Cassel | Creation Cassel

New script – Alpha Sheet Separator 2

February 21, 2015February 20, 2015 by Cassel

If you are a designer, you might want to include an alpha in a kit you sell. Creating a single alpha on a single sheet is very easy and convenient as you can apply the exact same effects to all the characters, at once. But then, if you want to separate all those letters, digits and punctuation marks, it gets tedious.

This script will automate the process of separating, copying, saving, naming all the individual character files while you will have minimal work to do.

This script comes with 4 templates to help you work even faster, and allow the script to name the files properly too, especially for the punctuation marks.

If you prefer to use your own set of characters, you an also do so, but you will need to give the name of the files, one by one to the script, which will then be used to save them.

The main "work" you have to do, once your sheet is ready to be separated, is to draw lines to separate the rows and columns of characters. This allows you to have some rows and columns that might not be perfectly aligned.

NOTE: if you want to create your own template, make sure you have the same number of elements per row, or the script will get confused and stop before completion.

Get this time saving script, in the store: Alpha Sheet Separator 2.

Do you want to see this script in action? Check this video:

Are you a designer and you want to get your hand on this script? Add a comment below telling us how you usually separate an alpha sheet. If you have already purchased this script and you win, you can get a future release instead. The winner will 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).

Since i can hardly give you a sample of the script itself, this week, i chose to give you a complete alpha that i created using the templates and separated using the Alpha Sheet Separator 2 script.

I used the Broadway font, and applied a Super Blade Pro texture.

I used the astatine effect. I don't know where i got it, or even when, but i thought it looked cool and since it used various colors, it might be usable with many different projects.

You get the full alpha: uppercase, lowercase, digits and punctuation marks.

How will you use this alpha? Remember to show us!

You can send me a link or post on our PSP Showcase pinboard if you want.

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

AlphaMaking If you like making alphas, you will love the live presentation scheduled for next week.

We will look at several ways you can create alphas, and tools to make this an easier, faster and more fun process, whether you are a scrapbooker, or a designer.

New script – Alpha-Flip

February 14, 2015February 13, 2015 by Cassel

Do you remember those clocks where the digits would flip, from one to the next, usually with a familiar "click" sound? Although most alarm clocks now have gone digital, some might still be around with those flipping digits.

This script will allow you to create any set of digits, but also use any character you want, if you want to write words, or phrases. Even better, you can also have a whole word in one tile instead of using individual characters.

This Paintshop Pro script offers more options than regular alphas you might find online. You can choose any font, any color, gradient or even patterns for the tiles, and also any color (or gradient or pattern) for the characters. This really allows you to match the alpha with any kit or project you are working on. Isn't that cool?

Each tile is set to be 400 pixels in height, whether it is a single digit tile, or a whole word tile. This makes it easier to mix and match words and digits and letters.

You can get this flipping cool script in the store: Alpha-Flip script

If you want a chance to get this script for free (of get a future one if you already bought it), add a comment below with the phrase you would like to create using this script. 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).

How about adding a date to your layout? You can do so with this free sampler. It includes all the digits, and all the months (in English) in their common 3 letter abbreviation.

This whole set was created in neutral colors, using a brown gradient for the background, black letters and using the Berlin Sand FB Demi font. Of course, if you want a different color, you can always colorize it (i won't mind).

So what will you do with this sample?

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

Do you like this script? Would you like to get it in the future? Pin it on Pinterest on a "Wish list" pin board. Who know? Maybe i'll see your pin and pay you a visit with a gift?

New script – Knot #10

February 7, 2015 by Cassel

Yes, another knot! Considering the fact that you probably don't want all your ribbons and bows and knots to always look the same, you need a wide variety of them. That is why I coded this script.

Unlike other knot scripts you can find online, this one uses YOUR ribbons; you do not have to limit yourself to choosing the color or pattern since you can use actual extracted ribbons. This ensures that the knot will match whatever other element you might be using in your project.

This script is also the first one I coded that uses TWO ribbons. You can use any straight ribbons for this, whether they are opaque, or translucent, solid in color or with patterns or even with a directional pattern.

Another little tool for Paintshop Pro users.

Get this script in the store: Knot#10 (and you can check for other knots while you are there too!)

cass-Knot10-greyscale-sample If you want a chance to win this script, tell me, in the comments below, what you would attach with a double knot like this. 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 way for you to see, up close, the knot created by this script, i created a layered knot using greyscale ribbons from Melissa Bennett. The end result is a PSD file (so non-PSP users can open it too).

With the layers being left unmerged, you can colorize each ribbon the way you want, and you can also insert an element in the knot itself. What would you insert?

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

New script – Text Overlay

January 31, 2015January 30, 2015 by Cassel

I have seen overlays in stores and on various blogs, but there is so much *I* would like to see on an overlay and i can never find exactly the right thing.

Of course, i can never find an overlay with the name of my kids, or the place where i spent my vacation.

It is easy to create a single little tile with the text and use it as a fill pattern, but that is pretty simplistic and for a pattern, it kind of lacks originality.

