There are many different effects one can use in Photoshop to create great digital scrapbooking layouts. Some are easy, and some seem hard, but are actually pretty easy once you learn the tricks. Most of them are techniques that can take your pages from so-so to over-the-top with just a few clicks.
In this layout, I used all three of the elements mentioned in the title. I used my Brush Set: 4×6 Brush Stroke Frames on the photo, and then applied one of the styles from ScrapSimple Tools – Styles: Well Loved 5001. The 3 rectangles above the photos are three different background papers applied to my ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Photo Masks – Brush Strokes. Who says you can only use photo masks for photos! Finally, I used the alpha from the A Little Worn Out Collection. This alpha started as a cream color, but when I applied the Difference blending mode, the letters changed to this bluish-grey color, which picks up some of the colors from the photo nicely.
The lesson to be learned here is to take the time to play with the tools offered in Photoshop in combination with your digital scrapbooking elements. Think of how you can use them in ways they may not be intended. The results may surprise you, and will take your layouts up a notch!
Other products used in this layout:
Old Friends Paper Biggie
ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Sew Doodly Biggie
Haven Collection Mini
A Mans Life Collection
Up at the Villa Paper Biggie
Portrait of Love Collection
Commercial products also available for:
2 Comments
Great layout Jan! I love it when you designers and layout artists share techniques with us!
Thanks Dawn! I’m going to try to do that more often with my posts here.