A lot of new digital scrapbookers seem hesitant to buy effect overlays because they can’t see themselves using them or are unsure of what to do with them. In this tutorial I thought I would give some quick and simple sample ideas of just how much you can do with overlays. For the purpose of this tutorial I am going to be using my Water Color Arsenal Overlays available in the following stores.
Firstly the important thing to remember with overlays is that in order to get maximum use out of them you need to be experimenting with blend modes. In Photoshop, you will find the various blend modes available to you in the Layers Palette.
For our first example I am going to use a photo. I know I often forget the interesting effects you can produce by using overlays on photos.
Here is the original photo of tulips and the second version, with Water Color Arsenal Overlay number 1 from the set, laid over the top and using the Linear Light Blend Mode.
As you can see, using the Linear Light blend mode, lightens the colours of the photo underneath in conjunction with the lighter colours in the overlays, and darkens the darker colours in the overlay and colours underneath giving an interesting water colour wash effect. In the following sample, I have laid two different water colour overlays on a digital scrapbook paper.
On this sample I used the Colour Burn blend mode on both Overlay layers. Colour burn tends to give a wet saturated look on lighter colours making the paper in this case almost look like wet fabric. Overlay Blend Mode will produce a softer effect to Linear Light. On the Paper below from my P365 Essentials Vol 2 Page Kit I have used the water colour overlay over the top of the paper using an Overlay Blend Mode.
The effect can be adjusted by reducing the opacity of the layer.
You can also experiment with blend modes to age your photos. The photo below is a monochrome image of my daughter taken a few years ago. Adding a water colour overlay with a Hard Light Blend Mode and 61% Opacity gives the photo an aged look. This effect works best on dark monochrome photos. You could get similar effects with different blend modes on lighter photos.
Here is the original photo and the photo with the Hard Light Blend Mode
You can enhance your special effects even further buy recolouring the overlays and using more than one overlay. There are so many possibilities available to you.
These gorgeous whimsical titles of scrapbooking feature titles that all scrapbookers can relate to. Add a fun and quirky touch of flair to your layouts of your scrapbooking adventures! Whimsical Words of Scrapbooking is available in my Etsy store.
These gorgeous whimsical titles of Cousins are a fabulous for all your family and cousins layouts. Add a fun and quirky touch of flair to all your layouts featuring cousins! Whimsical Words of Cousins is now available in my Etsy Store.
The Luscious Lemonade Digital Scrapbook Kit is now available in my Etsy Store. The Luscious Lemonade Digital Scrapbook Kit features fresh and bubbly colors of lemonade, lime and spring flowers. Refreshing swirly colors of spring with beautiful swirls and flourishes perfect for creating beautiful blended or graphic style layouts.
Check out these layouts created with Luscious Lemonade.
Time for another Feature Friday! Every so often I will feature a Digital Scrapbook Kit on my blog and feature some layouts created with the Digital Scrapbook Kit as well as some products that co-ordinate well with the Featured Digital Scrapbook Kit. I am hoping featuring some kits with some layouts will help inspire you to use the kit some more if you have it already, or maybe even buy it if you don’t already have it. ::innocent smile::
Today I am going to feature one of my all time favourites as a collection I keep coming back to over and over again, Floral Fancy Digital Scrapbook Kit which is available in my Etsy store and Clikchic Designs store
This is my most recent layout with Floral Fancy. My Daughter in her costume for her end of year dance concert. She played a ‘pansy’ for her part in The Great Fairy Robbery. It is her third concert but the first one where she was finally able to wear a tutu!
Our darling daughter playing at a park. I did this layout for a speed scrap inspiration.
Cousins enjoying each others company at my Brothers Wedding. The addition of our new niece has worked wonderfully and they all get along beautifully together! 6 May 2011
Our darling girl performing for the camera when she was 3 years old. She still loves the camera and I think it shows!
A two page layout of Jasmine doing ballet.
Journaling: Jasmine, Today I was able to watch you at your ballet lesson because it was parents day. I love watching you do your ballet as you just seem to have a natural ability and grace to do it. YOu have the perfect build for it as well and I can imagine you doing well at it for many years to come. Of course being the proud Mum that I am , I managed to take over 400 photos In just an hour so I had better get scrapping!
1 had always wanted to do ballet when I was young, so I guess in a way I am also living vicariously through you. Jasmine, I am so proud of you and know I will be there to support you as long as you want to keep dancing! April 2011
These large versatile altered art borders (12″ wide) are a fabulous and easy way to give your layout and photo borders a stylish altered shabby look. You can recolor them to suit your layout or leave them as is. The wavy art page borders are a quick and easy way to add some art to your creations and are ideal for a wide variety of layouts. Wavy Art Borders are now in my Etsy Store.
This funky grungy retro alpha is perfect for a touch of arty style for your blended, urban, teen, altered art or art journal and kids digital scrapbook layouts & other creative projects. Retro Grunge Alpha is now available in my Etsy Store.
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