Note: Tutorial created using Photoshop Elements 3.0 on Windows XP.

There are so many uses for ScrapSimple Paper Templates. One way is to use them for various effects on your photographs. I’m going to show you how to use the ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Artsy – Watercolor 1 to create the look of a watercolor painting for a postcard.

 

Create a new document at 300 ppi. You can make your postcard either 4x6 or 5x7. Here, I choose to make it a 5x7.

 

Open the paper "STI_SS_Paper_Artsy_Watercolor1_Salt." Drag it onto your newly created document.

 

Resize the paper so that it has roughly the same width as your document.

 

Open the photo that you would like to turn into the watercolor postcard.

 

Drag it on top of your new document so that it is above your watercolor paper template. Resize it to fit the 5x7 size.

 

Activate the watercolor template by clicking on it. Right-click on the watercolor template layer and select "Duplicate Layer."

 

Select the bottom copy of the watercolor paper in your Layers Palette. Go to Enhance> Adjust Color> Color Variations.

When the color variations box comes up, adjust the color by clicking on the various color options until you get the background color that you would like for your postcard. I chose to use blue.

 

You should now have a blue version of the watercolor paper on the bottom of your Layers Palette.

Select the photo in your Layers Palette so that it is active.

In the drop-down menu for the Blend Modes, select one that makes your photo take on the look of the watercolor paper below it. Blend Modes that seem to work the best are: "Color Burn," "Overlay," "Soft Light," or "Vivid Light." It will all depend on your photo. Here, I select "Vivid Light."

 

You can now see the difference in my photo. It is a lot bolder and brighter and now has the texture of the watercolor paper below it.

If you can’t find a Blend Mode that works well, try adjusting the levels of your photo or the watercolor paper below it. You can also try a different photo or duplicate your photo layer to deepen the effect. I adjust the levels of the watercolor paper to deepen the colors just slightly.

 

We now want to link the flower photo to the watercolor photo below it, so that we can erase to see the blue background. To create a clipping mask, make sure that your photo is selected and active in the Layers Palette. Use Ctrl+G to create a clipping mask. (Cmd+G for Mac and Alt+Ctrl+G for CS2.) You should now see an arrow pointing down to the layer below it.

 

Select the Eraser Tool in your Tools Palette. Select a brush at the top that is feathered. I used a brush from Lori Cook’s Grunge Brush Set Biggie. It is my favorite one for creating faded effects. Adjust the Opacity of the brush to about 55. Select the grayscale watercolor paper in your Layers Palette and make sure it is empty.

 

Begin erasing the paper so that you see the blue watercolor paper below. If the photo is correctly linked with a clipping mask to the gray paper, you will begin to see the blue paper as you erase. If you are erasing but the photo does not seem to be disappearing, make sure that your photo is connected to your grayscale watercolor paper with a clipping mask.

Once you have erased the photo enough that you are happy with it, you can adjust the levels if you want things to be a deeper color. I adjusted the levels on my blue background to give it a deeper blue. You can also add a title or embellishments on top of your painting to create various looks.

 

To print the postcard, print the colored photo on one side of your desired paper and then print the back of the postcard using Mandy Steward’s Remember When Postcards.

 

This is another postcard I created using the same method.

Postcard by Shalae Tippetts
larger view

	Note: Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Artsy - Watercolor 1 and Brush Set: Grunge are also available.

Tutorial written by Shalae Tippetts