This is when Martine said she would like to have a script to create her own overlays using any text she wanted, with any font too.

And now, this Paintshop Pro script is exactly what she was looking for. Not only this script will create a simple pattern using the text, but it will also create 4 more seamless tiles using the same text.

Sure, you can do it manually, but i can tell you that some of those tiles are quite tricky to get aligned perfectly, when you do it manually. That is the beauty of scripts!

Grab this script in the store: Text Overlay.

What text would you want to use to create an overlay? Tell me in the comments below and i will randomly pick a winner to get this script for free. Remember that if you purchase the script, you can still enter: if you win, you will get a future new release! Not a subscriber yet? Not a problem. You can register here and it is free (and you only get one email per week).

For the month of February just at our doorstep, i created 3 overlays for you with a loving theme: Valentine.

I started with the simple sentence "Be my VALENTINE", and i ran the script twice: once, i used the option 2 (alternating) and once with the option 4 (zigzag).

Once i had the seamless tile from the zigzag option, i used it to fill a full size image, and i chose to change the angle to 45 degrees for a fun effect..

For the option 2, i also used the tile to floodfill a full size image.

Then, on a copy of the last image, i added a heart shape mask to make a fun heart frame.

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

What will you create with these overlays, or with the script itself?

Show us your creative inspiration and post on our pinterest board HERE. And if you haven't been invited to post, just ask for an invite. And while you are there, remember to comment on all the fantastic images pinned there!

New script – Starburst Pattern

January 23, 2015 by Cassel

If you like to use starburst patterns on your papers, you either have to make them yourself, or rely on purchased pages, either as overlays or as template to then colorize or customize them to fit your project.

This script will do that for you, in just a few seconds: run the script, select the color, choose how many papers you want to generate (up to 10), and if you want the patterns to have 2 or 3 colors. Then, in literally just a few seconds, the script will generate random patterns based on your selected options and colors.

Every paper will be slightly different even if it has the exact same color as others, because of the random feature integrated in the script. Add textures, overlays, or other effects for a real custom paper for your page or your kit.

Get that Paintshop Pro script in the store: Starburst Pattern script.

Would you like to get this script for free? Tell me what effects you would add to such a paper after being created by the script. 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).

To give you a chance to see this pattern, i created 6 papers using a pink palette. The papers can then be used for any upcoming project for Valentine.

Add a texture, add layers and change the blend modes, overlay it on a photo, etc. Be creative!

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

New tubes – Leather Braids

January 17, 2015January 16, 2015 by Cassel

Many elements you can get online, whether they are free or paid for, are made from photographed objects that are then extracted. This has many limitations: you can only use the element in the shape or size you have, you can rarely use a different color (although you MIGHT be able to colorize it) and you cannot customize them to fit your particular needs.

These braids are not single elements, but they are picture tubes to use with Paintshop Pro. Those tubes will create a braid as long as you want, in the shape you want; it will just follow your cursor, as if you were drawing with them.

This set includes 12 different picture tubes, perfectly set to give a continuous braid, as long as you want.

Get those braids in the store: Leather Braids.

Do you want a chance to win those Leather Braid Tubes? Tell me, in the comments below, what element you would create using those braids. 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).

For a sampler, this week, i created two frames: one rectangular that would fit a 5x7 photo and one round that would fit a 4x4 photo.

As you can guess, i didn't draw those shapes freehand! (you would not want to use a frame i drew freehand!) so i used the Vector Tube script from Joe Fromm to place the tube around a vector shape, which makes the placement so even.

Due to the shape of the individual images of the tube, sharp corners can give some unwanted extras. That is what happened with the rectangular frame, so i had to do a little bit of erasing of the "extra" details. If you use a smooth curve, it won't happen to you, but if you have corners or sharp curves, you might need that little extra step to make the whole element looking smooth.

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

After months of waiting, the brand new Basic Scrap Course is now live in the Campus.

This course will walk through from the moment you open your Paintshop Pro for the first time, to the completion of 5 different layouts.

It includes lessons on

how to customize your PSP to suit your workflow,
how to add simple and not so simple shadows,
how to use scripts to save time,
how to create clusters,
how to do layering,
how to use the guides,
how to cut out your own paper elements,
how to use picture tubes to create stitching,
how to create titles from alpha, alpha sheets or the text tool,
and much more.

Perfect for beginner scrapbookers, but also perfect for someone new to Paintshop Pro. No matter your learning style, you will find this course will suit you because you get both video AND written instructions.

Interested?

Check out the more details HERE.

Do you know a friend who is considering scrapbooking with PSP? Send them over and watch them create their first digital pages.

New script – Photo Mosaic

January 10, 2015January 9, 2015 by Cassel

If you have photos and you want to display them in a new and original way, have you tried to make a mosaic?

This can also be a great way to hide the errors on a not-perfect photo, whether it is a color issue, a blurriness issue, etc.

