Thursday, November 26, 2009

Mo's Digital Challenge and Merging Tutorial

Noelle

This week Caryn challenged the team to create a Christmas card using more than one
image.. These images are perfect for the holidays.. I chose Noelle and Nicholas with this
awesome door.. I colored with Prisma pencils and added some glitter, flower soft and ribbon.. The pinecones and berries I got from Mikes. The Christmas definition page is from Mel Stampz. 

MERGING IMAGES
I have a quick tutorial for you on how to merge images in Photoshop Elements 7.  Thanks so much to my DT friend Sheila and my friend Holly Young for helping me out.. I have also added a link at the bottom for an awesome video tutorial Holly created.  We both do it differently but you get the same effect.

Download your Images in your usual manner and save to your computer. 
Open Adobe Photoshop Elements 7
       *On the top right hand side you will see the words ORGANIZE FIX CREATE SHARE
         click on FIX.  If you go down the menu you will see FULL EDIT.. That is where you
         need to be..

We will now create a new blank file.
        *Go to File (at the top) then NEW...then Blank File
        * Name your new file
                Set Width and Height to 5in X 5in
                 Resolution should be set to 300 pixels

You should now have a white and grey checked square box.  This is your new page.

Now we will open our files that we want to merge.. Go to File then click on OPEN and open the Mo files you have previously saved to your computer.. I used Nicholas and Noelle.  Each image and the blank file will be displayed at the bottom of your screen and on the right side.. Each image and your new box is its own layer.  This is important to know..

Double click on the empty box to open it up.. Now place your cursor on Noelle and drag her up to the open box (from below).  Do the same with Nicholas.  They will be small. 
Now we will resize.. Each image is its own layer.  You need to go to the right and click on the image you want to work on and that will bring it the active image. 

You should see dotted lines and boxes around each image.. Drag those out and up to resize.  Now click the green arrow at the top and it should remain that size.


Now go to the right and click on Noelle.. She is now live and you should be able to resize her..

OVERLAPPING and ERASING images:
You can move your images and then erase the parts you don't want.. The image you want to erase needs to be your active image.. Then you can just go to the left tool bar and use the pink eraser button to erase.. Do it in small pieces so in case you make a mistake you don't have to redo the entire image.  I added my door first and then put Noelle and Nicholas on top. 

   When you click on the Eraser tool a circle will appear.  Use your cursor and drag it around the area you want to erase.  If you let up on the mouse a few times it will save it in sections.. That way if you make a mistake in one small section you can go to the top tool bar to Edit and click undo and that small section will be undone.. Otherwise it will undo the entire erased function. 

Once you get them all edited you will need to merge your layers. 
      Go to Layer...merge visible..
       Now go to File and save as your new image..

My friend Holly Young has a video tutorial here also... She helped me so much and hers is a bit different and a little easier. 

Holly Young's Tutorial

I am away from my computer and this is an automatic post.. If you have any questions just let me know.. This is the way that I create but there are many ways to do it...I have been playing around with the free software program GIMP hoping to get it figured out for doing the merging also.. so stay tuned.



22 comments:

  1. This is truly a gorgeous card Dawn!! Love the scene you created!!! Gorgeous coloring! Sweet images. Happy Thanksgiving!! Enjoy your time with your precious children!!! Love the picture of them. I am in VA with family now as well but took the opportunity to leave comments for a few today since Grace has a computer here that works!!
    hugs,
    Chris

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  2. Oh my - what an awesome card, Dawn!!! I don't do digital stamping, but if I ever start, I know where to go for help! Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.

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  3. This is an adorable card Dawn! I love your coloring and how you added snow at the bottom. So glad I could help you figure out the merging thing! Thanks for linking my video! Happy Thanksgiving!

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  4. Darling image and card. Have a great Thanksgiving celebrating all you have to be thankful for with family and friends :D

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  5. Oh Dawn... this is fantastic! I love this merging idea... I have printmaster gold 18 card program that I size my digies in...I haven't tried to merge there yet... hope I can do it.. Otherwise might have to download the GIMP program.. not being the best computer person... I am leary of downloading things..
    Always something new to learn...
    thanks for the great tutorial on merging...
    your card couldn't be more precious.
    Coloring to be admired as always my friend!
    Hugs
    Judy
    Happy Thanksgiving!!

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  6. What a beautiful card....love the colors and the lovely scene you created! Hope you and yours have a Happy Thanksgiving - HUGS!

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  7. What a beautiful card Dawn,i love the image and colours.
    So gorgeous papers.

    Hugs Riet.x

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  8. Oops, I commented on the wrong post before.... Beautiful card, I don;t think my program can do that, but I will try.

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  9. Fab card dawn, love the images you've used on this one & beautifully coloured too, glad I could be of some help with the merging hun.
    Have a great with the family, don't fill up too much on turkey :.
    Hugs
    Sheila xx

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  10. Dawn this is fabulous! Your coloring with the Prismacolor pencils is amazing! I used them for a bit, then got hooked on copics. I have to bring them out again! You certainly have mastered it! I don't have PS, so I wonder if your tutorial will work with my software...I'll have to play around! Hope you had a nice Thanksgiving with your adorable family! :-)

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  11. Perfect Challenge card, Dawn!
    The colors just make it jump right off the page.

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  12. Love your scene you put together Dawn!! Fabulous!! Thanks for the tips!

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  13. Absolutely Gorgeous!!!!! Your coloring ROCKS girl!! Hope you had a fantastic Thanksgiving!

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  14. Dawn, you know how digitally challenged I am but maybe if I get a computer program I could figure this out with the excellent directions here.
    I love the nuances of color and shading you have here, your so captures these sweet images !!
    Happy Thanksgiving and I am so thankful for your friendship!!

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  15. Oh wow. I'll have to give this a try. Thanks Dawn for taking the time to create this helpful tutorial. Great!!!

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  16. Wow this is just beautiful dear
    Hugs Jacqui x

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  17. Really stunning card - the design and colouring are fantastic xx

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  18. Dawn, Absolutely love your card with the door, Noel and Nicholas (?) Great job on the tutorial as well.

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  19. Your card is stunning! The coloring is so, so beautiful, and I love the background "dictionary" paper!!

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  20. Dawn, I SO want a winter coat like Noelle has LOL! This card is amazing - absolutely fabulous! I love the snow on your photos - what a sweet touch!

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  21. Dawn... your card is stunning as usual. Coloring is impeccable! Thanks for making the challenges so creative and fun for our followers. Hugs, Peggy

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  22. Wow on your coloring, a stunning and gorgeous card!!

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Thank you so much for sharing your comments with me. I really appreciate it.. Have a great stamping day..