fill with solid color, select all, contract selection for your margin, then delete the center portion, invert selection, and go to 'selection' 'edit' and you can use almost all your tools to push the edges of the selection around, even those brushes we've been collecting! Play with it and you can do some really neat things.
LeAnn

[jennk]

I started reading this thread and thought how cool it was. Then I was even more impressed that it is several years old! How cool to be able to pull up a conversation that was started way back!

[PeaSue]

Oh, I did it! Thanks for the tip! I am so new and am learning so much!