This script will help you turn any photo, of any size, into a mosaic. You can choose the size of each tile. You can choose to have lines between the tiles, how thick and what color. You can also choose whether you want a lot of variations between the tiles or just a little.

And best of all, you can override the script by removing any area that you find are changed too much from the original; the script will place guides, and activate the Selection tool for you and a copy of the original image will be left underneath, so it will be very easy to remove one segment from the "mosaic" layer and just display the image below. That is one way to make sure that the important details are easy to see (like your baby's face, or the birthday cake).

You can get this fun photo script in the store: PhotoMosaic.

Would you like to get this script for free? Just post a comment below about how you think you could use this script and i'll will 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).

Since this script is run on a photo, and sending you one of my photo probably wont help you, i decided to play around a little. I used a grey based, the size of a 4x6 inch photo. I ran the script on that base, and got a series of tiles in different shades of grey. You can use that as an overlay on top of any of your photos, and adjust the blend mode. Depending on the starting photo you have, different blend modes might work, and others, not.

The file is a psd format as there is a "tile" layer and also a "line" layer in case you want to add some lines (which you can also colorize if you want).

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

So, which photo will deserve a mosaic treatment? Don't hesitate to show them. Pin them on Pinterest, on our own board HERE (ask for an invite and you will get it!)

New script – Groovy

December 20, 2014December 20, 2014 by Cassel

A little detail that can make an element look well finished can be an even groove all around it. Whether you are using a plastic object or a wooden one or even a metal piece, that fine groove can be a great detail to add.

This script for Paintshop Pro will do that for you. It will also measure your element to suggest a specific width based on the element you want to use.

In addition, since a groove can look so good on a wooden piece, the script offers six wood textures you can use to convert your shape.

You can get this script in the store: Groovy.

For a chance to win this script, add something in the comments below as in what element you can imagine adding a groove to or turn to wood. 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 little sample, i created some wooden holiday elements.

For fun, i added some interesting details to the candy cane element. How did i get those stripes? Simple: once i had selected the area for the stripes, i played with the brightness and contrast to get a different coloring. I could also have used a hue change instead.

Use those elements as a base to decorate them even more. Add glitters to the star, or lights to the tree. Add a string, a ribbon or a bow to attach them to your layout. Change the color too if you prefer. 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.

New tubes – LED lights

December 13, 2014December 12, 2014 by Cassel

During the holiday season, it is a good time to see some colored lights. However, you can probably use them for any occasion, just like neon lights.

These sets of picture tubes for Paintshop Pro will allow you to simply draw with your cursor and have the lights follow that path. Write words, make a frame around a photo, enhance the outline of a shape or even letters.

This set includes 10 different colors of lights that you can use to light up your project. Since they are lights, they will give a better result on a darker background.

You can grab this set in the store: LED lights.

Would you like to get these lights for free? Add a comment below and tell me what element or shape you would like to light with those tubes. 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 free sample, i made 10 arrows using the 10 colors available in the set. To make them really nice and regular, i didn't draw them by hand, but i used the script called VectorTube on vector shapes.

Those will be great to add a focus onto an element or a photo on your layout. They range in size from 400 to 1000 pixels so there is plenty of room to size them down to fit your own project.

Remember that they are lights so, don't add a shadow to them! If you find them too light, you can always duplicate the layer. This might be needed if the background is not very dark.

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

New script – Scallop Pattern 2

December 6, 2014December 6, 2014 by Cassel

You thought that the Scallop Pattern script from last week was a great tool to speed up the process of creating a scallop pattern that used the same "tile" over and over again.

This time, imagine trying to create a scallop pattern but using different colors for the tiles or for the individual rows. This is an even more tedious tasks, since you have more work to do. Now, imagine using using a different color for each individual tile. This is just about impossible to do manually.

Thanks to this new script, Scallop Pattern 2, you have many more options available to you to create totally unique papers.

You can have the tiles alternating in colors, on a single row or alternating by rows. But even more, you can use a gradient and the script will pick the colors from the gradient, and create the tile just at that place, with that color. Now THAT is original!

Grab this script now: Scallop Pattern 2

Do you want a chance to win this script? Add a comment at the bottom, telling me how you would like to experiment with this script. I'll announce the winner on 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 little sample, i have this fun Christmas tree paper made out of scallops. In fact, i have to admit that i cheated a bit but i'll show you how to do it.

open an image 3600x3600
draw a green triangle with a brown rectangle at the base; flatten it
run the script and choose the Gradient option
when you are asked to choose the gradient, use the Pattern tab instead and pick the tree image you drew; it will appear as one of the patterns, as long as it is open on your workspace
the script will use it as if it were a gradient!

Yup, that means that you can use any picture with this script, not only gradients! It might not always yield a fantastic result, but you can surely try and experiment!

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

Just in case you haven't heard about the 12 Days of Christmas, you still have time to register.

This will send you a daily email with a layered template and a sketch for a card and matching envelope, and a tutorial from a different designer each day, with inspiration to create your own.