Note: Tutorial is demonstrated using Photoshop 7.0.

If you have ever been to a Scrap Girls crop, then you know that they are not only fun, but they are a great way learn tips and ideas to make your digital scrapbooking a breeze.

Recently, I had the opportunity to host a crop in the Scrap Girls chat room, where participants were challenged to create a layout with their birthday color. (If you missed the chat, you can find out about it on the message board here.) During the crop, I was able to share an easy and fun method of using the Color Picker Tool (located in your Tools Palette or by clicking the letter "I" on your keyboard) to sample a color from just about anywhere on your desktop, including the Internet.

Here is an screen shot of my desktop. To sample a color from somewhere else, you must have your software, such as Photoshop, open, as well as the place you wish to get your color from. You can see on the right that I have Photoshop open, but that it is slightly minimized. Behind Photoshop, but more to the left of my screen, you will see that I have my web browser open, with the Scrap Girls website showing.

I want to use the lavender color on my digital scrapbook project, so the first thing I have done is selected the Eyedropper Tool from the Tools Palette (or click the letter "I" on your keyboard). With the Eyedropper, I click my mouse and hold anywhere in my document. While still holding, I drag my mouse to the color I wish to sample. If you watch your Tools Palette (where it shows your foreground and background colors), you will see the colors changing as you drag your mouse.

When your Eyedropper is above the color you want, and that color is showing in the Tools Palette, simply release your mouse button. Not happy with your color? No problem! Simply repeat these steps as often as necessary. When you have the color you want, you can use it just like any color. I have used my Paint Bucket to fill my document with the pretty Scrap Girls lavender.

If you want to save your color, simply add it to your swatches. For more information on saving color swatches, be sure to read Choosing a Great Color Scheme.

Tutorial by Brandie Valenzuela