Texture Tuesday with Kim Klassen May 29, 2012

Here I am with my entry for Texture Tuesday with Kim Klassen for this week. This is what Kim asked us to do for the challenge.

Next week's TT theme. (May 29th)

How 'bout another word prompt?

Share an image centered around the word, warmth . Also, your image must contain at least one layer of any of my textures. 

Have fun!

I have been thinking about what to do for this Texture Tuesday for a few days. Well Mother Nature came up with a good suggestion for me. On Sunday, 27 May 2012, we had a record maximum temperature. It was warm for us here in the Omaha, Nebraska, area. The temperature went up to 94º Fahrenheit. The previous record for 27 May was 92º F. So this became my theme for "warmth." Here is what I did.


Layer 1.  I opened a new document that was 11 x 8.5-inch, landscape, 300 ppi, RGB and white background. I won't show it since it is just a white layer.


Layer 2.  For this layer I brought in one of my watercolor papers. I used number 14 since it has a nice warm color. 

For your information, over the last 7 days, I have been participating in 7 Days in May at JessicaSprague.com. It was s lot of fun. During that time, I posted four sets of watercolor papers that you can download for free. These watercolor papers can be used in a variety of ways, such as backgrounds for artsy layouts, and textures. If you are interested, CLICK HERE to go to my blog entry from which you can download the papers.


Layer 3.  I duplicated Layer 2 and I rotated the layer 90º CCW and changed the Mode to Color Burn with Opacity 100%.

Layer 4.  But this way too bright for me. So I added in a Hue/Saturation Adjustment Layer and decreased the saturation a little.

Layer 5.  For this layer I created a sunburst of rays using the Step and Repeat method of the Free Transform. This is what it looks like at Normal Mode, 100% Opacity and with a yellow color.

Then I added in a radial gradient overlay that went from yellow in the center to transparent. And I changed the Mode to Darken with 50% Opacity.

Layer 6. I finally get to use this element. A while back, someone asked for a thermometer with a movable red indicator that they could use for a fund drive they were having. She wanted to show the percentage of the goal that they had reached as time progressed. I made one that she used. But, until now I never had a need to use it. I changed the percent to degrees and am using it to show what the temperature reached here in Omaha, Nebraska.

Layer 7.  For this layer I brought in my image of the path through the forest that is near my house. I feathered the edges in the Mask Panel to blend the image into the background. I changed the Mode to Luminosity with 100% Opacity.

Layer 8.  I used Kim's texture kk_sunday. Since the new record high for the day was on a Sunday, I thought this was an appropriate texture to use. Here it is at Normal Mode and 100% Opacity.

Then I changed the Mode to Divide and left Opacity 100%.

Layer 9.  Now Kim has another texture that I just had to use for this layout. It is kk_warmsun. What could be more appropriate? Here it is at Normal Mode and 100% Opacity.

I changed the Mode to Linear Burn with Opacity 50%.

This darkened up the edges of the layout so a to draw the eye into the image. Also, both of these textures were applied to the thermometer layer and give a little more interest to the red than just the plain solid red it had originally.


Layer 10. I used Impact font for the word warmth. I scaled it using the Free Transform. Then I added in several effects. I added a Bevel and Emboss, Inner Glow, Outer Glow and a Drop Shadow. Then I reduced the Fill, not Opacity, to 0%.

Layers 11, 12 and 13.  These are the remaining text layer, using Papyrus font; my signature brush; and the date using Papyrus font. This gives me my final layout for this challenge.

Here is whist my Layers Panel looks like at the end.

I hope you enjoyed seeing how I did this layout. 


If you are interested in downloading my FREEBIE watercolor papers, go back up near to the top of this page and click on the link to take you to the entry in this blog that has the download links. The watercolor papers are 12 x 12-inch, 300 ppi and jpg. They are in zip folders. You will have to unzip them to get the files. Each Set has six papers in it.


Enjoy what you do with your life.




Earl

Freebie Watercolor Papers on Last Day of 7 Days in May 2012

I hope that you had as much fun as I had during the 7 Days in May. We  had some great challenges to play with and really great gift downloads from the team that put all this together. My thanks to Linda Roos (lindsan), Liv Esteban (LivE), and Nancie Rowe-Janitz for hosting our challenges. Again, Thank you.


Previously during these 7 Days in May, I have offered three sets of my watercolor papers as freebies for you that you can download if you wish. For this last day of the festivities I have another set of 6 of my watercolor papers that you can download. These again are freebies for you. Each paper is 12 x 12-inch, 300 ppi, jpg. The files are in a zip file and you will need to unzip them to get the files out of the zip file,


This is what they look like.

  


You can download this set, Set 4, by CLICKING HERE.


If you did not download the previous three sets, and you want them, you can download them by


CLICK HERE for Set 1


CLICK HERE for Set 2


CLICK HERE for Set 3.


