Last week, someone told me she wanted to find scripts to add some photo effects. She had seen all those fancy actions for Photoshop, but she was using Paintshop Pro. She asked me if i could do some. Without a specific effect in mind, i just browsed the net for interesting photo effects, photo frames, and such. I ended up on a collage effect, and sure enough, there was a tutorial for achieving it in Photoshop. I started reading the instructions, trying to see if it could be done in Paintshop Pro too, but i got discouraged with the amount of work it involved. I had no intention of working on 60 individual layers, even in PSP, so i thought of a different way to achieve it and it was also easy to turn into a script. Although doing it manually is not hard, it still takes time, so the script will allow you to  get a great result in no time.

The script will generate small, medium or large squares, depending on what you choose. It will generate many blocks. Maybe you will find that some spots are not covered, or maybe you won’t like the arrangement. No problem. Ask the script to add more blocks. In fact, they are “full” blocks with an outline, so even if you were to add 200 blocks, you will not see a ton of outlines.

If you end up with something that is almost perfect, but you still want to tweak it, no problem: you can add more blocks with the tool that will be already set for you. And you can also add a rectangular block for a real focus on a part of the photo.

This script is available in the store: Creation Cassel

As usual, you can add your name to the RAK thread in the DST forum for a chance to win this script. Just tell me how you would do this manually. I will be back on Monday night to draw for a winner.

As a freebie, this week, i created a mask and a matching png template. You can use either one, depending on your program or the technique you want to use. It is suitable for a 6×4 photo, but as a mask, you can use it with a larger image. Not only you can use it on a photo, but maybe you can also use it with a paper. That would make a fun background, don’t you think? And it will be great to use with the upcoming workshop on Masks!

Just click on the preview to start the direct download.

Sarah had fun with the License Plate script last week. She posted her dream plate. Isn’t that gorgeous?

 

I would love this as a dream plate too, since i have never been in Hawaii. That would be great!

 

New from the Campus

Last week, we held two totally new activities. They were both called Video Speed Scrap, but really, they should be renamed. One was on templates and one was on monograms. It was really fun to all work on our own project yet be able to see what others were doing. That is the beauty of the set up we had. The participants all created templates and monograms. You can see one monogram that Teejay did. They will be distributed to all the Campus members as soon as i get all the pieces together. Here are some comments sent by the participants:

“Amazing” – Rachel

“I really liked being able to see your screen” – Susie

“It was fun. Lets do it again.” – Elaine

“i thought it was fantastic… what a great way this would be ..to learn of each other..this was what the net is meant for” – Teejay

Are we going to have another one of those? Probably. When? That, i don’t know. I am thinking of repeating the event with similar themes but i also have other ones in mind. When that will be scheduled, i will post it for you.

Finally, both the Basic Scrap course and the Element Creation tutorials course are still on sale. This will only be available for a few more days as it will end at midnight on July 31st. Check them out.

 for

$49

Basic Scrap Course        Element Creation Tutorials

On August 5th, we will have our next live workshop. The theme will be Masking in PSP. We often see masks as individual products in stores, but how do you use them? Can they have other purpose than just making a nice shape around a photo?

We’ll be looking into that. Of course, if you have any particular question you would like us to address during the workshop, just drop us an email, or include the question in your registration form.

 

A while ago, i saw a nice layout where a single photo was displayed in three sections. I remember, in the past, trying to find templates that i could use to do something similar but always seemed to end up with a template where the splits were in very annoying spots, like across a face. So that is what led to the creation of this script. You get many options to choose from and the flexibility to customize what the script gives you. You can have horizontal or vertical splits only, or get them in both directions for smaller areas. You can choose to have the pieces with some space in between and even choose how much. You can have square or rounded corners. You can also have the splits evenly distributed or randomly created.

