Design Ideas for Board Books Class

[Quinn]

Instructions coming soon (delay reasons stated in puzzle block thread)! April, can you post the completed book photos in this thread? Thanks!

[supermombritt]

I made a board book for my nephews birthday and he loved it. I think they turn out so cute.

[Quinn]

Since I taught a lot of complicated techniques, I'll give each technique in it's own thread with lots of shots.

These screen shots are showing examples of using layer blending modes. The first shots show the page out of my board book that I used the technique & the other shots show how I got that effect using layer blending modes.

Layer blending modes just take a lot of experimentation. One mode doesn't work in every situation. The examples I've used may not be the best modes to use in your situation. Just sift through them to find the best mode for your particular project & have fun!

Example 1: Using the layer blending mode "hard light" to blend 2 papers into each other so a patterned paper (pink heart paper from "In the Mood" "Love") could have the lines from the paper underneath (brown paper from "In the Mood" "Love") for better journaling.

Example 2: Using the layer blending mode "luminosity" to blend a photo into a paper (light paper from "In the Mood" "Love") for a customized background paper.

just noticed that the screen shots are showing a little small. If your internet browser isn't allowing you to zoom in & these shots aren't helpful, let me know & I can upload new ones.

[Quinn]

Make long journaling or any text on your digiscrapbook pages have more interest & emphasis with good typography.

A favorite typography inspiration site: ilovetypography.com (http://ilovetypography.com/)
“Typography is an art.” “Fundamentally, the responsibility we bear is two-fold: first we owe it to the reader not to hinder their reading pleasure, but to aid it; second, we owe a responsibility to the typeface or typefaces we employ. Good typefaces are designed for a good purpose, but not even the very best types are suited to every situation.” “[typography] is a craft by which the meanings of text (or its absence of meaning) can be clarified, honored and shared….
 — Robert*Bringhurst”

Another good typography site with lots of cool ideas: typographic (http://www.rsub.com/typographic/)

[Kelli West]

Quinn, thank you for doing that!! How is the construction mess goin for ya?

[Quinn]

Kelli, you're so sweet! Thanks for asking! We're not living at home again this week because they're painting. Inconvenient, but the end is in sight! Next week the flooring will be installed & we can move into our Master Bedroom & Great Room. The total remodel won't be complete, but it will be a lot closer! Bless your beautiful hide, Kelli!

[Kelli West]

I just love getting my beautiful hide blessed...If ya know what I mean!! ;)
hOpefully sooner than later you will be back in your house! Not too much longer...YAY!!!

[Quinn]

Here are screen shot/directions to explain using layer masks. In this instance I used a layer mask on the red paper ("In the Mood" "Love") to erase the paper along the paper tear ("The Garden").

To create a layer mask in Photoshop:
Example 1. click on the desired layer (red paper "In the Mood: Love") & click on the layer mask icon in the layers palette (black square with white circle inside)

To create a layer mask in Photoshop Elements:
Example 2. click on the adjustment layer icon in the layers palette (half black/white circle) & select "hue/saturation" from the drop-down menu
Example 3. click "OK" when the hue/saturation menu pops up (don't make any changes in that window)
Example 4. move the "hue/saturation adjustment layer" under the layer you wish to mask (i.e. under the red paper layer), then click on the layer you wish to mask (i.e. the red paper layer) & select "group with previous" from the "Layer" drop-down menu to group the paper layer with the adjustment layer

To make a guide to use with your layer mask (both PS/PSE):
Example 5. hold down "command" (Mac) or "alt" (PC) while clicking on the icon of the layer you'd like to select (i.e. paper tear layer), then select "inverse" from the "Select" drop-down menu. This will allow you to only affect the space around the paper tear

Using your Layer Mask:
Example 6: Click on the white layer mask box in the layers palette. Using the brush tool with the color black selected, paint away the areas of the paper to erase on your document; painting with white will bring back the erased parts
Example 7: The completed document

[Kelli West]

once again, that is sweet of you to do that for us Quinn!!

[Quinn]

Remember, there are lots of ways to do the same thing in Photoshop. This is one way to help remove distractions from a photo's background. For small background fixes I generally use the clone stamp tool, but when there are large areas I prefer this method.

Kelli showed me the "patch" tool that works awesome in the full version of Photoshop for removing distractions, but - sadly - this tool is not included in Photoshop Elements.

Here's the page from my book where I used this technique & the before & after photos. The instructions will be in the next post.

[Quinn]

Example 1. Use the magnetic/polygonal lasso & magic wand tools to select around the subject in the photo & duplicate the photo layer.

Example 2. Select the inverse of the selection area.

Example 3. Delete the inverse to create an outline of the subject to use as a guide when working with the background.

