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DIGITAL SCRAPBOOKINGTips & Tricks ~ Sketches
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Hello Shabby Shoppe readers! Rosy here with this week’s Tips & Tricks post on…sketches!
I’ve read different tutorials on how to make photos into sketches in Photoshop or Photoshop Elements, but this is the method that I found works (and is simple enough) for me.
There is a filter/sketch action in Photoshop Elements, but from my experience this produces less than pleasing results for using on a scrapbook layout. I’ve written this using Photoshop Elements 9.0, so if you are using a different version your steps may vary slightly.
First I’m going to give you the simple steps that I use on the photo.
For some of you that may even be enough instructions, but for the rest of you, I’ll give more details with a few visuals to help.
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Convert your image to black & white using whatever method you prefer. I usually use an action that produces a good amount of contrast.
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Duplicate by right clicking on the image layer and select “duplicate”.
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With the top layer selected, go to filter/adjustments and select invert.
Which will give you a terrible looking photo like this…
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With the top layer still selected, change the blend mode to “color dodge”. Don’t panic if it seems like your photo disappears! This is normal :)
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Now (still on the top layer) run the “gaussian blur” action on it (found under effects/filter/blur), and you should have an image looking something like this…
Sometimes the sketch is too light and in those cases, I flatten my image; duplicate it, and turn the blend mode of the top layer to “multiply”. Flatten again.
Now you’re ready to put your sketch onto your layout! Position it on top of your background paper and then, once again we change the blend mode. On my example I used “multiply”, but I’ve used “linear burn” too. Experiment with the blend mode and opacity until you are satisfied! (For more information on blend modes…click HERE) Also, Shabby Princess has a lovely range of textured digital papers in her kits, ideal for that authentic sketched look we wish achieve. The new GRACIE cardstocks are perfect!
Depending on the look you want and whether your photo has distractions in the background, you can mask out (or erase) around your subject. I used a soft edge brush on a layer mask on my example.
Am I making any sense? Are you ready to go play with sketches? or are you shaking your head, wondering what in the world I’m trying to say?! ;) I am by no means an expert (in sketches or writing tutorials!), but I’ll try to answer any questions you may have in the comments.
Using sketches on scrapbook layouts can really give you a unique look! I hope you try it out and I’d love to see your layout in the gallery if you do!
Here is the layout that I created with my sketch.
Thanks for joining us at the Blog today, Kylie will be along tomorrow with the brand new NOVEMBER projectSCRAP templates! And make sure you check out the new & festive EASY-AS-PIE HOLIDAY CARD TEMPLATE SETS that were released in the Shoppe yesterday! You’ll love them!! :)
Jan 05, 2012 @ 22:25:35
hey there! thank you for this tip, i used it and it worked out perfectly!
Nov 24, 2011 @ 13:19:59
mine is not saving as a transparecy it has a white background and I can’t find out how to ‘mask’ it? what have I done wrong? I followed all the steps..I have PSE 7. and it saves as a bmp is that right? how do I get it to be a transparency or merge with the background paper I chose?
Nov 24, 2011 @ 14:31:44
Never mind, frustrated with dial up, but eventually got there, after trying many different techniques, I found the right one, but don’t know what I did lol! so I saved it anyway! sorry for the confusion and thanks for the link to the tips on creating a mask. Some how that helped (but I’m not sure how I did it!) all fixed..in working process now. Sorry again.
Nov 25, 2011 @ 03:04:09
Done..loved doing this layout. titled ABC Sketched 2000 in the gallery now. thanks Rosy for all your help and wonderful technique to learn!!!!
Nov 25, 2011 @ 11:44:33
So sorry about the confusion! It is normal for the photo to have a white background. Once you drag it onto your paper and change the blend mode, the “white” disappears. PSE 7 will not have a “layer mask” tool. You can clip your photo to an empty adjustment layer (a roundabout way of getting a layer mask) or use the eraser tool.
Nov 25, 2011 @ 11:45:50
I saw your layout in the gallery! Great job!
Nov 23, 2011 @ 17:13:14
That is so cool! Thank you so much for showing us a tutorial on it too. I love the page!
Nov 23, 2011 @ 12:34:53
Awswome!!! Thanks so much for teaching this!!!
Nov 23, 2011 @ 10:49:12
Very cool! I have never thought to do this… love it! Will have to give it a try. Thanks for taking the time to type up this tutorial! :)
Nov 23, 2011 @ 10:17:26
Wonderful layout! Love the way you used the sketch!
Nov 23, 2011 @ 09:35:22
THANKS Rosy! I’ve always noticed when you did this before in your layouts… will have to try it myself now!!
Nov 23, 2011 @ 08:58:09
Rosy, I love your layout and sketch tips!!! What a great post!!!
Nov 23, 2011 @ 05:50:11
Wonderful post Rosy! I’ve never tried this before but I am going to give it a go now following your great instructions and tips. Gorgeous layout of Isaac too btw :)