Lesann Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 Hi Guys, Let's say I have a paper template, like Darling Damask and I want to color as they have, how do I do it? I tried clipping mask with paper on the layer above, but it's faded, not pretty like these. I know there are different techniques for various papers, but I'm really feeling lost, I thought clipping mask was the answer on this, but it's not working. HugsLeslie Ann, who really wants to get the hang of these techniques so I can play more. File is attached below. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belle Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 Once you have clipped it try Blending modes until you have the look you want. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jode2771 Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 Belle is right Leslie Ann... place your underneath paper then clip your other paper to the mask... adjust blending modes - often overlay or multiply gives good results...the other thing I often do if I want a brighter/bolder colour is to duplicate and duplicate till I get the depth of colour I want - and you can always add different blending modes to these layers too! ANOTHER option if you are having no luck... is to do the clipping like you did - then create a duplicate of those two layers and merge them - giving a simple single layer... turn off the original layers so you are just dealing with your copied single layer. Then Edit>Adjust Colour (Ctrl+U on a PC) - increase the saturation, this often just bumps up the colour enough without changing the style of the mask... Hope that helps! Jody Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MariJ Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 I never can get these pages to look ok, either and I'm still a little confused. So, Jody - you are saying that you put one paper on top of the SS and one on the bottom? Like Leslie I can never get bright colors, they always look dull and gray and washed out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AggieB Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 Saturation sometimes works well. Also, if your blending mode is working in the right direction, just too intense, you can try lowering the saturation of the top layer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JenniferZ Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 Also, if your papers are dull and the saturation isn't quite right, try adjusting the levels and curves of the paper template layer (on a copy, only, so you can preserve the original). Use a clipping mask, as suggested above: Place a color fill layer (or paper, or gradient) above the template layer and CNTRL+G (PSE) or CNTRL+ALT+G (PS) to clip it to the template. Then adjust the blend mode of that (the layer above the template) layer. Then: Select the template layer and go to Image>Adjustments>Levels OR Image>Adjustments>Curves Either select "Auto" and then adjust the sliders to your liking, or just skip the auto adjustment and play around with the sliders. Doing this can help boost the color, detail, and texture of the paper. (This works for ScrapSimple embellishment templates, or other grayscale items.) HTH! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Florida granny Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 All good advice! I just want to add that I hadn't noticed this particular paper template but I'm adding it to my Wish List. It's lovely! Let us know how it goes for you, Leslie Ann. Oh yes, one more thing: using slightly patterned papers also adds to the variation in color you saw in the marketing image. It looks like Laura, the designer, clipped papers from the Sunshine Bouquet collection to the damask template to give the damask those pretty colors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhbren Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 I just checked those SSPapers, and Laura provided them as PSD files, with two layers. So she might - probably - also put a solid or patterned paper under the template layer. That would add depth and interest to the final merged paper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesann Posted March 24, 2015 Author Share Posted March 24, 2015 Wow, I'm getting over the flu and decide to check and wow...answers, and suddenly I feel better I can't wait to try these ideas and I will post back and let you all know my failure or successes. I'm going to print them off and try them one by one. Hugs Leslie Ann Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SodScrap Posted March 24, 2015 Share Posted March 24, 2015 Great tips ladies! I love that we as members can ask questions...and someone always has an answer!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lorac Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 Thanks for the information gals, I always have problems with SS Papers. Going to try these suggestions and see what I come up with. I have the Sunshine Bouquet Collection and it's beautiful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladyscrapalot Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 This is great info! I also have trouble with this. Will have to save this info for future reference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesann Posted March 26, 2015 Author Share Posted March 26, 2015 Jody and Jennifer what do you mean by underneath paper, the template or the base layer, like a patterned paper? Layer stack would be Layer 1 base like a color or patterned paper. Layer 2 is SS paper template? Layer 3 is what? Another pattern or color? And is clipped to layer 2? "Belle is right Leslie Ann... place your underneath paper then clip your other paper to the mask... adjust blending modes - often overlay or multiply gives good results...the other thing I often do if I want a brighter/bolder colour is to duplicate and duplicate till I get the depth of colour I want - and you can always add different blending modes to these layers too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JenniferZ Posted March 26, 2015 Share Posted March 26, 2015 Lesann, on 26 Mar 