Jump to content

Free Mini-Class- Diamonds And Tin: Working With Styles


mbc72

Recommended Posts

Tuesday October 21, 2014 8:00 p.m. (ET)

In this Mini Class, Carla (crs) and Melanie (mbc72) will share tips for working with styles, focusing on diamond, tin, metal, and other precious gem styles! There will also gift for all participants from Ginny Whitcomb!

 

What are styles?

Styles apply effects to a layer.

What can you do with styles?

*Change the scale

*Edit the settings

*Copy style between layers

How To:

Most styles are applied by choosing the layer with element you want to add the style to and double clicking the style. Some styles require that you first duplicate the element, then apply the style to the top of the two layers.

Tip #1- Scale Effects

To scale your style, choose Layer>Layer Style>Scale Effects and move the slider until your style looks right to you.

Alternately for some styles you can double click the FX button next to your layer name in the layer panel, which brings up a menu of editable options.

Note: Not all styles can be scaled or edited. Photoshop often gives you more control options than Photoshop Elements.

Tip #2 Adding additional styles to the same embellishment.

If you want to add a second style to a layer that already has a style, hold down the shift key while adding the second style.

Another option is to simplify your layer prior to adding a second style. Simplifying the layer will render the first style uneditable so be sure to scale it before you simplify.

Using the Scale Effects option to edit your style will affect both styles, so you may need to make adjustments using the menu options by clicking the FX button.

Tip #3 Recoloring Styles

Occasionally when using a style, it won’t quite match the colors on your layout and will need to be tweaked. In Photoshop this can often be done by clicking on the FX button and adjusting the color overlay in the Layer Styles menu.

Photoshop Elements doesn’t give you that same option. An easy work-around I have found is to apply my style, simplify the layer, add a color overlay and use blending modes to get the perfect match to my layout. Feel free to use whatever re-coloring method you like the most.

Tip #4 Copy and Paste Styles

Okay, so you have your style and it’s just perfect- finally! Now you realize you want to add the style to another element and will have to go through the entire process all over again. Not so! It’s super easy to copy and paste layer styles. This can be done by right-clicking your layer and choosing “copy layer style.” Then click on the layer you wish to paste it to, right click again and “paste layer style.” This can also be done through the menu bar at the top of the screen: Layer>Layer Style>Copy (or Paste) Layer Style.

Note that if you have simplified your layer style for any reason, this will not work.

Tips #5 Have Fun!

Styles can be used in so many different ways: applied to text, they add a whole new dimension to your word art; add a stroke on its own layer and apply a style to give your embellishments a fun border; mix and match styles on your page to change the whole feel- grungy metals for a masculine page or shiny glitter for a feminine page. Don’t be afraid to experiment, ctrl-z will undo a style, dragging the FX to the trash can will erase the style, or right click your layer and choose “clear layer style” to get rid of it. That’s the joy of digital scrapbooking, you never run out of supplies and just about everything can be undone!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...