Once the script creates the “grid”, you have the additional option to group some pieces to make sure no face is cut in half or that the focus of the photo is really, the focus. But that is not all. All the pieces will end up on a separate layer so you can further customize the result, by adding effects to some pieces, by moving them, rotating them, even deleting them (in case you want to get rid of Uncle Tom!). See some samples of additional effect you can get with this script:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can grab this script in my store: Creation Cassel

And of course, there is always a chance for you to win this script. Add your name to this thread in the Happy Place and i will be back on Monday night with the name of a lucky winner.

As usual, i have a freebie for you. Since this script runs on an image, i could not run it for you, but i used a blank grey image and created this template for you. It is 3000 x 2400 pixels, so you can resize it to match your own photo. You can use it vertically or horizontally. Each piece is on a separate layer and the whole template is in PSD format. Show me how you will be using it creatively!

Simply click on the image to start the direct download.

Although you might be able to cut out text along the edge of your photos, the script will make the whole process much faster, easier and more accurate every time. And you have so many options to choose from that you can run the script many, many times and get different result every time. You get to choose the text, the font, the edge to cut from, the alignment, and you even have the option to rotate, change size, skew, stretch the text to your liking.

You can run this script directly on your photo and the script will automatically create a duplicate so the initial photo will be left totally intact. You can also run the script on a paper to create a journaling mat, or turn this into a frame. This might be especially good if you have a photo where no edge can really be cut out from.

You can grab this script in my store: Creation Cassel .

And if you want a chance to win this script, check out this thread in the Happy Place and add your name to it, giving me suggestions on what set of words you can envision for a template pack.

Of course, you surely will want to see the end result up close. So i made these 2 templates. Use them to trim a photo, or to journal about this year, or to frame fun photos. Simply click on the image to start the direct download.

And if you use those for a project of yours, i would LOVE to see it. Who knows? It might get displayed in this blog or in my newsletter.

 

Although i am not using the Pay-with-a-Tweet, i would really appreciate it if you did tweet about it anyways!

 

 

 

 

 

 

News from the Campus

 

Before you forget, there are still places available for our webinar on Details in the night, which is a repeat of last week. This time, i hope the schedule will allow our Aussie friends to attend (other people around their time zone are also invited!). It will take place Saturday, Dec 10th at 10h45PM Eastern time.

Register HERE

(it is FREE)

Check what we’ll show:

Free Products: for everyone visiting the Campus, you can grab this Gift Card Wrap box and if you are registered, you can also download the set of 6 templates that you can customize as you wish.

 

As we are already planning for more webinars for 2012, what would you like to see? Post a comment with your suggestions.

 

This week, a new student registered to theElement Creation tutorials section and here is what she posted in her intro, the very  first day:

I found out about this through the DST forums. I am looking forward to trying these out during the Christmas break. I do not usually like video instructions, but i must say yours are nice, clear and easy to watch. love being able to download the instructions – nothing better than having a prompt sitting next to you as you go! – Marion

Are you into hybrid projects? This script will be perfect for you to speed up the process. It will create a various number of layers in the shape you want, and centered or off-centered, focussing on an element of your photo.

You will have many options to choose from: the number of layers, the shape, the centering, the shadow, the placement of the off-centered layer. You can use the script on any photo and use it on a digital layout, like any other scrapbooking project, or print the layers separately and then cut them one by one to create a hybrid montage.

You can get this script in either one of my stores: Creation Cassel and DigiScrapWarehouse.

 

 

Here is a card that was made by ooh-la-la-creation using this script. Isn’t this great?

 

If you want a chance to win this script, check out this thread in the DST forum, and tell me if you ever made a hybrid project with your digi supplies.

 

And how about a little freebie? I created this layered template loosely based on the card made above. It is a layered template in PSD format so most graphic program can open it. It is 5×7 in size. Just click on the preview to start the direct download.

I decided to create a quick simple script to give away this month. As i was working on some of my own pictures, i realized that i was fixing the photos with the same kind of settings, so why not make a script out of it?

This script will work on PaintShop Pro versions 8 and up. It will lighten and brighten the colors of dark and faded photos.

And best of all, it is FREE. So check it out in my store and grab it! It is like adding sunshine on a cloudy photo!

