Cassel | Creation Cassel

In troubled times…

August 21, 2016August 20, 2016 by Cassel

Backup How safe are you data? We often hear stories of friends or relatives who have lost a lot of photos or documents due to a computer crash. We always think that it only happens to others, while OUR data is safe. But is it? It seems like computer users fall into two groups: those who experienced computer failure, and those who will.

Systems for backup

You can do regular manual backups of your data, your documents, or your entire drive. If that is your solution, remember to be vigilant: don't postpone those backups. Don't wait until tomorrow because you are busy. Drive failures don't wait!

Automatic backup can be great if you tend to forget. Systems like Acronis can back up your data at regular intervals and you can schedule them to be in the middle of the night, when you are likely not going to be using your computer. You can save the back up to an external drive, or online. AmazonS3 can be a good location for that.

Continuous online backup like Crashplan can help you have the most updated backup possible. Instead of possibly loosing one day or one week of work and documents because of the schedule of backups, systems like Crashplan will update your backup continuously (there are others but I can't tell about them since i never used them)

Crashplan

Although i do NOT have an affiliate link for Crashplan, i still want to tell you how it saved my sanity.

When i realized that after having my Windows reinstalled by the shop, all my data were apparently missing (about 300GB), i felt sick to my stomach. All the files for the store were on a different drive, so those were safe, but everything related to the Campus, for the last 5 years, was missing! EVERYTHING! Since the shop was already closed for the weekend, what could i do?

I remembered that i had Acronis installed, but although i had just recently upgraded to a newer version, i had not set it yet. Yes, i was procrastinating, so restoring from that backup was not an option.

Then, i remembered that i also had Crashplan installed, and it was backing up all the time. Once i opened the application on my computer (yes, i had to reinstall it first), i was able to connect with the service. I just had to go in the settings, see what folders were backed up and select which one i wanted to restore (everything was in a single BIG folder). I chose the option to restore that whole huge folder in its original location (since that folder was completely missing from my drive), and click RESTORE. I knew that 300GB of stuff would take a long time, so i went to bed.

I am very lucky that we currently have a very good internet connection (i think we got an upgrade just a few weeks ago) so the whole download and restore took several hours, but everything was back on my computer, by the time i got up in the morning. EVERYTHING.

So, if you want to prevent a heart attack from a computer failure, check out Crashplan. You can backup 1 computer for $5/month, or the whole family (up to 10 computers) for $12.50/month. Once you live through a crash or get very close to loosing everything, you will see that it is definitely worth it.

****************************************************

On a happier note, how about letting me know what is your favorite script in the store. Tell me in the comment below and i'll pick a winner to be announced in the newsletter next week. Not a subscriber yet? Not a problem. You can register here and it is free (and you only get one email per week).

New script – Add Borders

January 18, 2021August 12, 2016 by Cassel

Sometimes, you might want to add identical borders to the photos on your layout, but since you want the photos to be of different sizes. How do you do that? Adding the borders before placing the photos on the montage is not the solution since you will resize the photos, and therefore, the border will also be resized.

Do you think you can select the photo and expand the selection? Unfortunately, that will create rounded corners. If that is what you want, go for it. But if you intend to have square corners on your photos, you need this script.

You can choose any color for the border, any size (up to 100 pixels) and you can also have the edges straight or irregular.

Grab this script in the store: Add Borders.

When you add a border on a photo, what would likely be the color? Tell me in the comments below for a chance to win this script. I'll pick a winner next week to be announced in the newsletter. Not a subscriber yet? Not a problem. You can register here and it is free (and you only get one email per week).

As a way to show you how this script can create identical borders even on photos of different sizes, I created this layered template for you. I had to tweak the end result since the script would merge the edge to the photo.

This is a full size layered template in PSD format.

You need to be logged in to download this sample. You can either login, or register on the top of this page.

And here is the simple layout i made using this template:

What will you make?

News from the Campus

.

Did you attend the live presentation last week but felt you needed to see it again?

Did you try to attend but came in late?

Did you want to attend but had other things preventing you from joining?

Well, you are in luck. This live presentation will be repeated. Not a recording! It will be another LIVE presentation.

It will be showing the same techniques, but using a different template, different photos, and a different kit.

Join us again. REGISTER NOW.

New script – Brick Wall

January 18, 2021August 5, 2016 by Cassel

You might be able to use a photo of a brick wall as a paper background for your project, but you might wish to have something that would match more closely your favorite color, or color palette.

No need to colorize those bricks individually. This script will create a simple brick wall pattern with the brick colors matching your palette, despite still offering variations like normal walls would.

You can have a monochrome wall that will have bricks ranging from your selected color to white. You can choose two colors and the bricks will range between those two. Or you can have a wilder pattern with multicolored bricks, although they would still slightly revolve around one color you pick.

Choose to add a brick pattern on your active image or create a brand new one, in the size you want.

Get this script here: Brick Wall

What would you use a brick wall paper for? Give me some suggestions in the comments below, and i'll pick someone to win this script for free. I'll announce the winner in the newsletter, next week. Not a subscriber yet? Not a problem. You can register here and it is free (and you only get one email per week).

