Adding a Vintage, Dreamy Look to Your Photos with ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Hand-Tinted 6301

This free digital scrapbooking tutorial was created using Adobe Photoshop CS4 with Windows Vista, but should be able to be adapted easily to other systems. If you have questions about how to do this, just ask on our message board!

If you are anything like me, you love all the great ScrapSimple Tools at Scrap Girls! We have actions that make your photos into gallery prints, actions that let you create custom-colored plaid designs, and many great actions that add unique effects to your digital scrapbooking photos and projects. One of my favorite looks is the vintage hand-tinted look, and I was so happy to design a set of actions that give your photos that effect.

There are six different actions in this set:

• Black and White
• Sepia
• Vintage - this adds a grainy and old look to your photo
• Black and White Dreamy, Sepia Dreamy, and Vintage Dreamy - these add a soft dream-like effect to your photos

First, open a photo. It must be a JPG for the action to work properly. Choose one of the six actions. I am using “Sepia Dreamy.” Push the “Play” button at the bottom of the Actions Palette.

A message will pop up giving you the option to “Continue” or “Stop.” Push “Stop.”

Next, choose a soft round brush from the Eraser Palette (I am using a round Soft Mechanical brush from the Basic Brushes in Adobe Photoshop.) Lower the Opacity to your liking. I usually select between 80-90%. Also lower the Flow to around the same percentage, or leave it at 100% for a stronger color.

Now you are ready to erase the areas where you want the color to show through on your photo. Lips, cheeks, eyes, and fingernails are good places to “color.” Don't forget faces, clothing, or anything else you want to stand out. Remember that these actions work great on non-people photos as well. You can get some stunning results on photos of flowers and trees.

Once you are satisfied with your photo, push “Play” on the bottom of the Actions Palette. This will add the finishing touches to your photo. Notice how it gives my photo a softer, dreamy feel?

Now you are ready to add your photo to a digital scrapbook layout or project! Happy photo tinting!

Note: The instructions for the Adobe Photoshop Elements version are slightly different and are included with the action.

Digital Scrapbook Layout by Syndee Nuckles
larger view

	Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Hand-Tinted 6301, ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Hand-Tinted 6301 PSE, and ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Photo Clusters are also available.

Free digital scrapbooking tutorial written by Syndee Nuckles.

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