Available here.

I have seen on some layouts, this kind of effect of using a single photo and stack several duplicate of the same image. I guess it is a good idea to use the same photo as opposed to different photos, since the viewer would get annoyed at not being able to see what is peeking out from under the main one. Thinking of all the steps required to accomplish this, I figured that a script would probably make this easier and much faster than manually do all the step: duplicating, rotating, displacing, bevelling, shadowing and possibly linking. This script will do it in less than a minute (i timed 32 seconds to duplicate 10 times, and add a bevel and a shadow to each and then linking everything).

And you know, you do not have to keep all the images placed where the script put them. The end result will be different every time since there is a random feature coded in the script. Also, all the layers can be linked but always left unmerged so any layer can be moved further. You can even use all the layers to scatter the pictures around your layout instead of keeping them stacked in one place. Or,  how about stacking two sets of pictures and kind of mix them as if you were shuffling two decks of cards? Or how about adding some extra elements, like tickets, stickit notes, or scrap paper between some of the layers? Talk about easy to personalize!

You can get this script in my stores: Creation Cassel and DigiScrapWarehouse.

And for a chance to win this script for free, check out this RAK thread in the DST forum. This week, even non-PSP users will have a chance to win something so even if you do not have access to a Paintshop Pro version, head over there.

And now, i know you were waiting for a free sample. Since this script runs on your own photo, i could not run it the same way, but i created a layered template for you. It includes 11 layers of the polaroid type of frame. It is up to you to insert one photo (or more, if you want). The sampler is in psd format so just about anyone can use it. Just click on the image to download.

Will you show me what you can do with these?

Do you want to draw attention to one part of your picture? this script will help you achieve just that. With many many options incorporated into the script, you will be able to create an interesting contrast. Among the options you have you can choose the shape of the focus, if you want a border, its thickness, its color. You can adjust the size and the location of the focussed area, and you can also choose between any combinations of unchanged colors, black and white, and sepia. A shadow will be added, but on a separate layer so you can modify it if you want.

Also, all the layers are left unmerged, which gives you the option to either run the script a second time, or add yet another effect to the background for the most personalised result. Try adding a blur, a brushstroke, a different colorisation or any artistic effect for unusual outcome.

You can win this script  at DST if you go add your name to this thread.

The script is available at all my stores: Creation Cassel, Do It Digi, Scrapping Whispers, and Divine Digital.

See what can be done with this script.

Can you think of other ways to use this script??

Remember those older photos with rounded corners? Now you can achieve that same look with your current square corners. This script will round the corners of your photos with your choice of three radius (small, medium or large).

In fact, you can use any shape that has sharp corners or points and the script will round them off. Try it with a star, or other shapes to see.

Currently availabe at Creation Cassel, Scraphead and Divine Digital

This new script will allow you to cut any photo into pieces for an interesting layout. You will have many options. You can have each small pieces with or without a border. If you want a border, you have three thickness to choose from AND you obviously get to choose the color too. Although white is kind of standard in color choice, you can pick ANY color, or even a gradient or a pattern for a really original effect. Once the photo is split into pieces, you can have each one only moved, or rotated, or a combinaison of both. More choices than that too as you can have the pieces left flat on the page or slightly curved. Each run of the script will give a different result even if you use the same settings; that is because there is a randomized function built into that script. Check them out in my stores.

 

 

 

I just released a new script at Do It Digi. With this script, you can curve any photo, any size, any orientation, even any shape. And unlike using a template, your photo will REALLY get bent. For example, if you have a horizontal line on the photo, it will end upt being curved. Interesting, right?

 

The regular price is $5 but for the first weekend after release, it is 25% off so you can get it for $3.75 only at Do It Digi.

 

See what Guyloup did, using this script. Isn`t that cute??

 

Maybe you are not a PSP user and would like to have something like that? I can only offer you a template made with this script. Of course, it will not curve the photo, but that is the best we can do without running the script.

And in the zip file you will also find a coupon code for $1 off the purchase of the script (valid for a limited time only).