I hope that you enjoy these watercolor papers. Experiment with them. Try stacking two or more of them and changing the layer blending modes to see what you get. Add in other textures that you have to the stack. Change modes. Change Opacity. Have fun! Play!


Enjoy life and what you do.




Earl

Fun with type and textures including watercolors

If you are looking for the links to download my free watercolor papers, scroll down to the bottom of this page. The links are shown there.

In Kim Klassen's class Beyond Layers, Kim showed us how to put a photo in text and to use a texture on the photo. Since I have just been making some watercolor papers to use as backgrounds and textures, I thought it would be a chance to do something for this class combining all this. This is what I did.


Layer 1.  I opened up a new document that was 11 x 8.5-inch, landscape, 300 ppi, RGB, white background. I won't sholw it since it is just a white layer.


Layer 2.  For Layer 2, I brought in one of my watercolor papers. Actually, the paper was created using three different of my watercolor papers in a stack in the Layers Panel. Then I changed the Layer Blending Modes of two of upper layers and finally ended up with this blended watercolor paper. I actually do not remember which papers I started with and what modes I used. But, this is the final result of that blending. I kept the mode of this layer Normal and Opacity 100%. Here it is.

Layer 3.  I used the Horizontal Type Tool and used Impact font to type the word "WATERCOLOR." I used the Free Transform, Command / Control - T, to size the word to the size I wanted. In the Character Panel, I increased the Horizontal Scale of the letters to 150% to make them all a little wider. Then I kerned between some of the letters in the word to give a better appearance to the letter spacing. I did my kerning from the key board. With the word selected, I placed the cursor between the letters I wanted to adjust spacing. Then, if I wanted the letters closer together, I would hold down the Option / Alt key and hit the left arrow. If I wanted them still closer, I would repeat it. For farther apart, use Option / Alt and the right arrow key. It does not matter what color you use for the text. I used black.

Layer 4.  For this layer I used another of my watercolor papers. I used the same three watercolor papers as for Layer 2. However, I turned off the visibility of one of the layers and changed the blending modes of the others until I got this. Unfortunately, I can't remember which papers I used and what blending modes. Here is what the watercolor paper looks like at Normal Mode and 100% Opacity.

I then clipped the watercolor paper to the type layer beneath it by holding down the Option / Alt key, putting the cursor on the line between the two layers until you get the two little circles for the cursor and then clicking. Now the watercolor paper only shows through the letters.

Back to Layer 3.  The text needs some effects applied to it. I went back and made Layer 3, the text layer, the active layer. I clicked on the ƒx button at the bottom of the Layers Panel to open the Layer Style panel. I added in Stroke. I sampled a purple color from within the text, made it darker, and used that for the color of the stroke. I also added a Bevel and Emboss and a Drop Shadow.

Layer 5.  Since Kim was showing us how to put an image into the text, I selected an image for this. Now, being a somewhat unconventional person, I selected one of my out of focus photos. Most people would have deleted this photo shortly after taking it. But, I never know when something like this will be useful, so I seldom eliminate any of my photos. And, I have some that really should be deleted. But, you never know. I am using the image more for a texture than a photo. These are chrysanthemums.

Then I clipped this layer to the one below it, which made it clipped to the text. Now the flowers show only through the letters. And I reduced the Opacity to 60% so you see some of the watercolor paper also. I left Mode at Normal. The image really is acting as texture. But that is what a good out of focus image is good for.

Layer 6.  Now I brought in Kim's texture kk_abstract for this layer. I thought that was an appropriate name for the layer for this layout. Here is kk_abstract at Normal Mode and 100% Opacity.

I then changed the Blend Mode for this layer to Divide and left the Opacity 100%. And look at what this did! Since this layer is at the top of the layer stack, it applies to all the layers below it, so it even shows up in the letters. It really converted the layout into something fantastic. And, this is my final result.

This is what the Layers Panel looks like at the end.

In JessicaSprague.com, a fun 7 Days in May is going on this week, I offered some of my watercolor papers as a free download to those who wanted them. If you would like to have them, go to my blog entry that has the download links by CLICKING HERE.


I hope that you enjoy my tour of how I did this layout.


Enjoy life!




Earl

And More Watercolor Papers

I am sorry about the problem many of you had with downloading the previous two sets of watercolor papers. Hopefully that problem has been fixed and you should be able to download them now. To thank you for your patience, here is Set 3 for 6 more watercolor papers that I have made. This is what they look like.

You can download Set 3 by clicking HERE.


If you did not get Set 1 and Set 2, and you want them, you can download Set 1 by clicking HERE.


And, Set 2 by clicking HERE.


Remember, try stacking two or more of the watercolors and changing the blending modes. You can get some really interesting results doing this. As an example, here are five papers created using Paper 13 and Paper 18 from this Set 3. I have Paper 13 on top of Paper 18 in the Layers stack. Then I changed the Layer Blend Mode of the top paper, Paper 13 and left the Opacity 100%. 