As a sample, I created 3 full size papers (3600x3600) all based around the same blue color. It gives you a good idea of how flexible this script can be.

You can always modify those papers by "wearing" it down, tearing the edges (or cutting out some bricks).

So what will you do?

You need to be logged in to download this sample. You can either login, or register on the top of this page.

News from the Campus

We will have a live presentation on Sunday, August 7, at 5 pm Eastern Time.

We will look at ways to use templates and other tools to create your layouts faster.

Join us. It is FREE.

New script – Clouds

January 18, 2021July 29, 2016 by Cassel

Did you ever see those movies where someone has a plane write "Will you marry me?" in the sky? That is a cool idea but more expensive than most budget allow!

Or when you were a kid, did you stare at the sky imagining that this cloud looked like a cat, or a fish, or a dragon?

Now, with this script, you can create your own clouds, in any shape you want or to write the message you prefer. It will work better if you are using a fat or bold design.

Use a preset shape of your choice, or a thick brush to hand draw or hand write your message or design.

Get his script to create some fluffy messages: Clouds

Would you like to get this script for free? In the comments below, tell me what shape or word you would pick to create a cloud from. I'll pick a winner and will announce it in the newsletter next week. Not a subscriber yet? Not a problem. You can register here and it is free (and you only get one email per week).

For a sample, I created some hand written digits so you can write a special date in the sky.

Each digit is about 675 pixels high and in png format so you can use it in various graphic program.

I am also including a hyphen and a slash, so you can write a date in various formats.

You need to be logged in to download this sample. You can either login, or register on the top of this page.

New script – Baby Block Alpha

January 18, 2021July 22, 2016 by Cassel

You have certainly seen those wooden blocks young kids have been playing with for decades. You can often see those blocks associated with baby or even pregnancy pictures. Now you can create them yourself to write any name or phrase you want in your baby project.

The fun part is that you are not limited with a basic and common font since you can choose ANY font you want. Although you can really choose any font and create some unique blocks, it will give a better result with simple and bold fonts. In fact, you can also use dingbat fonts for some fun results.

Grab this script in the store: Baby Block Alpha

Do you want a chance to win this script? Tell me what word or phrase you would write with these blocks, in the comments below, and i'll announce a winner in the newsletter next week. Not a subscriber yet? Not a problem. You can register here and it is free (and you only get one email per week).

As a sample of what you can do with this script, here is a full alpha that includes letters, digits and a hyphen. I chose white so it is gender neutral.

Each block is about 500 pixels wide and you can resize it as you wish (or keep them full size).
You need to be logged in to download this sample. You can either login, or register on the top of this page.

New script – Cluster Maker

January 18, 2021July 15, 2016 by Cassel

A lot of scrapbookers and designers love to create and use clusters, but the task is often daunting because of numerous repetitive tasks that seem to drain their creativity. So, why not have a script to give them a jumpstart?

This script will almost randomly pick elements from a single folder for you. Starting with long elements like ribbons and stitches. Then adding more rectangular or somewhat smaller elements like frames, cards and such. Finally, smaller or more "square" objects, like flowers, buttons and stickers. Once the elements are picked (one by one), the script will randomly resize them slightly to add variety in your cluster, will rotate them also, and place them based on the type of cluster you want to generate.

You can create a central cluster, or a corner cluster (and you can obviously pick which corner too). And in a single run, the script can generate as many clusters as you want.

Obviously, the script cannot SEE the elements and cannot determine if each element will look good in the cluster. That is YOUR job. But you will have a headstart instead of starting from scratch.

Get this time saving script: Cluster Maker.

For a chance to win this script, I will make this a little different. I want you to just tell me if you have purchased (or won) any of the other cluster-type scripts in the store. If so, which one. If not, just say so! I'll pick a winner next week and it will be announced in the newsletter. Not a subscriber yet? Not a problem. You can register here and it is free (and you only get one email per week).

As a samplers, this week, I used a kit from Hat of Bunny, Baby Mine. I ran the script to create a corner cluster for the bottom right corner.

Once the script was done, i tweaked the placement of the elements, and removed a few. Initially, i asked the script to have an average number of elements, knowing i would likely have too many so i could remove them. I also added a couple of elements that were ignored by the script, but that i liked (namely the banners and the string).

All the shadows were added to the elements, individually.

You need to be logged in to download this sample. You can either login, or register on the top of this page.

New script – PhotoBooth

January 18, 2021July 9, 2016 by Cassel

Although they might be getting less and less popular in real life, photobooth are still often associated with fairs, and fun places. Back in the days, you could get a set of 4 black and white photos in those booth. Over time, they became more modern and started offering color photos. Those strips of photos still bring back memories to many people.

This script will create such a strip of photos very quickly. You choose the number of photos you want, their orientation, and once you open the photos you picked, the script will place them all with the correct size and placement.

You still have many options because the photos, although they are resized, are not cropped so you can tweak them a bit, you can center the subject (of move it off-center), you can rotate the photos, you can apply various effects to them. So many ways to customize the end result.

You can get this script in the store: PhotoBooth.

