I don't know where to ask this question, but this might be a good place. I seem to remember reading somewhere that Digital Scrapbook may offer courses. Is this still in the works? If so, would they be for scrapping, designing, or both?
The details of designing seem to be a tightly held secret unless I'm just not looking in the right places. I was kind of surprised I hadn't found this site before now. I'm looking for a more cohesive type of course than just piecing tutorials together. I just don't have that kind of time. Does anyone have any good resources for this?
Also, I wanted to add that I would really like some help with creating high quality extracted items. That seems like a bit too much of a specialty to me, but if there is anyone out there teaching this, maybe you all will know and can point me in that direction.
I have put pretty much all the designing secrets I know into my tutorials that can be found here. I have considered doing classes, but after years of interacting with people trying to learn stuff, I think what is more valuable if you are trying to learn something new is practice. So I have tried to offer more design challenges. Right now I'm running a monthly designer challenge with a mini kit recipe, which is an excellent way to learn new skills. If you have any specific questions about how to make something, be sure to let me know. I'm always happy to answer questions.
I will also be running a Designer Madness in April, so let me know if you have any thoughts on that.
Ok, thank you. I just wanted to check in on whether courses were still in the works or not.
I don't have any thoughts on the challenge, but that sounds exciting! I think I'll do as much as I can! It would be a good way to get started uploading things in the Commons. I haven't known what to put in there yet.
I am having challenges with cohesiveness/planning and using more than two colors, so I guess I was hoping for a course that sort of covered a start to finish kit.
Is this the best place to ask questions?
I know a lot of people have no interest in touching extractions, but I want to customize my items. I'm working on photography/lighting to make that job, as well as item quality as good as it can be. I know I will need to size my items down. I'm not sure if resize image is the best option here to retain details. Should items like this be sharpened? Let's say it's 14 inches and I want to take it way down to 3 or even 2, is a simple resize with bicubic sharper selected going to effect the quality?
I also ran into the size issue with a file I am trying to use where it started as a huge png. It's a silhouette, so it's the edge I'm looking at in this case.
I'm also curious how others use textures and overlays. Let's take a kraft paper texture for example. I know to experiment with blend modes. Do people generally use them at full opacity though? I don't remember seeing a tutorial for this, but I may need to look again.
I have this tutorial about adding texture. Although my process has probably evolved somewhat, so I'll work on a new blending/texture video.
I am not real particular about my extractions. Currently I do everything in the Photoshop app on my iPad using the Apple Pencil. I just erase the background. I haven't made any tutorials on this because I don't really have a process.
The Designer Madness will lead you through making a whole kit. Starting with choosing colors. I set it up the way I usually design a kit, so you can at least learn my process. I made some videos the last time that might help you out.
Choosing a Color Palette
Week 2: Papers
Week 3: Word Art and Illustrations
Ooh, those are helpful. Thank you!
I will keep working on my extractions. I have invested in a light box and green screen remover action, which is making it a lot easier than I remember. However, I'm not so sure about refining and removing extra pixels regarding just how that should look close up, but I think I would do that with the pen tool. I'll definitely keep practicing. Perhaps I'll ask for specific feedback in the forum, if that's ok.
Of course!