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Post by hmca on Nov 13, 2017 22:47:00 GMT
For 17 years my daughter has had me take their Christmas picture. It is always the same....her four children sitting in front of basically the same tree.
While there is something special about looking back at how they've grown, the kids have finally rebelled and would like a different card this year! My
job will be to create it. As they are all into sports my thought was to perhaps have four simple ornament shapes hanging down from the top of the card
and place one of the kids in each. The problem is I don't know what I need to look for. Do I need to look for Christmas brushes? Shapes? Might I find
a scrapbook kit that could work? My main interest is photography so creating something like this has me unsure of where to start my search. Any
suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
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Post by Lillias on Nov 13, 2017 23:22:05 GMT
Depending on the kind of thing you are looking for Helen you could look at the link below or try typing Christmas Baubles into Pixabays search box as they have some nice ones. Christmas Baubles |
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Post by hmca on Nov 13, 2017 23:54:38 GMT
Thanks, Lillias. Your link brought up this from shutterstock. I am thinking I will need them to be clear so that I can clip the kids' pictures to them. I will take a look at pixabay when I get home later tonight.  |
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Post by fotofrank on Nov 14, 2017 0:02:00 GMT
I used shapes, styles and layer mask to create this  |
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Post by Sepiana on Nov 14, 2017 2:45:23 GMT
As they are all into sports my thought was to perhaps have four simple ornament shapes hanging down from the top of the card and place one of the kids in each. Helen, if you want to do this from scratch, this tutorial by Linda Sattgast may help you.
Christmas Ornament
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Post by hmca on Nov 14, 2017 3:02:15 GMT
Thanks, Sepiana . I think I am looking for the easiest way to create a professional looking card. I don't have a problem with paying for something if it will make the card creation look more professional. Just saw this and wonder if I would be able to add the individual pictures to four stars......also not sure if I should be looking for psd's or vectors?  |
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Post by Sepiana on Nov 14, 2017 7:45:43 GMT
Just saw this and wonder if I would be able to add the individual pictures to four stars......also not sure if I should be looking for psd's or vectors? I wonder the same too. The description doesn't mention adding pictures. If you decide to go for it, you should go for the psd file. They say you get three files -- psd, png, and jpeg.There is a very good chance that the psd file has multiple layers and you will be able to insert a picture and clip it to the star. If you can enter your own text, this means the text is on its own layer. So, it is a multi-layered file.
There is also a workaround. I believe you use Photoshop. Select the white area inside the star with the Polygonal Lasso tool. Then, bring your picture into the star by using Edit>Paste Special>Paste Into.
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Post by Lillias on Nov 14, 2017 10:59:28 GMT
I am thinking I will need them to be clear so that I can clip the kids' pictures to them. I suppose I’m approaching this from a Scrapbookers angle and I’m not trying to be picky here but when clipping your pictures then all you need is a shape to clip them to, it doesn’t need to be clear as the photo itself covers the shape. The link that Sepiana provided to the Linda Sattgast tutorial would be the way I'd go as it can be done within PS/PSE simply with your own photos and the ellipse marquee tool – no need for any other templates etc; she even provides a link to her ornament hanger for the top of the Christmas Bauble. Anyway I hope you find the way that suits you best and your Christmas Cards will be wonderful I'm sure. |
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shaun
Junior Forum Member
Posts: 85 
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Post by shaun on Nov 14, 2017 11:18:14 GMT
For 17 years my daughter has had me take their Christmas picture. It is always the same....her four children sitting in front of basically the same tree. While there is something special about looking back at how they've grown, the kids have finally rebelled and would like a different card this year! My job will be to create it. As they are all into sports my thought was to perhaps have four simple ornament shapes hanging down from the top of the card and place one of the kids in each. The problem is I don't know what I need to look for. Do I need to look for Christmas brushes? Shapes? Might I find a scrapbook kit that could work? My main interest is photography so creating something like this has me unsure of where to start my search. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. What about looking at panosfx snow globe action which I think is free, just a thought |
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Post by cats4jan on Nov 14, 2017 11:54:44 GMT
I've been searching and I haven't yet found anything, but I like Shaun's idea about Pano's snow globe action. You could put each person in a snow globe and scatter them on the card. ________________ Still looking... Wow - didn't realize finding ornaments to fill with photos would be so difficult. I know I had some at one time...How about going in a different direction? Example - From template.netEasy to duplicate this concept - and, of course, you could probably get the same results from pre-made template from Walgreens - where you just drop in your photos and get the cards printed. Not as satisfying as making it from scratch, but still very nice. I believe the prints from Walgreens, etc., come with envelopes.  |
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Post by Sepiana on Nov 14, 2017 13:13:21 GMT
when clipping your pictures then all you need is a shape to clip them to, it doesn’t need to be clear as the photo itself covers the shape. I am afraid it is the other way around -- the shape covers (masks) the photo. A clipping mask uses the contents and transparency of the layer below to determine which parts of the layer above are to remain visible and which parts are to be hidden.
In the case of, for example, a Christmas ball ornament, you will need a clear ornament file, i.e., a transparent one, so that you don't end up with a "flat" effect. You need to create the illusion of reflections/curves you will find in a real-life ornament.
Boy image source: Morguefile.
 
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Post by Lillias on Nov 14, 2017 13:37:05 GMT
Well this sure is exercising our brains. I followed Linda Sattgasts tutorial for this example... kit used - Cardinals for Christmas by Rosie...  |
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Post by hmca on Nov 14, 2017 13:49:38 GMT
I am thinking I will need them to be clear so that I can clip the kids' pictures to them. Anyway I hope you find the way that suits you best and your Christmas Cards will be wonderful I'm sure. Sure hoping so, Lillias. The other issue I have is that the pictures the kids want to use are not all at good print size. Shaun, thanks for suggesting the snow globes but other family members have ruled out a "globe" type ornament. Janice if the pictures were all of a good resolution and were similar in tone the template would be the way to go. As it is one of the pictures is of a football player at night. As I'm typing this I'm realizing that trying to create a card that everyone is going to be happy with is going to be quite a task. |
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Post by hmca on Nov 14, 2017 13:50:36 GMT
Love the card you created above, Lillias!!!!
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Post by Sepiana on Nov 14, 2017 14:01:04 GMT
Still looking... Wow - didn't realize finding ornaments to fill with photos would be so difficult. I know I had some at one time...It looks like the site Helen mentioned earlier -- shutterstock -- has lots of transparent Christmas baubles. Many of the files will allow for the insertion of your own photo.
Transparent Christmas Baubles
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