[Susan H]

I would like for a seasoned digital scrapper with knowledge on the digital design software to just come right out and tell me where I stand as far as my abilities in digital scrapbooking...UGH!
I have been using PhotoImpact - I started with PI.8 and have worked my way up to PI.12

I see all of these super cool brushes and stuff for PhotoShop users and I thought, man, how cool would it be to be able to use those!?!?

So tonight I bit the bullet and downloaded the free trial and am considering buying the brushes for PS users like the glitter stuff and the super epoxy looking stuff so that I can design some things...

I'm playing around on PSE6 and I just get the feeling - aside from a very few things that if I just KNEW my software better that I may just have a really cool program that does WAY MORE than I thought...that's why I can't figure out how to translate some of the tutorials...like "burn" edges...I'm kinda certain that with a little bit of effort I could achieve this, right?

Maybe I need both software packages?!?!

Please help!!

Thanks in advance...

[PBarnes]

Hello and welcome to Scrap Girls. I don't have any experience with PhotoImpact so I don't know how it compares with PSE or Photoshop CS. I know that PSE and Photoshop have really become kind of the industry standard for digital scrapbooking. There are lots of things like the brushes and actions that are created by scrapbooking designers that will only work in the Adobe products. You really shouldn't need more than one program. Some of the designers do use Adobe Illustrator for creating some of the product they sell but for straight digital scrapbooking, one program should be enough.

[angdrumm]

HI Susan I am familiar with Photo Impact, My DH has it on his PC and I used to use it. It can do an awful lot, but I am not sure if the brushes work with it, give me a while & I will check for you. I have PE6 and CS3 as well now I prefer to use CS3 but only because it does SO much more.

I would say that Photo Impact is along the same lines as PE6 but I haven't actually compared the 2 side by side IYSWIM.

You can certainly produce a decent page using Photo Impact here is one I did with it Beach

I will fire up DH's pc & check out the brushes for you & get back to you

[angdrumm]

OK I checked it out and sadly it does not look like you can add new brushes to Photo Impact

[Susan H]

That's the part I knew - - Photo Impact won't allow for me to add brushes...

I have a really strong desire to add glitter to certain things, elements - - I love the effect!! I'm jazzed that there was a sale this morning because I had a few styles in my cart that I was dying to try!!

I can edit a photo like a pro - - I just recently made a little boy who was picking his nose disappear from the background of my son Nick boy at the pool and you can't tell unless I showed you the original (the adjusted photo is Here - you can sorta see the bricks in the background and the little bit of variance)

I just think that I need to have PSE6 for the ability to use those great brushes - - I can edit in PSE and then save and open in PhotoImpact it just seems a little redundant... I am however, TOTALLY impressed with ALL of the advanced things that you can do in Photo Impact that are not available in PSE6.

Now, if only I can figure out how to work those new brushes!! I loaded three things into the folder as per the instructions that came with my new styles. I tried editing an alpha letter that I had created - I want to cover the edges with Gelly Glitter but I can find the command now that the style is loaded into PSE - I'm confused as to where to look!!

Any suggestions??

I should mention that my "alpha letter" is saved as a PNG file - - and I have it saved as a PSD - - also. I'm working on a layer - - not a "base" image. But I did try to work on the base layer - - I'm having to work through the little kinks...

...I keep singing Dorrie's "just keep swimming" - - it does seem to help a little.

[angdrumm]

OK Susan I will try and help if I can, but I think I am a little confused as to what you are asking.

Here is a tutorial for brushes SG University - brushes

I am stumped with the styles too I'm afraid, I have spent ages trying to work out how to load them but to no avail, maybe a more knowledgeable person will come along & help.

[Susan H]

I searched around the board and found that someone had purchased a "tools" feature and weren't able to find it - PB (?) suggested something in her post that made me go - - "oh yeah...I saw that..." so I went back to the program and looked around some more...

I found the style fx and the items that I'd loaded.

I created a workable layer for the part I wanted "sparkly" and applied the style...

I want to keep the layers separate so that I can still tweak 'em - - my newest challenge is being able to select just the "top" layer and move it a smidge with my arrow keys - I believe that's considered a nudge in digital expression... anyhoot - the arrow keys are only guiding me around in the style options box - I'm not able to move the layer on my desktop. I can move it with the mouse, though - I just like to be a bit of a perfectionist and that's why I love the "nudge" with the arrows. KWIM???

Sorry, I'm pretty long winded at explanations, I know!!

I have a feeling that I'll have a whole set of alphabet letters that are all glittery by the end of the day - - in working with one program and then trying out another it's like moving to a new house - - I'm still wandering around not knowing where things are just yet!!

Thanks for the help...it is very appreciated!!

[angdrumm]

OK the nudge bit I CAN do, you need to make sure that the move tool is selected on the top left it looks like a small triangle/arrow with a crosshair next to it (cross with arrows on the end). Once you have that selected you need to select the layer you want to nudge, then use your arrow keys to move it 1 pixel at a time or Shift and Arrow moves it 10 pixels at a time. HTH

[Susan H]

YEAY!! I knew it was just a matter of "selection" I just couldn't figure out the process!!

Yippee - - this alphabet is coming along so well - I can't wait to use it!!

Thanks again for all the help!!

[desha]

Hi! I've used PI since I think PI6 and I'm now up to PIX3. You can use Paint Shop Pro and Photoshop brushes in PI. This is how I'm able to do it:

First open up the PSP or PS program and create a large enough image that will hold the brush. Then I create a new layer. I then use the brush on that layer. For multiple brushes, I just keep creating layers and then the brush, then so on.

Once I'm done with that, I save it as a PSD. I then open up the image in PI and make sure you open each layer as an object. I then use my Layer Manager to select each layer. Then go to Object menu and choose "copy to object library". I also have created my own brush library in the Easy Palette.

That's the only way I've been able to convert those brushes. It take a little extra work, but it works

HTH!

[Susan H]

Desha...

I love that you explained it in the very same way that I have been "doing it"!! Does it sound crazy?? I have been having a wonderful time - staying up until the weee hours pecking away - - trying stuff - - hitting the UNDO when it doesn't do what I'd hoped...

I'm, by no means, an expert but think that I've messed around with Photo Impact enough to kinda get it to do what I'm set out for it "to do".

I just LIKE the idea of being able to click a button and have a "field" covered in an effect that I want as opposed to using the CLONE tool to get the job done.

KWIM??

I think I'll be investing in the PSE6 and using it for element creation...understanding tutorials, etc.

I prefer my Photo Impact for page creation because it's what I'm used to. Today I spent 15 min. looking for how to add a drop shadow to a photo in PSE... I just use Shift-S and select the amount and the direction of the shadow.

Thanks so much for the response - it's a comfort to know "I'm not all alone with my software".

[desha]

I totally understand what you mean I'm still trying to work out actions to tasks in PI and not getting quite the same effects.

And nope, definately not alone. I have a fun time trying to convert things into PI