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debikins
StuckOnPeas
PeaNut 65255 - 1/28/2003
Posts: 2068 Layouts: 313
Loc: Pacific Northwest
Count: 107 |  Posted: 2/24/2009 1:03:06 PM
I love the ease (well relatively...still in my learning curve), the portability (can do it on my laptop anywhere)and the lack of a mess to clean up afterwards of digital scrapping BUT I miss the dimensionality of paper layouts. I really like the look of layers of elements that pop at you and so far am struggling with how to create the look via digital...anyone else? Any good insights on how to make my digital layouts look more 3D? | |
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Aussiekat
PeaAddict
PeaNut 330399 - 8/1/2007
Posts: 1843 Layouts: 277
Loc: Virginia
Count: 26 | Posted: 2/24/2009 1:20:56 PM
Deb, shadows are the key to making things look realistic and "jumping" off the page. It's something I'm still working at - particularly with things like ribbons, ties on tags, etc. It takes some practice with skewing and distorting the shadows to create the effects.
I can only say ... play and keeping playing. Oh, and a tip (that I wish someone had shared when I first started digi scrapping) ... sometims less is more when it comes to shadows. A shadow that's too big or too dark can end up looking like its drawn with a marker pen! (and yes, been there, done that! ROFL)
Oh, and the burn 'n' dodge tool that we used in last week's challenge (which I'd, personally, never used before), can add subtle highlights and shadows on the elements, too. |
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stefdesign
PhotoshoPEAholic
PeaNut 307816 - 4/2/2007
Posts: 9009 Layouts: 490
Loc: Beautiful Southern California
Count: 30 | Posted: 2/24/2009 1:43:21 PM
I LOVE 3D- the more three dimensional the better. I agree with Kat that too much or too dark shadows can be very distracting. One thing that for me is the key, unless you just want a simple drop shadow, is to make the shadow it's own layer so you can play with it- distort it, stretch it, etc, to make it look more real. On PS you simply create a drop shadow as usual, then click on the correct layer, hold the mouse over the little 'fx' icon on the side, hold down the control key, and select the 'create new' choice. I think it's different in PSE though, not sure exactly how to do it.
This layout has a bit of a 3D effect. |
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genuinepea
Garden Girl
PeaNut 79412 - 4/3/2003
Posts: 3299 Layouts: 160
Loc: Utah
Count: 54 | Posted: 2/24/2009 2:03:05 PM
Have you thought about hybrid? Do the bulk of your page digitally, then add some traditional embellishments after it's printed.
I'm probably in the minority, but I don't want my digital pages to look 3D. That's why I avoided digi for so long, I think a shadowed button just looks fake.
I love the effects that can be done digitally, but I rarely add shadows to anything. |
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debikins
StuckOnPeas
PeaNut 65255 - 1/28/2003
Posts: 2068 Layouts: 313
Loc: Pacific Northwest
Count: 107 | Posted: 2/24/2009 2:34:19 PM
unless you just want a simple drop shadow, is to make the shadow it's own layer so you can play with it- distort it, stretch it, etc, to make it look more real.
Can't figure out in PSE how to make a shadow it's separate layer so tried doing 2 copies of cookie changing dropshadow on the copy. Here's a practice element using a cookie...suggestions? 3D cookie | |
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busy.butterfly
StuckOnPeas
PeaNut 360936 - 2/5/2008
Posts: 2901 Layouts: 194
Loc: Vancouver, Canada
Count: 30 | Posted: 2/24/2009 3:15:48 PM
In PSE drop shadows are a bit different than in photoshop. For basic drop shadows like paper frames, small buttons and things I use the drop shadow effect in the layer styles. The shadow is not in it`s own separate layer but you can still play with it.
Here are the steps I follow
1 Apply the low drop shadow a little fx will appear on the layer in the layers pallet.
2 Double click on that little blue fx. That opens up another box. size, distance, and opacity and the color of the shadow can be changed.
3 Use the sliders to play around with the shadow you can also change the lighting angle.
4. You can change the color of the shawow by clicking on the little black box. I usually change the color to a darker shade of the background that the element is on.
That is the simplest way to add a drop shadow in pse but there is another way I`ll post the other way after I finish my lunch. |
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stefdesign
PhotoshoPEAholic
PeaNut 307816 - 4/2/2007
Posts: 9009 Layouts: 490
Loc: Beautiful Southern California
Count: 30 | Posted: 2/24/2009 3:15:57 PM
I'm pretty sure you can do the separate shadow layer in PSE. Hopefully one of our PSE experts will pop by with the method for you. |
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stefdesign
PhotoshoPEAholic
PeaNut 307816 - 4/2/2007
Posts: 9009 Layouts: 490
Loc: Beautiful Southern California
Count: 30 | Posted: 2/24/2009 3:16:39 PM
Kerry! You must have snuck in when I wasn't looking! |
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lizj
template-hapPEA
PeaNut 242431 - 1/10/2006
Posts: 7021 Layouts: 274
Loc: Los Angeles
Count: 16 | Posted: 2/24/2009 3:22:54 PM
I'm probably in the minority, but I don't want my digital pages to look 3D. That's why I avoided digi for so long, I think a shadowed button just looks fake.
