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lizj
2Ps Digital Creative Team
PeaNut 242,431
January 2006
Posts: 9,897
Layouts: 540
Loc: Los Angeles
 |  Posted: 1/9/2013 10:16:08 AM
I remember when I first started digital scrapbooking, and discovered brushes. I still get that excited feeling whenever I load a brush, and realize all the cool things that I can do with it. Re-color, re-size, flip, partially color, scruff things up, dress things up...! Am I the only one that still loves brushes? What cool things do you do with brushes? Katherine Bley put up a cool tutorial a few weeks ago about stamping with digital brushes to get this effect believe. Brushes! Love them. |
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ShanB
PeaAddict
PeaNut 187,882
January 2005
Posts: 1,441
Layouts: 198
Loc: southern ontario
 |  Posted: 1/9/2013 11:05:09 AM
I love my brushes too, my fav is to take a plain paper and faintly brush over it to make a very subtle pattern paper. Love the effect
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Beatrice
2Ps Digital Creative Team
PeaNut 5,096
June 2000
Posts: 733
Layouts: 97
 |  Posted: 1/9/2013 11:39:32 AM
The layout on the blog post was gorgeous but I would be too intimidated to try it.  I am not good with brushes. Maybe people could link up some layouts as inspiration. That would be great and very helpful to a brush dummy like me. | |
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debikins
Dabbling in Digi
PeaNut 65,255
January 2003
Posts: 9,912
Layouts: 1,281
Loc: Behind a laptop in the Pacific Northwest
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fruitysuet
2Ps Digital Creative Team
PeaNut 151,913
June 2004
Posts: 7,971
Layouts: 1,006
Loc: Derbyshire, England
| Posted: 1/9/2013 12:33:43 PM
I love the look and will use them now and again - I think they are just one of those things that I overlook. As with my paper scrapping my pages tend to be focussed on paper layers and embellishing and I struggle with adding techniquey things into the mix. |
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Erica Hernandez
PeaNut 44,581
August 2002
Posts: 22,316
Layouts: 634
Loc: the mitten state :)
| Posted: 1/9/2013 6:19:40 PM
I still love them and use them quite a bit. I agree...the first time you get it, it's like magic! lol Mostly, I use the basics for a variety of things but yup, I'm with you Liz! |
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jmgesi
Jeepers PEApers
PeaNut 385,164
July 2008
Posts: 2,267
Layouts: 341
Loc: Northeast
 | Posted: 1/9/2013 7:04:25 PM
I don't use them much. They do intimidate me a little! I mostly use grunge brushes to texture paper. I have tried using them to blend, though. You know, add a new layer... Use a brush on that layer... Then use the brushed area as a clipping mask. I did that on this layout:
Seth's Grade 3 Goals |
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lizj
2Ps Digital Creative Team
PeaNut 242,431
January 2006
Posts: 9,897
Layouts: 540
Loc: Los Angeles
| Posted: 1/9/2013 7:27:59 PM
Jan, that's so sweet! The brush mask worked great. I love his list! |
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sroller
Nursie Pea
PeaNut 243,673
January 2006
Posts: 5,687
Layouts: 968
Loc: Vancouver, WA
| Posted: 1/9/2013 7:33:47 PM
I don't use them very often either. If I do, I usually fall back to some old Rhonna grunge brushes to grunge up a LO. I found a way to use a Hero Arts penguin one for background on a college LO for DS last year--the mascot is Penguin. |
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Beatrice
2Ps Digital Creative Team
PeaNut 5,096
June 2000
Posts: 733
Layouts: 97
| Posted: 1/9/2013 7:58:03 PM
Jan- what a creative layout! Thanks for sharing. I really like the look of pp clipped to brushes like in this layout by Janelle:
I hope she won't mind if I post the link. I think that's how she made that painty background. Janelle's page | |
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stefdesign
PhotoshoPEAholic
PeaNut 307,816
April 2007
Posts: 11,996
Layouts: 862
Loc: So Cal Gal Living in NJ
 | Posted: 1/9/2013 8:38:07 PM
I tend to use brushes quite often. Here's a layout I did where I created a brush from a font dingbat, and used it to create a 'raised tile' by brushing the image on a layer, pulling down the opacity but adding a bevel & emboss:
And one where I made a brush from a high contrast photo of the tree, and then clipped it to the title. (the tiny little leaves on the tree are brushes too)
I used a crackle brush to add some texture to an already grungy font:
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stefdesign
PhotoshoPEAholic
PeaNut 307,816
April 2007
Posts: 11,996
Layouts: 862
Loc: So Cal Gal Living in NJ
| Posted: 1/9/2013 8:40:38 PM
Another favorite brush technique is to use a brush as an eraser to 'weather' something... I created a brush from a rough paint brush stroke, and 'erased' some of the edge of the photos on the tile, to make them look chipped.