Here Layer 13 has the Blend Mode Color.

Here Layer 13 has the Blend Mode Hard Light.

Here Layer 13 has the Blend Mode Hue.

Here Layer 13 has the Blend Mode Lighter Color.

Here Layer 13 has the Blend Mode Saturation.

So, you see you can get some interesting results. You could change the Opacity and get still other results. You could add a third layer of watercolor papers and change its blend modes and opacity. Add a color overlay to a layer and change the blend mode of the color overlay and maybe its opacity. Have fun with them.


Enjoy!


Earl

More FREEBIE Watercolor Pages by Earl

There seems to be a nice response to my previous watercolor pages. So here are 6 more of them that you can have for your use. This is what they look like.

Each of the papers is a 12 x 12-inch, 300 ppi, jpg file. You can download them, for free, by clicking HERE.  This will take you to Box.com and you can download the file from them. It is a zip file. You will have to unzip the file to get the papers. There is a TOU in the file too. Read it and you will see that it is very generous.

If you missed the first six watercolor pages and you want them, you can download them, for free, by clicking HERE. This is what they look like.

I have a few more of the watercolor pages that I have made. If the response to the downloads keeps up, I will post some more.

Remember, try putting two or more of the watercolors on top of each other and then change the Layer Blending Modes. You can get some really interesting results. You can get many, many new ones from just a few of the watercolor pages. Try-experiment. Let serendipity have fun with you.

I hope you enjoy the papers.

Earl

Texture Tuesday with Kim Klassen May 22, 2012

Oh, Joy! Another Texture Tuesday with Kim Klassen. Here comes some more fun.


Kim has given us another challenge for this week. Here is what Kim gave us:

Next week's TT theme. (May 22nd)

How 'bout a theme/prompt week.....  

Share an image centered around the word LIGHT. Your image must also contain at least one layer of any of my textures. 

Have fun!

Recently, I have been making some watercolor papers. I used Strathmore Watercolor, cold press, Series 300, 140 lb. paper. I used watercolor sticks for the color. I like using the watercolor papers for backgrounds for artsy layouts. And, they are also excellent for textures to texture an image. I frequently layer two or more of the watercolors and change the layer blending modes to get new interesting results. So, I thought about using one of them for the background of my layout.


If you would like to have six of my watercolors you can download them for free by clicking here. They are 12 x 12-inch, 300 ppi, jpg. They are in a zip file. You will have to unzip the file to get them out of the zip file.


Layer 0.  I opened a new document that was 11 x 8.5-inch, landscape, 300 ppi, RGB, with white background. I won' show it since it is just a white background.


Layer 1.  I brought in my watercolor paper. The papers are 12 x 12-inch, 300 ppi, jpg. Using the Free Transform, Command / Control - T, I resized it to fit my page size. I brought in all the edges so as to fit my page. Here is my watercolor page. I kept it at Normal Mode and 100% Opacity.

Layer 2.  Then I thought about what to use to represent "light." This bounced around a little while. I opened up Bridge and looked at my images. The light turned on when I saw the image of a candle. I had my idea. The candle would represent light and my watercolor would represent the colors. And the text came right to mind. So I was all set to continue. I brought in the image of the candle for this layer. I used the method of feathering that I showed in a previous blog entry to feather the edges of the image. Then I set the Mode to Lighten and Opacity 100%.

Layer 3. Now I added in Kim's texture kk_Lilly. This is what kk_Lilly looks like at Normal Mode and 100% Opacity. I used the Free Transform to fit it to my layout.

However, I changed the Mode to Divide and Opacity 100%, for this.

This gives a nice border around the image.


Layer 4. Then I added in another Kim texture, kk_annabelle. Here is kk_annabelle at Normal Mode and 100% Opacity.

Again, I changed the Mode. I changed the Mode to Divide and Opacity 50%, for this.

I now have it looking like the candle is lighting up only a part of the image and the light not getting into the corners.


Layer 5.  I brought in another of Kim's textures, kk_storm. This is Storm at Normal Mode and 100% Opacity.

I changed the Mode to Darken and kept Opacity 100%.

Now it looks more like the corners are dark. But, I do not want the texture over the flame of the dandle. I clicked on the Add Layer Mask button at the bottom of the Layers Panel and added a mask to the layer. Using a soft round brush with black color, on the mask, I painted over the flame area with brush Opacity 100%, to hide the texture over the flame and the top of the candle. This is the image I had in mind.

Layer 6.  I added in my text layer. I used Papyrus font.

I thought this expressed my thinking of "light" very well. The candle throws enough light to show the colors of most of the page, but goes to gray where the light does not shine. 


Layers 7 and 8. I added in my signature and the date to complete the layout. I used three of Kim's textures and one of my watercolors for this final result.

Here is what my Layers Panel looks like at the end.

I hope you enjoyed this eDition of Texture Tuesday.


Enjoy!


Earl