Considering that you can apply any kind of effect to the individual photos once the script is finished, what kind of effect could you consider applying? Tell me in a comment below and I will pick a winner to be announced in the newsletter, next week. Not a subscriber yet? Not a problem. You can register here and it is free (and you only get one email per week).

As a free sample, I am offering you the frame that was created when I ran the script for the four pictures of my daughter and her friend. It is 660x1950 pixels, which is about the size of a real photobooth strip of photos. Add your own photos to it and place the result in your next scrapbook project.

You need to be logged in to download this sample. You can either login, or register on the top of this page.

New script – Blurred Fill

January 18, 2021July 2, 2016 by Cassel

You probably have seen those images where a video has been shot vertically, but it has to fit in a horizontal space, then the extra on each side is a copy of the main image, but blurred and darkened to keep the focus on the main image.

This script will achieve the same effect. You can start with any kind of photo, whether it is square or rectangular, and then, you can "fit it" inside an image that is rectangular or square.

This is a great way to fit your photo into a space that is of different proportions without having to crop the photo.

Use this strategy to fill in a carousel or a slide show. Or use it as a header, or to fill a PowerPoint presentation of some kind. Or just fill part of your scrapbook page.

Get this script in the store: Blurred Fill

What would YOU use this for? Can you see yourself using this in a scrapbook project? what would it be? Tell me in the comments below and i'll pick a winner next week. Not a subscriber yet? Not a problem. You can register here and it is free (and you only get one email per week).

Since this script is about creating a special effect on your own photo, i can't really create a sampler from any photo of mine. Well, I could, but i doubt you would find it very useful, so instead, i created a different sampler based on one that was VERY popular recently: the Wooden Window.

I created two windows in png format: one is using a fine wood while the other is more rustic, with visible nail heads holding the pieces of wood.

Both windows are 3000 pixels wide so you can use them for a scrapbook project, or even size it down too.

Place your favorite photo behind it for a wonderful display.

You need to be logged in to download this sample. You can either login, or register on the top of this page.

News from the Campus

Join us for our live presentation on Ribbons and Bows, where we will take a look at how to create knots and bows from straight ribbons, using PSP.

It is free, as usual, so join us and tell a friend.

New script – Bow #11

January 18, 2021June 24, 2016 by Cassel

Who can say they have enough bows in their digital stash? Nobody!

When looking for bows to use in your projects, are you stuck with the same design, with the same polkadots or the same stripes? And then, having other ribbon elements that are just not matching?

This script will take any straight ribbon and tie it in a simple bow. You can use any kind of ribbon, opaque or translucent, plain or patterned, striped or polkadot, etc.

And for a unique touch, the loose ends will be randomly cut so you won't get two identical bows, even if you start with the same ribbon.

Get this ribbon script in the store: Bow #11

For a chance to win this script, tell me where you would use bows in a project? This is probably going to be a super easy answer to add to the comments below. I'll pick a winner and announce it in the newsletter next week. Not a subscriber yet? Not a problem. You can register here and it is free (and you only get one email per week).

This coming weekend, it will be July 1st (Canada Day) and July 4th (Independance Day) so i created two basic ribbons with the blue white and red colors and one with red and white. Then, i ran the script for each one. I also used the Knot#7 script to create the additional knot.

Furthermore, i am including the basic ribbons too, so you can use them as is, or with other scripts to create more knots and bows.

You need to be logged in to download this sample. You can either login, or register on the top of this page.

News from the Campus

Next week, we will have another live presentation in the Campus. Last month, Diana suggested we had a class on making knots and bows with the ribbons, so that is what we will play with. Will you join us?

New script – Strip Cluster Maker

January 18, 2021June 18, 2016 by Cassel

Making clusters can be a great way to expand a kit you want to sell, or a way to use a kit you just purchased.

Making clusters can be a tedious task however. This script will help you as it will serve as a starting point, in gathering a certain number of long elements (like ribbons, tapes, stitching) and other elements (like flowers, buttons, tags, knots, etc.).

You can generate as many strip clusters as you want, from the elements in a single folder. You can create horizontal strips or vertical ones. Did you know that it is not a good idea to rotate a strip cluster that is already made? The shadows will be showing in the wrong angle, and any light source indication will also be inaccurate, giving an odd looking result in the end. So this script will NOT rotate any element (except the long elements) but will place them in a vertical arrangement, if that is what you want.

You can also choose to have few elements on the cluster or a fuller arrangement.

Since the script cannot "see" the result, it will not know if it looks good or not. That is YOUR task. But the script will have given you a starting point, from which you can rearrange the elements, add new ones, remove some.

A time saving tool for you: Strip Cluster Maker.

Do you like strip clusters? Did you get the Cluster Template maker #3? Tell me how you use (or would use) strip clusters in your projects. Add your answer in the comments below. I will pick a winner and announce it in the newsletter, next week. Not a subscriber yet? Not a problem. You can register here and it is free (and you only get one email per week).

This week, with Heather T's permission, i am giving you the exact strip cluster that I made using this script.

It is 3600x700 pixels in size, in PNG format. It also includes all the shadows for realism (including the lifted thread on the left).

You need to be logged in to download this sample. You can either login, or register on the top of this page.