Well, I'm no expert and can't pretend knowledge of things artistic. I can, however, share my process with you. You'll probably say, "She coulda' saved 3 steps if she'd just _____" -- I'm pretty new at this stuff and still have a huge learning curve! So here we go.
The assignment? Make a cover page for a journal. I decided that this would be a collection of scripture and songs that are meaningful to me.
-I did a search for “music” in my stash. I opened several of the folders in the list and selected those which had papers and elements which interested me. Two of the folders I opened yielded nothing I wanted this time. In other words, some of the choices were eliminated at this step in the process.
From the remaining folders, I narrowed the selection of papers and elements. First I chose a paper which I opened in Photoshop (I use PS CS3). Then I dropped elements from the folders into PS. I dragged elements/papers by one designer (from one kit) onto the paper and when I was done with that batch all from the same kit, I changed the names to reflect the kit (typed it once and then cut and paste). This is so at the end I don't have to search when it's time to compile the credits. Also during this phase as I saw a color scheme/style theme emerging, some of the papers/elements which I'd selected were culled.
So now I have around 100 elements and papers on my background. It's not usually this many. One reason this is so high this time is because I included a batch of musical notation (like an alpha) which is in individual .png files.
Next I hid the big elements/papers that make it hard to see what's there. At this point I'll often group things together on the page, not necessarily rearranging their order in the layers. I just wanna know the general vicinity to look in once I start placing things. I delete stuff at this point too as the direction my page is going becomes more clear. (click image to see it larger and then choose "back" in your browser to return to this page)
In the next pic I've finished grouping things, deleting a few more elements along the way. I've also hidden more. At the top I've placed some elements I think I definitely want, but we'll see :)
Here I've got some fav elements still showing and I deleted a few more things along the way.
Now I want to check the papers I've pulled out to see if I want the background blended.
Here's Asexton's paper from the 2010 AJC Parcel 8. It is set to “lighten”. I like it, but I really want the features from the original background ...
so I'll duplicate it, put it above the music paper and play around.
Now the copy of original background is in the layer above Sexton's paper. It is set to “darker color” and at opacity 71%. I think we're good to go :)
Now I'm going to close PS. My computer gets funky if there's too much going on in PS. So I'll hit Ctrl+ ALT+Shift when I reopen the file and say “yes” when it asks if I want to delete the Adobe Photoshop settings file. The following are just different stages of progress toward the end.
I just knew the tree with the birds and music would be central to the LO. I was wrong :)
In the end, I had 36 layers including 3 of backgrounds and the two text boxes.
Credits:
'Sing them over again to me, wonderful words of life' from the old hymn.
Speak to one another with the words of psalms, hymns, and sacred songs; sing hymns and psalms to the Lord with praise in your hearts (Eph 5)
Music of the Vanilla Sky by Shayarka Designs
Love from Maya by Danielle Engebretson
2010 Parcel 8 by Tangie Baxter and A Sexton
Live to Love by NLD
FJ Home for the Holidays collab by Michelle Godin
Bohemian Rock Candy by Franziska Altmann
MUSEical Theatre by Tangie Baxter
Enchanted Art Box by Tangie Baxter and SherrieJD
Night of the Music by Yoshiko Utsunomiya
Fonts: Pea Aimee @ Fonts for Peas and Coptic Eyes Latin
1 comment:
Thanks, Susan! I grew up on hymns so that is very familiar to me, even though we sing choruses mostly now.
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