It’s no secret that Photoshop is an incredible tool, not only for creating digital and hybrid scrapbook pages but for editing photos so they are the best they can be. I’m a fan Photoshop myself (I probably use it at least once a day) so so I'm excited to share the breaking news in photo editing world: Adobe’s new, FREE Photoshop Express for the web.
As soon as I got the news from the photojojo newsletter, I couldn’t resist clicking over to the Photoshop Express site (FYI, the page loads much better using Safari than Mozilla). Express offers pretty much all you need to fix up your photos, like adjusting exposure, white balance and hue. Plus, Express is made for sharing: You get your own URL, you can create slideshows and you can load and edit photos from sites like Photobucket and Facebook.
I should mention that Express is not a Photoshop replacement—no layers and fancy things like that—but according to photojojo, “it is a remarkably slick and well-designed basic photo-editing and sharing application. Arguably the best so far.” And how cool is it that you can edit your photos with Photoshop anywhere at anytime for free?!
I still haven’t had a chance to really play around with Express, but I can’t wait. If you try it out, let us know how it goes! Leave a comment in the forum.
Whether you’re an all-digital scrapper or like to create hybrid pages, you’ll know that using digital papers and embellishments is pretty simple. But did you know that it’s easy to do more than just layer and crop? I’ve tried a few digital pages myself, but one thing that escaped me until recently was how to change the color of a digital element. Turns out, it’s really easy!
Take this digital paper, for example. With basic software and just a few clicks, you can change it from green to orange.
To change the color using Microsoft Word, insert your paper into a new document and open up the Picture toolbar. Select the Color Adjustment icon (see arrow below). Adjust the settings until you get the color you want.
To change the color in Adobe Photoshop Elements, open your paper file and go to Enhance>Adjust Color>Adjust Hue/Saturation. Click on the Colorize box and then adjust the sliders until you get the color you want.
Note: I used a Mac for coloring my paper. PC instructions may be slightly different.
Easy, peasy! Want more easy-to-learn digital techniques? Download this week’s free project (a how-to for mixing digital papers) and check out Paper + Pixels by May Flaum and Audrey Neal.
So, it's the last week of March and I'm STILL wearing my winter coat to work. I've become a victim of the wintertime blues and it's time to put a stop to it. Today, I'm officially kicking my cold weather mentality to the curb along with my winter sweaters, boots, jackets, scarves and anything else that makes me shudder at the thought of bundling up for one more day. I may be a little chilly during these transitional weeks, but that's ok...I've got SUNSHINE on my mind.
Therein lies this weeks challenge: Create a page using an image that evokes a feeling warmth in you.
This picture, from a trip I took last spring, is what I had as my screensaver during the cold months this past winter. If I squint just right, I can imagine that it's what I'm really sitting in front of....ahhhhh!
Share your finished projects with us over at the gallery, and spread some much needed sunshine!!
It's Friday afternoon, and the F+W office is pretty quiet. I need a little excitement around here, so let me announce the Show it Off! book giveaway winner.
Congratulations, Keelyyowler!!! You've won a copy of Memory Makers Books' fabulous new book. I've left a message for you on your mycraftivity
page; please reply to the message to receive your book.
Thanks to everyone for your enthusiasm about the contest and the
book. Look for more book giveaways soon.
Don't forget to enter this week's giveaway to win a free copy of Memory Makers' newest release, Show it Off!To enter, visit my Monday post by noon (eastern time) TODAY.
