What digital scrapbooking techniques would you want to learn?
If you could master any digital trick or technique, what would you want to learn? I’m curious — let’s just say I’ve got something up my sleeve. And if you could pick my digital brain — gosh that would be kinda gross — what would you want to know? Perhaps you would want to see digital tricks of the scrapbooking trade, or how to use Filters and Effects, or maybe even more ideas on how to start digital scrapbooking. Everything is fair game!
Feel free to share your thoughts below.
About Tiffany
Tiffany Tillman is the Owner of Simply Tiffany Studios, an online resource with tutorials and page-design interviews for digital scrapbookers. She's also a Designer for Pixels & Company and professionally trains digital crafters developing e-learning content.
Andrea Hayes
I am looking foward to your brush class… hoping it will be soon? I have come such a long way since I first started taking your classes. You can see at my blog above. If you are ever looking for a new creative team member please consider me! You have been such a wonderful teacher.
Tiffany Tillman
Well hi there, Andrea! It’s wonderful to “cyber” see you. I’ve got great news — Brushshop will open for registration next month! I think you’ll really like the new content.
And thank you, I’m flattered to know you’d like to join the team. I’m having a huge call at the end of this year … keep in touch, k?
ScrappyMama
I think I’d really like to know more of the “basics” of digital scrapbooking! I’ve taken some classes in using PSE & I know that there’s TONS of stuff that PSE can do…I’m just not sure that all of that is really “necessary” to digi scrap. I’d like to know more, & understand more, about how to use PSE to achieve & better my digi scrapbooking! Maybe I can/will use all the “artsy” stuff that PSE can do…later. But 1st, I need to scrapbook!! I sure hope this makes sense to you…thanks for asking : D
Tiffany Tillman
I believe I understand, Scrappy Mama! You want to round-out your skills in PSE before moving into the more intermediate and advanced “tricks”. Which makes complete sense. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me!
Janneke
I want to know the “go-to” techniques — the ones that you always use, Tiffany. The trade techniques that almost every digital artist uses regularly, not just the trendy things. I am still fairly new to digi, but I don’t need to know the basic basics like how to use layers and masks and things. Maybe I’m asking for intermediate level digi? Filters and effects sound fun.
Tiffany Tillman
All right, Janneke! You would like to see what’s in my “bag of tricks”. LOL! And you know I would say that is “intermediate” but some tricks are super simple to complete. Often times, we are just shocked to find out how simple a technique really is … but I love your suggestion and am adding it to the list! Thank you.
Rebecca Webb
I love your templates as a starting point. I can not figure out how to size & crop my photos without clipping it to a template and then resizing my photo. I guess what I am asking for is tips on how to make a basic template of my own using ideas I get from you and THEN, clipping in my photos. Your templates don’t just use squares and circles. You have uneven boxes, tilted boxes, scalloped edges, etc. How do I do that? Also, I would love help on shadowing. I can shadow one element but then can’t figure out how to change the shadow on another element…it automatically takes on the same shadow layer style as the first one I did. Can’t I make them different? What are some tips to make things really pop to look 3-D? I love your stuff and thanks for your tutorials!
Tiffany Tillman
Hey Rebecca! Thanks for all of the suggestions. Templates are fun to use and even better when you can alter them. It also sounds like you’re interested in how to construct templates using “irregular” shapes. That’s a must do! And realistic shadowing — one of my favorite class topics too.
You mentioned that your shadow mirrors shadows on another layer? That does sound strange — if you’d like contact me through the site here and we can dialogue about how to fix it. That doesn’t sound exactly right …
Thanks for sharing your questions with me and loving my stuff.
Amber Graham
I would love to learn more about actions and filters and other special effects. I love templates and I am kind of a collector
I have taken nearly all of your classes. Looking forward to the brushes class!
Tiffany Tillman
Hi Amber! Nice to “cyber” see you too.
I think we’ll have a lot of fun in the Brushes class.
You’re a seasoned digi-scrapper so intermediate and advanced sounds like what you’re looking for. Adding it to the topic list, dudette! Cheers and thank you!
Diane (diney)
Blending! I see what fantastic things you and others do and it just blows me away! When I’ve tried to blend, it just doesn’t even come close to others (even using their guides). Not sure what I’m doing wrong! Thanks for all your talents and your sense of humor!
Tiffany
Hey Diane, blending huh? Blending rocks.
I covered some interesting techniques in the blending class but there’s so much more to share! I’m adding your request to the list too. Thanks for sharing.
Tiffany Tillman
I forgot to log into my own Gravatar when I commented. My bad, Diane! It was truly me up there.
AdrianaG
ditto for blending
Ruby
Hi Tiffany, I have taken two of your template classes and have loved them. What I would like to learn is how to do an extraction in PSE. I have not found a good tutorial anywhere. I would also love to know how to install actions in PSE10 on a mac. Love your teaching style!
Tiffany Tillman
Good idea, Ruby. There isn’t much information on extractions in PSE for digital scrapbookers. And actions — not many like to touch how to install them. Good stuff — all going on the Q&A. Thanks!
T-Wan
Great question and thanks for asking. Some of my questions are below
- How to alter templates
- How to alter some parts in kits to fit your needs; color, size, especially making ribbons or frames smaller or larger.
- Blending without using templates. I currently use your Blend Digital Templates.
- Your process when preparing to create a layout, do you pick the pictures first or the template or kayout design.
Tiffany Tillman
Hey T-Wan! You’re welcome. Thanks for every single suggestion. I especially like the “sharing of my process”. I don’t think I’ve ever shared how I use my own templates, organize them, etc. Good stuff, thanks!
Lori Sands
I would love to learn how to take my 2 dimensional elements and create fun 3D effects like acrylic letters or fun buttons.
Tiffany Tillman
Ooo Lori! Those are fantastic ideas. I’ve got a tutorial on acrylic letters here on the site (link is below). But buttons — coming up! Thanks for sharing.
http://simplytiffanystudios.com/2012/03/05/tutorial-how-to-create-acrylic-text-in-photoshop-and-photoshop-elements/
Anja De Dobbelaere
I’d like to know how to make photo masks and blending templates like you see nowadays so often (Anna Aspnes for instance)!
Eva
I second so many of those techniques mentioned above! I would also like to learn more about poster design – although not a technique as such, I’m sure it would involve thinking about certain design principles and probably certain techniques used. Doing a digital page for photos is so much different than doing a poster for your local church/school/community committe etc.
HELP!
Andrea W.
I would like to learn more about using actions and styles in PSE. I have a bunch but rarely use them.
Also, although I have taken your template classes, I would like to learn more about your take on linear graphic style pages. That’s mostly what I like and do, but I would like to learn how to jazz up my pages just a little bit.
LizJ
I don’t know the name of the technique (perhaps it’s really a form of blending), but I would like to know how to fade something. I see things like repeated word or grid brushes that do that, and sometimes the edges of certain types of masks do that. Thank you!