Example 4. Use the marquee tool to select a portion of the background. In the "Edit" drop-down menu, select "define pattern."

Example 5. Use the marquee tool to select an area of distraction. Using the paint bucket tool select "pattern" in the tool's menu options. Then select the created pattern from the list of patterns.

Example 6. Use the paint bucket tool to fill in the selected area of distraction.

Example 7. Continue selecting distraction areas of the background (using the marquee tool) to create patterns & use them to cover all the distractions (using the paint bucket tool).

Example 8. Hold down "command" (Mac) or "alt" (PC) & click on the photo copy layer to select around the edges. Select the inverse to make the background area around the photo subject useable for blending.

Example 9. Use the spot healing brush to blend the background, making sure to use a soft edge brush.

Example 10. Use the blur tool to soften the background blending.

Remember that this is not an exact science. It takes some finessing & work to make it look natural, but you should be able to succeed & make your photo really gorgeous!

[Quinn]

There are lots of places you can find board books that you can make your pages digitally, print them on photo paper & apply into the board book pages using double-sided tape/mod podge or other methods. Two places in particular to look for books would be BareBooks (http://www.barebooks.com/chunky.htm) (minimum $20 order) & Oriental Trading (http://www.orientaltrading.com/application?namespace=browse&origin=searchMain.jsp&event=link.itemDetails&demandPrefix=12&sku=65/55184&mode=Searching&erec=9&D=books&Ntt=books&Ntk=all&Dx=mode%252bmatchallpartial&Ntx=mode%252bmatchallpartial&y=12&N=0&x=35&sd=5+X+5+Board+Books). Certainly if any of you want to order from BareBooks & need others to pitch in to get the $20 minimum order just post & I'm sure lots of us will want to order with you. I love making these books. My kids really enjoy them & I don't worry about them getting messed up because they're totally replaceable & inexpensive to make.

[Kim Hansen]

Quinn--this (posting this VALUABLE information) is another reason why I love you! You really did a great job, I rewrote my notes from the retreat and also went over them (practiced in photoshop). I'm so excited about my new skills: LOVE YOU!

[Quinn]

Kim, thanks so much for writing that! My family was pretty unhappy with me because putting these notes up took a ton of time, but I wanted them to be really clear. Thanks for helping me feel it was worthwhile! I'm excited to see how you use your new skills! Can't wait to see what you post! LOVE YOU back!!! xoxo

[tpowers]

Thanks Quinn. I need to use the remove distractions and couldn't remember how. I really apprecitate you taking the time to post the instructions.

[supermombritt]

Thanks Quinn you are so amazing. My next week is pretty clear so I am up for Greek food or any other for that matter. Let me know what works for you.

[Quinn]

Teresa, that's so sweet of you to say! Not a problem at all to post all that! I want to see your photos when you're finished with them! How fun!

Brittany, I'm feeling a tad frazzled this week but maybe next week won't be so bad. They're tearing out my kitchen in the very near future so that may put the frazzled feeling back in full-gear, but for sanity sake I really should snag an opportunity to go out with you asap! Thanks for being up for it! Bless you for not giving up on me!

[chryslergreen]

Quinn, thanks from me too! I almost feel like I was at the retreat with all of these amazing, detailed instructions! I'm sure it did take forever to do this, and I really appreciate it. I don't have time right now but I'm going to take the time later to sit down and follow all of this. I have so many great ideas for little books, I love it! Thanks again!

[supermombritt]

Quinn my life is starting to free up so you tell me when it works best for you. I should even bring you dinner one night. Tell me when the kitchen is torn up and I will bring dinner to you.

[Quinn]

Lynnette, I'm so glad this made you feel like you were a part of the retreat! We missed you not being able to be there! Let me know if you have any questions when you sit down to try it out.

Brittany you're so sweet! Our kitchen is torn up right now, actually. But, we're really not living at home very much because of it. We're mostly just eating with my parents every night. Thanks so much for your sweet offer! If the baby comes sooner, rather than later, maybe that could work to do dinner. But, that sounds like a bummer to see you for two seconds when you drop off dinner. We need to find a plan that helps us get more time in together than that. Sadly, my life is chaos at the moment so making plans is not my specialty. Love you lots, Britt!

[welovemilk]

Quinn, I know it has been a while, but I just found this and I am so excited! I am having trouble with step 4 when you "define pattern". I am not able to get elements 6 to let me define a pattern, it only will let me define a brush. Could you please clue me in on what a might be doing wrong? Thanks a bunch for all the instructions! I wish I could have been at the retreat!

[Quinn]

Andrea, I've been thinking about your question all weekend & I'm not really sure yet. I'm still researching, but if anyone else knows, by all means, post your knowledge.

[welovemilk]

Thanks Quinn!