Digital Scrapbooking Now

Photoshop brushes help you create custom effects in Photoshop and Photoshop Elements. Here is an example of bubbles created using a free custom brush (created by Shelby Kate Schmitz):

As soon as I saw that, I wanted to make bubbles in Photoshop! So, I am going to downlad the free brush and try it out. I have downloaded other people’s brushes before and then totally forgot I had them. So, this time I am actually going try using this brush set before I forget! These free brushes will work with Photoshop 7 and later versions and Photoshop Elements 2 and up. See my step-by-step instructions on loading and using a Photoshop brush.

You can find the brush sets and instructions here: http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/photoshopbrushes/ss/sksbrushes.htm. But I am going to go into some detail about downloading and using them (in case it will help anyone).

I started out by creating a folder (called photoshop brushes) to download them to (so I could know where the download went!). Then I went to the folder and saw a file named SKS-bubbles.abr. I just copied that file (select the file, right click and then select copy). Next I navigated to the Photoshop presets\brushes folder (see below for the exact location for the PC). I made sure I was in that folder and used right click, paste. Voila, the file is there now.

Note: If you cannot find some of the folders I mentioned above, go to the Control Panel > Folder Options > View tab, and make sure “Hidden files and folders” is set to Show, then click OK.

How to install free brushes in Photoshop:

• Put the *.abr file into: Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop X\Presets\Brushes where X is the version number for your version of Photoshop.
• Go to the Brushes Pallette in Photoshop, find the little down arrow and select load brushes to add them to your set of brushes.

Instructions for Photoshop Elements – You buy a program called Add-O-Matic!
(if you use Photoshop Elements 5, 6, or 7). The link to graphicssoft earlier on this page will take you to information about that. But I will walk through the free way to add the brushes to Photoshop Elements below.

How to install Photoshop Elements Brushes:

Note: You have to close Photoshop Elements first.

Windows: Download and place the *.abr files into the program files on your computer. If you are in the file manager look for: Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop Elements X\Presets\Brushes where X is the version number for your version of Photoshop Elements.

Mac: Place the *.abr files into: Applications/Adobe Photoshop Elements 6/Presets/Brushes

Brushes created in Photoshop 7 or later will not work in older versions of Photoshop Elements (such as version 2 and earlier). Any Photoshop brushes should work in Photoshop Elements 3 and later.

Photoshop Elements 6 for Mac: Place the *.asl files in: Applications/Adobe Photoshop Elements 6/Presets/Styles

You can also check out other free brushes, custom shapes and custom layer styles on the website I referenced above. The instructions are good and they cover Photoshop and Photoshop Elements for the PC and for the MAC.

Have fun (and see the detailed instructions here)!

Is Digital Scrapbooking for You?

For those who are involved in digital scrapbooking, it’s no secret that it’s an addicting hobby. The numbers of people making traditional scrapbooks is growing every day. Now there are options to have more design control by making digital scrapbooks.

Digital scrapbooking is the best way to make your memory books if you want to create your own page designs and layouts usng your computer. They allow you to get creative and make custom scrapbooks or memory books.

What’s so great about it? Well, you don’t need to buy expensive paper or cardstock. And, you don’t have to use scissors and glue to paste in your photos. Another plus is that you’ll need far less materials and less storage space. There are very inexpensive digital scrapbook downloads you can buy and many people offer stuff for free, too. Using your digital photos (taken directly from your camera to your computer) you can place them on your digital pagees, crop them, re-size them, create collages and even change the colors. Then you can print them out and insert them into an album.

There are times when you may still want to use the traditional paper products or embellishments, stickers, ribbons, buttons, etc. and add them to your pages. This is called hybrid scrapbooking (when you use computerized images along with traditional (store-bought) elements. Be sure to use archival quality glue or adhesives when doing this.

What holds people back from doing digital scrapbooks or hybrid scrapbooking? Besides the time it takes to create your own backgrounds, the number one reason more people don’t do it is the technology learning curve involved with using scrapbooking or photo editing software.

If you think you are ready to take the plunge into making scrapbooks this way, here is what you need to start:

1 - A decent computer (desktop or laptop)

2 - Digital scrapbook software (page layout or photo editing software)

3 - Digital photos on your computer

4 - A color printer (an inkjet printer will work fine) and the appropriate paper and toner inks.

5 - Time and creativity!

Some recommendations for software: Page layout software used by digital scrappers: Creating Keepsakes Scrapbook Designer Deluxe, and LumaPix FotoFusion. Memory Mixer, Bazzill Basics, and other software is made just for scrapbooks. Some photo editing software used by scrapbookers:  Adobe Photoshop Elements is really, really good. It isn’t too expensive, either. The full Adobe Photoshop is also used, as is Corel Photo Paint. ACADSee makes scrapbook and photo editing software, As I type this, there are probably some new ones. There will be more, you can bet on it, due to the popularity of this new way to create great looking scrapbooks.