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Use ScrapSimple Paper Templates and Textures for this cool look.
The Paper:
Open a new (blank) file for your digital scrapbooking layout: 12x12 at 300 dpi.
Select a gold color (I used E0BB21) and fill Layer 1 using the Paint Bucket Tool.
In PSE4 and below, add the asphalt texture by double-clicking
on the asphalt texture icon in your Effects Palette. In PS, add a
layer pattern of your choice by clicking on the half-circle icon
at the bottom of your Layers Palette, choosing "Pattern" and
selecting your pattern from there.
In PSE5, duplicate Layer 1 by pressing Ctrl+J.
On your duplicate layer, add the asphalt pattern by clicking on the
asphalt pattern icon in your Special Effects Palette (Layer Styles> Patterns)
and hitting "Apply". After you have applied your asphalt pattern
to your duplicate layer, Simplify your layer by right-clicking on
the layer in your Layers Palette and choosing "Simplify Layer."
Change the Blend Mode to "Overlay," link layers 1 and 2 and merge them (Ctrl+E).
Save your file onto your hard drive.
Open a ScrapSimple Paper Template of your choice. The one shown is Jumbo Scrollwork, Pattern 3. Drag the template onto your page, placing it in position.
Change the layer's Blend Mode to "Overlay" and the Opacity to 30%. Link the two layers and merge.
Go to the top menu bar and select Filter> Sketch> Bas Relief.
In PSE4 and below, it will default to black and white.
In PSE5 and PS, it will work with the background and foreground colors
selected in your Color Palette.
Play with the sliders to see what looks best to you as far as Detail, Smoothness and Light Direction. Change your View to "Fit in Screen" (bottom left of the pop-up window).
I selected Detail at 6, Smoothness at 1 and Light at Bottom Right. Click "OK."
In PSE4 and below, we have to go back and adjust the
color; in PSE5 and PS, you should still have the colors you selected
originally. Either way, you can adjust the color at this point.
Enhance> Adjust Color> Color Variations
Click on "Increase Red" and "Decrease Blue" until you get to a gold (or any other) color that you like. You can also Lighten and Darken and adjust the Shadow and Highlight areas as well. Once you are satisfied, click "OK." Save.
Now let's add embossing: Filter> Texture> Texturizer. Before you import a new texture, change the Scaling to 100%, the Relief to 14 and the Light to Bottom. You can always play with your own choices and adjust the Depth (relief) as well as the Light Direction.
Click on the small circled arrow at the right to access
the Import Texture menu, and then find the texture folder on your
hard drive. From the Mission: Embossable Jumbo Scrollwork Textures
Biggie, use the same texture as the paper - "Jumbo
3."
When used at 100%, it will emboss the exact same pattern in the paper.
It may take a while to load, be patient. Once it loads, make sure
you like the settings, then click "OK."
Your embossed paper is done, make sure you save your work.
The Photo:
Open a photo. To add texture to a photo, it's best to have a neutral or plain background, even a diffused or out of focus background. You can use a color photo or a toned photo, such as sepia, black and white, or a duo-toned photo, which includes a color such as dark blue, green, or burgundy plus black and white.
Scale the photo as needed, and adjust the image size and dpi.
You want to increase your dpi to 300, but your photo size has to reduce in proportion.
This photo is a bit soft, so I am going to sharpen it (Filter> Sharpen> Sharpen) and also change it to black and white (Enhance> Adjust Color> Remove Color). Next, I select Enhance> Auto Contrast and do a "Save As" if I want to save my altered photo file. Then, I drag the altered photo to my page.
I position the photo on the page and decide to trim away some of the image on the right side. Select the Rectangle Marquee Tool, (make sure your Feather setting is at 0) make a rectangle over the area to delete, and then hit your Delete key on your keyboard.
Next, I move the image to the right and adjust the contrast.
Now to add an embossed texture to the photo, I select the Polygonal Lasso Tool, set the Feather setting at 20 pixels, loosely click around the subject.
When you meet up with where you started, you'll get "marching ants," a vibrating dashed line. Go to the top menu bar and Select> Inverse. Now you'll also have marching ants around the outside edge of the page, too.
Next, go to Filter> Texture> Texturizer and import a new Texture. (It may take a while to load, be patient. It will automatically load the last texture you used.) To import a new texture, click on the circled arrow and load a new texture. Here, I used Jumbo Scrollwork 5. Make your Size at 75% and the Relief at 8 (or adjust to your desire). Click "OK."
The embossing only appears around the edges, not on the subject and fades away. You can increase the fade by adjusting the tolerance: a higher tolerance makes a softer transition.
To complete this digital scrapbook page, I add a low drop shadow to the photo, then double-click on the circle "f" to access the hidden controls and reduce the shadow to 5 pixels.
Then I use my Rectangle Shape Tool to add a black text box. I rasterize it (do this by right-clicking on the layer, then selecting "Simplify" in the pop-up). Next, I drag the layer below the photo and add a drop shadow (copy the style on the photo layer by going to Layer> Layer Style> Copy Layer Style). Then, paste that style onto the shape layer by going to Layer> Layer Style> Paste Layer Style.
Lastly, I add some borders, flowers, diamond brads; resize and recolor some flowers; and add a title. My simply elegant digital scrapbook embossed page is complete.
Layout by Valerie Randall
larger view
Tutorial written by Valerie Randall
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