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lizj
2Ps Digital Creative Team
PeaNut 242,431
January 2006
Posts: 9,897
Layouts: 540
Loc: Los Angeles
| Posted: 1/9/2013 9:01:59 PM
Well, yeah, Stef, but where's your good stuff?
(WOW!) |
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Beatrice
2Ps Digital Creative Team
PeaNut 5,096
June 2000
Posts: 733
Layouts: 97
| Posted: 1/10/2013 6:07:00 AM
Gorgeous Stef! | |
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Katherine B
2Ps Digital Creative Team
PeaNut 410,002
February 2009
Posts: 736
Layouts: 94
Loc: Northeastern Indiana
| Posted: 1/10/2013 6:08:06 AM
I LoOoooovVeeee brushes and am a self proclaimed brush NUT! I don't think there is anything I love more about digital scrapbooking than brushes. Seriously. And I use them in every. single. layout.  |
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Laura ODonnell
2Ps Digital Creative Team
PeaNut 90,692
June 2003
Posts: 6,874
Layouts: 921
Loc: West Chester PA
 | Posted: 1/10/2013 1:27:57 PM
I love brushes for cardmaking, and my favorite thing is to flip and resize. I made this Christmas card, flipping and resizing the kitty
simple little things like this just make me so happy! |
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Janelle Miller
ttyl - I'm dancing with my daughter
PeaNut 11,777
March 2001
Posts: 11,173
Layouts: 650
Loc: unknown
| Posted: 1/10/2013 2:26:24 PM
I don't mind at all, Beatrice (aren't we all praise junkies around here  ) And, yes, that is exactly how I did it. I used several of Vinnie's brushes on a single new layer and them used them as a clipping mask for some of Michelle's patterned paper.
Like many others, sometimes I must forget about brushes. That is the only explanation, because I love the look and yet rarely use them.  |
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lizj
2Ps Digital Creative Team
PeaNut 242,431
January 2006
Posts: 9,897
Layouts: 540
Loc: Los Angeles
| Posted: 1/10/2013 2:32:44 PM
Cute card, Laura! |
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blinks14
PeaAddict
PeaNut 41,620
June 2002
Posts: 1,417
Layouts: 103
Loc: Reading, PA
| Posted: 1/10/2013 3:23:18 PM
I probably don't use brushes enough because I don't know the extent of what I could do with them. I have been trying to use them lately to add a little something to my LO's. | |
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jmgesi
Jeepers PEApers
PeaNut 385,164
July 2008
Posts: 2,267
Layouts: 341
Loc: Northeast
| Posted: 1/10/2013 6:58:06 PM
I love seeing what everyone does with brushes. Wow. Stef... I want to scrap like you when I grow up. |
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jbarksdale
2Ps Digital Creative Team
PeaNut 338,129
September 2007
Posts: 19,565
Layouts: 742
Loc: Kentucky
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scrapsuzy
ScraPEA Suzy the Purr-ple Pea
PeaNut 67,643
February 2003
Posts: 16,151
Layouts: 77
Loc: Peachtree City, GA
| Posted: 1/12/2013 7:37:21 PM
Well, I love them when I see them. But I've never learned how to use them, even though I have some! I'm sure it is covered in one of my Renee Pearson Digital Scrapbooking books, I've just not taken the time to learn.
