In each Chapter, you complete a project, learn a set of PhotoShop skills, and are then ready for the next Chapter. And, the CD includes all the images you need for the projects.
Every page is illustrated with screen shots that are large and easy to see, and many of the screen shots are illustrated with colored arrows to show exactly where a tool or menu item is found.
Type is large enough to see when the printout is lying on your desk - without you having to pick it up, and there is lots of white space for note taking if you desire.
Keep each completed Chapter in a ring binder and you will have a reference book for future use.
Virtual Stamping 101
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Screen shot illustrations are done in Adobe PhotoShop Elements® 2.0. with explanations for any differences from the big PhotoShop Program.
You can complete this CD using Adobe PhotoShop Elements, Versions 1.0 - 5.0, or Adobe PhotoShop versions 7-0 - CS2.
Users of Elements 3.0 - 5.0 need to work in the Edit and Enhance or Standard Edit Mode.
Opening and Printing a Virtual Stamp Image
This is the easiest Chapter and will give you a feeling of accomplishment right off the bat. You open and print a Virtual Stamp image using Print Preview which has controls you may not previously have known about.
This Chapter also has a primer on types of printers and inks and what goes with what.
Skills Learned in this Chapter:
Open files in PhotoShop and Elements
How to Print with Print Preview Print Controls
Borders and Layering
One of the most popular techniques in paper arts is to layer your artwork on several pieces of colored cardstock.
In this Chapter, we use PhotoShop’s Crop Tool to add as many layers of colored cardstock as we want - without building up any thickness or needing any glue!
Skills Learned in this Chapter:
Using the Zoom Tool (Magnifying Glass)
Choosing Background Colors
Using the Crop Tool
Creating a Classy Photo Greeting Card
Everyone loves those beautiful photo greeting cards you usually find in galleries and fine gift shops. Now, they can be found on your desktop. This is a great way to show off your favorite scenic photos.
This project makes use of one of our Template Style Virtual Rubber Stamps (5x7 Greeting Card Template, included on the CD)
Skills Learned in this Chapter:
Combining PhotoShop Files
Pasting and Sizing An Image
Using Save As to save a copy
Adding Text to Your Photo Card
What can make a classy photo card even classier? And more suitable for occasions? Quotes, of course.
In this Chapter, you learn to use PhotoShop’s Type Tool to add type to the card you made in Chapter 3.
Skills Learned in this Chapter:
Adding Type
Working with Layers
Choosing Colors from an image with the EyeDropper Tool
Virtual Stamping with “Colored Ink”
Black ink is great, but we wouldn’t all have stacks of ink pads if we didn’t think colored ink is better!
The beauty of computer art is that you have millions of colored “ink pads” available, and they don’t dry out!
Skills Learned in this Chapter:
Using the Magic Wand Tool
Choosing Colors from the Color Swatches Window
DeSelecting a Selection
Making a Butterfly Color Sampler
In this Chapter, you become a PhotoShop color virtuoso - well, sorta.
You learn all about using, creating, and saving colors as you put together this sampler - and a bunch of other PhotoShop skills as well.
Skills Learned in this Chapter:
Resampling an image and Resizing the Canvas
Moving and Duplicating an Image
Creating new Colors
Adding Color Swatches
Saving and Loading Color Swatches
Fancy Butterflies Greeting Card
Now, we start “steppin out”. This is a beautiful card that looks for all the world as if those Butterflies are hovering over the front of it.
You apply the paint to the interior areas of the Butterflies after the card is printed. The rest is done in PhotoShop. We used this card on the cover of the CD because it symbolizes your transformation into a PhotoShop Artist!
Skills Learned in this Chapter:
Removing Backgrounds
Combining Virtual Stamps (Images)
Transforming, Sizing, and Rotating Images
Using Layer Styles: Drop Shadows
Dry Embossing
Instead of getting out the brass stencils, light table, and stylus, we just fire up PhotoShop to do all the hard work for us!
We get the dry embossed look - even if we can’t really feel it.
Skills Learned in this Chapter:
Mixing a Color with an RGB Formula
Applying Texture using Filters
Removing all Background from an Image
Using the Hue Slider
Flattening an Image
Using Layer Styles - Embossing
Making Paint Samplers
In this, our grand finale, we celebrate all we have learned by using it all to create our own Paint Samplers - and also relieve the guys at the home improvement store from some of their chagrin over how we keep emptying their sampler cases.
We learn to use graduated color fills in this Chapter also - which we will use extensively next time - in Virtual Stamping 102.
Skills Learned in this Chapter:
Review of techniques from Chapters 1 - 8
Using Gradient Color Fills