2015 - 12:22 AM, said:Lesann, on 26 Mar 2015 - 12:22 AM, said: Jody and Jennifer what do you mean by underneath paper, the template or the base layer, like a patterned paper? Layer stack would be Layer 1 base like a color or patterned paper. Layer 2 is SS paper template? Layer 3 is what? Another pattern or color? And is clipped to layer 2? "Belle is right Leslie Ann... place your underneath paper then clip your other paper to the mask... adjust blending modes - often overlay or multiply gives good results...the other thing I often do if I want a brighter/bolder colour is to duplicate and duplicate till I get the depth of colour I want - and you can always add different blending modes to these layers too! Hi Leslie Ann! I just opened up one of these templates (Damask 1), so it will be easier to help you. If you use the .PSD file, pull that over into your program (PSE or full PS?) and create a copy of it (Image>Duplicate). Then close the original file, so you don't accidently save over it. You will notice that there is a Background layer and then the Damask Layer. Because the only thing that actually has texture here is the Damask layer, you will want to place a pre-made digital paper UNDER the damask layer and OVER the Background layer. You want to do this because the paper will not look natural if you just put a fill layer there, as it won't have texture. It will be easier at this stage for you to use a pre-made digital paper as your background until you get the hang of using Scrap Simple papers to create your own. You will probably want to use a paper that is solid, or just has a subtle pattern or distressing, so your final paper isn't too busy. Now you should have a textured paper under your damask layer. OVER your Damask layer, you want to create a new layer. You can either: Use another paper here (patterned or solid), OR Fill it with a solid color, OR Fill it with a gradient color. THEN, you want to clip that layer (the new layer you just created over your Damask layer) to the Damask layer. You can do this by keyboard shortcut CNTRL+G in PSE or CNTRL+ALT+G in Photoshop. I see now that the way Laura designed this set that using a blend mode for this layer isn't necessary. The texture of the Damask will show through just by clipping to it. Hope this helps and if not, please let us know. You can do this!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesann Posted March 26, 2015 Author Share Posted March 26, 2015 Hi Jennifer, I followed your instruction and voilà, I have a new paper. Thank you for your details, they worked! I'm attaching a sample. I used strong colors so I could see what I was doing in each layer. All of you have been so helpful. Now to understand blending modes...not for this, but in general so if I need to I can use them. I did see that PS Essentials on the web has a good tut on that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teecee Posted March 26, 2015 Share Posted March 26, 2015 Your paper looks great Leslie Ann! You can find some great blending mode information on the blog here and here. HTH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JenniferZ Posted March 26, 2015 Share Posted March 26, 2015 Lesann, on 26 Mar 2015 - 1:09 PM, said: Hi Jennifer, I followed your instruction and voilà, I have a new paper. Thank you for your details, they worked! I'm attaching a sample. I used strong colors so I could see what I was doing in each layer. All of you have been so helpful. Now to understand blending modes...not for this, but in general so if I need to I can use them. I did see that PS Essentials on the web has a good tut on that. sample Clipping project.jpg Yay!!! Glad that worked for you -- your new paper looks great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jode2771 Posted March 26, 2015 Share Posted March 26, 2015 Love that new paper!!!! You did a great job... :-D As for blending modes- trial and error. I am sure there are only a handful of people who FULLY understand them. In the world. The rest of us just try different things. Best piece of info you can get is that the second "box" down containing multiply, darken, colour burn etc INCREASES AND DARKENS the colour whilst the "box" below containing screen, lighten, linear dodge etc all LIGHTEN the colours... The trick is to have a play and have some fun... Then you will get into trying multiple blend modes... And we may never see you again lol... By that I mean creating multiple copies and doing different blends on each to build different effects... Sometimes a picture may require multiple copies on screen to lighten it but others may require screen and overlay and linear light for example... Have some fun, and remember nothing is ever WRONG. Control Z is your friend. And people are always here to help if you need it :-) Ps great mini tute Jen, you rock! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belle Posted March 27, 2015 Share Posted March 27, 2015 Hi Jennifer, I followed your instruction and voilà, I have a new paper. Thank you for your details, they worked! I'm attaching a sample. I used strong colors so I could see what I was doing in each layer. All of you have been so helpful. Now to understand blending modes...not for this, but in general so if I need to I can use them. I did see that PS Essentials on the web has a good tut on that. sample Clipping project.jpg A quick way to decide on a blending mode: Double click on Normal> use the down arrow on your keyboard to scroll down. This is the quickest way to see what they all do before you decide. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MariJ Posted March 27, 2015 Share Posted March 27, 2015 Wow, Lesann your paper looks great! I will have to try Jennifer's great tips and thanks for the reminder about scrolling Belle - that sure does save a lot of time and make it so much easier when trying out blending modes. Lesann - I love blending but the best thing to do is just keep playing. Usually I end up with something i like, but most times I can't remember how I did it! Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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