Hmmmm... maybe that should be one of my goals this coming week while I am doing some heavy duty scrapping (my every-other-month trip to a friend's lakehouse to scrap for a few days!). |
*******
Suzanne
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janedee
BC Pea
PeaNut 91,256
June 2003
Posts: 12,843
Layouts: 886
Loc: Okanagan Valley
| Posted: 1/12/2013 9:56:53 PM
I love them and use them all the time. |
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janedee
BC Pea
PeaNut 91,256
June 2003
Posts: 12,843
Layouts: 886
Loc: Okanagan Valley
| Posted: 1/12/2013 10:03:31 PM
I love them and use them all the time. |
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lizj
2Ps Digital Creative Team
PeaNut 242,431
January 2006
Posts: 9,897
Layouts: 540
Loc: Los Angeles
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megascraper
BucketHead
PeaNut 304,112
March 2007
Posts: 522
Layouts: 10
Loc: Utah
| Posted: 1/13/2013 10:17:04 AM
Great topic! I'm just starting to discover them myself. I feel like there's this whole new world I havn't yet discovered! I've only used them sparingly--still figuring it out. But there are so many and they are mostly free, and there really is so much you can do! One of the first time I used them was on this page , where I added coffee stains to the paper. It was so simple but gave it more depth. I'm still exploring--used them on a poster for my middle school talent show I'm in charge of and they turned otu great! But oh, I have so much to learn! |
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lizj
2Ps Digital Creative Team
PeaNut 242,431
January 2006
Posts: 9,897
Layouts: 540
Loc: Los Angeles
| Posted: 1/22/2013 10:15:17 PM
Are you all playing along with the brush tutorial? The first tutorial is about loading brushes. We just added a PDF that you can download and print.
brush blog post 1: loading brushes
Next month we'll talk about making your own brushes. It's easy! Check the blog for tips. |
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rosyjazz
PeaNut
PeaNut 576,615
January 2013
Posts: 20
Layouts: 2
Loc: California
| Posted: 1/23/2013 12:09:23 AM
I just tried to d/l the brushed pdf tutorial. Dropbox is not allowing me to d/l it. I did sign in... |
Thank you kindly,
Rosy from Cali
http://rosyjazz.etsy.com
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lizj
2Ps Digital Creative Team
PeaNut 242,431
January 2006
Posts: 9,897
Layouts: 540
Loc: Los Angeles
| Posted: 1/23/2013 8:34:15 AM
I just tried to d/l the brushed pdf tutorial. Dropbox is not allowing me to d/l it. I did sign in...
Thanks for letting us know. Let's see if you can download through Box.com:
January 2013 2Peas brush tutorial
If not, pm me and I'll email it to you. HTH! |
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scrapsuzy
ScraPEA Suzy the Purr-ple Pea
PeaNut 67,643
February 2003
Posts: 16,151
Layouts: 77
Loc: Peachtree City, GA
| Posted: 1/23/2013 5:42:52 PM
I just downloaded the tutorial and am printing it off. This is going to be my project for tonight, loading all my brushes that I have but have never used! |
*******
Suzanne
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jmgesi
Jeepers PEApers
PeaNut 385,164
July 2008
Posts: 2,267
Layouts: 341
Loc: Northeast
| Posted: 1/25/2013 8:19:03 PM
I am looking forward to the tutorial about making your own brushes. I've never learned how to do that. This discussion has got me using brushes more often. In fact, I think I'll go use some brushes to alter paper for this week's challenge. |
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lizziej
PeaNut
PeaNut 91,198
June 2003
Posts: 85
Layouts: 2
Loc: Texas
| Posted: 1/29/2013 2:23:57 PM
I LOVE the look of brushes, but I almost always use them as PNGs! Also, years ago when I first starting digi scrapping, someone made mention that if you load too many brushes that your program doesn't run properly. That kinda turned me off for actually loading brushes. I NEED a brush tutorial. The few times that I've used them, I forget to put them on a separate layer, and them I'm stuck with what I did. So aggravating. |
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Janelle Miller
ttyl - I'm dancing with my daughter
PeaNut 11,777
March 2001
Posts: 11,173
Layouts: 650
Loc: unknown
| Posted: 2/1/2013 11:59:04 AM