You may be in the minority, but I'm with you on this point. If I want depth, I add IRL stuff after I print. You don't have to pick digital over traditional, you do them both or combine them. It's all good! | |
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busy.butterfly
StuckOnPeas
PeaNut 360936 - 2/5/2008
Posts: 2901 Layouts: 194
Loc: Vancouver, Canada
Count: 30 | Posted: 2/24/2009 3:43:59 PM
Okay so here is the second way but I usually only use this method if I`m trying to add a drop shadow to a really bulky item or a people! Like in this Lo How many words for snow
With this method you will have your drop shadow in it`s own layer.
1 In the layers palette hold down ctrl and click on the shape. You will see marching ants around your shape in the main screen.
2. Create a new layer below the shape. Using the paint bucket tool fill your selection with black or grey or whatever color you wish your drop shadow to be.
3. From here you can stretch shrink warp your shadow by clicking on Enhance then transform and then chose skew, perspective or distort. You should see a little box around your shadow click on the corner to distort ect.
4 I add a gaussian blur by clicking filter then blur than guassian. Usually about 10 or so.
5. Move your shadow over a bit and drop the opacity of the layer.
With this method you have more control over your shadow but it takes some playing with it to find what looks the most realistic.
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busy.butterfly
StuckOnPeas
PeaNut 360936 - 2/5/2008
Posts: 2901 Layouts: 194
Loc: Vancouver, Canada
Count: 30 | Posted: 2/24/2009 3:55:04 PM
I just wanted to add a little pointer. A good way to add the look of dimension is to layer and over lap things. In the example I added to the above post you can see that the photos overlap one another and in turn overlap the smaller photos below. The large extracted image of my dd is in front of the strip of photos and because it`s large it provides the illusion that she is closer than the other items behind it.
If you want to see dimension in action take a look through Stef`s gallery, I learned heaps from her and she does some really cool things with 3d. |
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cmyk_chicago
PeaAddict
PeaNut 181476 - 12/19/2004
Posts: 1260 Layouts: 102
Loc: Chi-Town What What!
Count: 1 | Posted: 2/24/2009 4:38:56 PM
try this link:
drop shadows
this is pretty much what i do. |
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debikins
StuckOnPeas
PeaNut 65255 - 1/28/2003
Posts: 2068 Layouts: 313
Loc: Pacific Northwest
Count: 107 | Posted: 2/24/2009 5:17:40 PM
WOW! Ask and you shall receive. Thanks everyone for your detailed descriptions...there must be at least 4 ways described on how to create realistic drop shadows, 2 of which I've dabbled in and 2 which were completely new. Guess I'll need to play with these and find what provides me the best results. Thanks again for everyone's help. You're the best! | |
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rileycamden
Will I ever get to Buckethead?!
PeaNut 99614 - 8/3/2003
Posts: 402 Layouts: 84
Loc: Michigan
Count: 5 |  Posted: 2/24/2009 8:46:17 PM
I suffer from the same dilemma. I have a HUGE stash (a roomful to be exact) of papers, stamps, elements, etc. and a bunch of albums for my 2 older boys. My poor lil' 1 yr old does not have a single page. (some digital, but not printed) Time to print them and add the dimension that I love!!!
Thanks for the inspiration!!! |
Amy Orlando
http://amyscustomgreetings.com/
Specializing in custom, photo birth announcements, holiday cards, invitations, and more. "You provide your favorite photos, I create your card!"
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Ros135
BucketHead
PeaNut 404546 - 12/25/2008
Posts: 625 Layouts: 76
Loc: Australia
Count: 1 | Posted: 2/25/2009 3:23:42 AM
I never think about making my layouts look like a paper layout and this maybe comes from me never scrapping
in
the traditional way. I add my layouts to albums and then add journalling or the odd
embellishment (if I have something that is suitable)
I like to think I am
just making an ordinary photo more interesting to look at. I would like to think when I am dead and gone anyone would be able to flick through an album and get some sort of an idea of who I was and not
necessarily make judgements on
how well I created my pages. |
Ros
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blue_eyed_pea
Antipodean Pea
PeaNut 264071 - 6/5/2006
Posts: 10475 Layouts: 439
Loc: Central Victoria, Australia
Count: 1 | Posted: 2/25/2009 5:17:51 AM
You can use the steps described by Kerry (specifically step 3) to distort the shadow on just one part of the element to make it look like that part is lifting off the page more than the rest. I often do that!
Esther | |
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mandalee65
Biscraptual Pea
PeaNut 87311 - 5/21/2003
Posts: 6773 Layouts: 538
Loc: Tennessee
Count: 3 | Posted: 2/25/2009 7:19:37 AM
What they said! LOL Seriously, though - I am just starting the foray into hybrid scrapping, though my hybrid pages are more paper than digital.
Another tip is to change the color of the shadow from black to a darker version of the color of the object. If I have a red ribbon, I'll use the color dropper to pick out the color, then move down in the color grid to select a darker version of the same color. (Tip courtesy of Stef!) |
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Aly D
PeaFixture
PeaNut 147086 - 5/14/2004
Posts: 3621 Layouts: 637
Loc: sweet home alabama
Count: 2 | |
