Help?!! I have a question

[Jaime]

I am new at this whole digital scrapbook thing. I am a serious rookie. I'm not even sure if I am using the correct terminology when I ask this question, so please forgive me.
I want my background on my 12 x 12 page to be a picture, but I want it to be lighter (?opacity?) than the rest of the page. I want to put pictures and embellishments on top? How might I go about doing that?
Thank you to whoever out there can answer what may be a silly question to the rest of you!!!
Happy Digital Scrapping!
Rookie-Jaime

[Keith]

I was actually waiting for someone to give you the right answer. Believe it or not I am a photoshop rookie as well. Here is how I would do it, and maybe others will have a better way or different way, or maybe I will get lucky and give you a right answer.

I am assuming you are using photoshop?? If not tell us what program you are using.

But if I were going to fade out a background like that I would from the top menu choose IMAGE -> ADJUSTMENTS -> LEVELS (or control + L if you like to use the keyboard) and then you can then click down and hold on the little triangle shapes and drag them left or right until you find what you are looking for. Here is a sample of how I faded the paper that is on the background of this fourm so you can see the difference.

Did that help? Anyone else want to give us rookies a better or easier way to do this?

[April]

Sorry it took a while to respond...

That's actually a perfect question for this board.

First start with a new canvas. (File then new) Make the canvas 12x12 at 300 dpi. Make the background white.

Next use the move tool to drag your picture on the new canvas and stretch it so it covers the entire canvas. You will loose picture quality when you do this but if you don't stretch it too much you'll probably be fine.

Make sure your picture layer is selected then decrease the opacity in the options palette to whatever you think looks good. You can find the opacity slider on the top right side of the layers palette.

I hope this helps. If you have more questions I can explain in greater detail. Show us your page when you get it done!

[April]

That's actually a perfect question for this board. Hey Keith... how funny we are posting at the same time and we both started with the same thing. You forgot to post your sample.

I personally wouldn't do it Keith's way but it would work. One thing you'll learn with photoshop is there are several ways to do the same thing.

[Keith]

See there is the easy way... I always seem to do things the hard way. I had to take a minute to figure out what April was talking about, but maybe this screenshot will help. It is much easier than what I was explaining. That was just the only way I knew how to do what you were asking

[April]

That's it Keith. Thanks.

[michelle_e]

EEEK! Is that in english? :P I want to learn! I even downloaded a free kit to try...but <sigh> I didn't even know what to do with it.

Here's where I look TOTALLY useles...do I have to use photoshop to play? I use Corel paint shop pro. I've been way to afraid to load PS3 even though it sits in my drawer waiting.

Also, if I have to use photoshop...can it be elements? and is it that much easier to learn cuz I heard PS3 might take a PHD?

TIA!

[April]

:) Yes. It was in english:) The learning curve is kind of steep but once you get it - digital scrapbooking is so easy. If you spend 1-2 hours practicing lessons 1-8 on the tips page (link at the top) you will be able to create scrapbook pages and *most* of what was written above won't look like it was written in a foriegn language anymore. Read the tutorials in order and you'll do better. If you live in Utah come to one of our free classes.

You can use Corel but I would really recommend you install Photoshop Elements (yes you can use elements) because you'll be able to get a lot more help from people on this board. People say photoshop is hard but it really isn't if you remember you only need to learn a fraction of what the program offers to be able to create awesome pages.

[April]

If you spend 1-2 hours practicing lessons 1-8 on the tips page (link at the top) you will be able to create scrapbook pages and *most* of what was written above won't look like it was written in a foriegn language anymore.

If anything still doesn't make sence after reading the tutorials NEVER feel afraid to ask. That is the whole reason I started this forum.

[michelle_e]

Thank you April! I will give it a read (and pick up Elements...PS3 is just too much for me I think!) and give'er a try! :D

[StephVetne]

Michelle -

Good luck!!! I just looked through all of April's tips and I think she's done an excellent job summarizing what you need to do to get started! Have fun!!!

[Jaime]

Thanks April and Keith for your help on the opacity question that I had. I really appreciate your help.
Jaime

[Keith]

Any time. And you can always listen to my difficult solution, or to April's easy solutions :) some people always like to do things the hard way (that's me)

[Kelly]

LOL at keith! : )
that's because man=difficult way : ) LOL!
-kelly

[Jaime]

I don't know you, Kelly, but you sure make me laugh!

[Erin]

Don't worry i'm a total beginner too. We can learn together! I'm having a blast learning.