Yes the next installment will be the third Wed in February - I think that is the 20th - I'm excited for it as well |
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lizj
2Ps Digital Creative Team
PeaNut 242,431
January 2006
Posts: 9,897
Layouts: 540
Loc: Los Angeles
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bcgal00
PeaFixture
PeaNut 139,932
April 2004
Posts: 3,934
Layouts: 140
Loc: Port Coquitlam, BC Canada
| Posted: 2/21/2013 10:54:39 AM
I printed out the two tutorials about brushes. This thread has inspired me to learn more about brushes and use them more. What a great thread this has been! |
Rae
Rae Clevett Photography
scrapdribbles
MY GEAR: Canon 5DMKII, Canon 7D, Canon G12, Speedlite 430EX, 580EX & 270
LENSES: 28,50,85,100 macro,15 mm fisheye,17-40,24-70,24-105,70-200 F/4 & F/2.8, Sigma 150-500
EDITING: Photoshop CS5 & LR3, CALIBRATED WITH SPYDER 3 Elite
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lizj
2Ps Digital Creative Team
PeaNut 242,431
January 2006
Posts: 9,897
Layouts: 540
Loc: Los Angeles
| Posted: 2/21/2013 11:24:00 AM
I printed out the two tutorials about brushes. This thread has inspired me to learn more about brushes and use them more. What a great thread this has been!
Yay! If you want to learn anything specific about brushes feel free to post questions. This group is very helpful. |
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kyky77
BucketHead
PeaNut 332,653
August 2007
Posts: 820
Layouts: 220
Loc: Italy
| Posted: 2/24/2013 1:49:07 AM
I love brushes! I was brave enough to try the katherine's tutorial (here the result:
I have to admit that usually I use the png version of brush-usually designers put in the kit both abr and png.
I use ABR when I need to change color or dimension faster. Love how many different results you can have with the same brush!!
I love most the "grunge" ones
I use my brushes more often in my art journal (vs layout)
ciao! |
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lizj
2Ps Digital Creative Team
PeaNut 242,431
January 2006
Posts: 9,897
Layouts: 540
Loc: Los Angeles
| Posted: 2/24/2013 8:53:44 AM
Nice, Chiara! |
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jmgesi
Jeepers PEApers
PeaNut 385,164
July 2008
Posts: 2,267
Layouts: 341
Loc: Northeast
| Posted: 2/24/2013 9:28:06 AM
I am behind! I used brushes to alter some paper, which is what you suggested trying in the first tutorial. I also made a brush from a png, but didn't use it on a layout yet.
I TRIED to extract part of a photo (of a fish), save it as a png, and then make a brush out of it. I was able to save it as a png, but I could not save it as a brush. I don't know what I did wrong!
Trout Hatchery |
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lizj
2Ps Digital Creative Team
PeaNut 242,431
January 2006
Posts: 9,897
Layouts: 540
Loc: Los Angeles
| Posted: 2/24/2013 12:18:47 PM
Check you out, Jan! I love this! As it happens, the third tutorial is going to be on turning an extraction into a brush (you're ahead of me now!). Check the size of your png. If it's too many pixels, you won't be able to define the brush. It won't actually tell you it's not working, it just won't work (which I view as a flaw in the program; it took me FOREVER to realize that my pngs were just too big. I wish a warning bell would go off -- TOO BIG!!!). Try reducing the size of your png and see if you can define it then. I believe the maximum size you can use for defining a brush is 2500x2500, but I've had problems even if I get close to that size. |
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jmgesi
Jeepers PEApers
PeaNut 385,164
July 2008
Posts: 2,267
Layouts: 341
Loc: Northeast
| Posted: 2/24/2013 1:41:52 PM
Thanks, Liz! I didn't mean to be impatient! I am loving your brush tutorials. I'm going to try what you said. |
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lizj
2Ps Digital Creative Team
PeaNut 242,431
January 2006
Posts: 9,897
Layouts: 540
Loc: Los Angeles
| Posted: 2/24/2013 2:19:42 PM
Not at all, I'm glad you thought of the same idea to make a brush from an extraction, it's so much fun! One of my favorite techniques. Let us know if reducing the size of the png doesn't work to allow you to make the brush. |
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