Creating Texture with Lutradur Video Workshop

Lutradur is an interesting surface to digitally print and manipulate.  It is one of the surfaces I use consistently in my artwork.  This intriguing surface is wonderful to heat distress and is the essence of creating texture.  When I plan to use lutradur, I consider my layers and decide what other surfaces would work well with this substrate for the particular project.   Next my surfaces are printed.  Using my completed prints, I burn, tear, stitch and bead the lutradur to build my textures. 

In this mini video workshop I will: melt and alter printed lutradur in 2 thicknesses, explain my process of layering and beading, show the layers that go into 2 pieces, align and explain how to proceed on a work in progress, demonstrate small adjustments to a finished piece. 

You will receive the URL and password to access the video when you sign up and download your PDF action guide.  This PDF will have my source for lutradur along with  detail pictures of the artwork from the video.

If you have any questions about the workshop or information, feel free to email me.
KathyAnne Art members be sure to log in on the site for this monthly free to members workshop.  Non members can use the Buy Now button below to purchase the workshop for $9.95.

     

Creating Texture in Photoshop Elements 9

This mini workshop will give you a start at creating textures in Photoshop Elements.  When I texture in Elements or Photoshop I use the same basic process of making selections. Things are a little different for  Photoshop, but if you are interested in creating texture, I know you can use the information in this video with Photoshop.  You will sometimes find the tools or features in Photoshop in different places then in Photoshop Elements, but they are there.

Using this new software to create a video, is new to me, but I feel it is an effective way to show various tasks in my photo programs.  It’s so much better for the viewer to watch me work on the screen.  As I get used to this video format, I will be switching off from Photoshop Elements 9 to Photoshop CS5.   This will enable me to share more information on my digital process. I will be working on some basic Photoshop Elements tutorials in the coming months.

In this workshop we will make selections., create layers from selections,  fill selections, create new layers, copy layers, texture selections with filters and blend modes.  This is not a beginning Photoshop Elements workshop, it is a process for a way to build texture that is constructed with Elements.  If you are a beginner and you spend the time to do exactly what I do, you should be able to find your way around the information.  You are always welcome to contact me with questions.  

This mini workshop is free to KathyAnneArt members be sure to log in on the site.
Non-members go to the KathyAnne Art site to sign up for the workshop for $9.95.

KathyAnne Art Members Downloading Images and Workshops

Members can easily download images, tutorials and monthly workshops that are free to members.  Screen shots depict this in the following post.  Once in awhile a member would like to see what this looks like.  To make the screen shots larger, click on them and they will open in another window for you to see them clearly.

First sign into the site.

Finish Your Journal-Assembling Pages

Seems I am always making journals.  Whether it is for a workshop or just because I get the urge, there are journals and journal pieces all over my studio.  

Once the covers and pages are complete, they need to be assembled.

This mini video workshop covers attaching your pages when 

you have finished all the elements to your journal.

Most of my journals are collaged before pages are attached.  In the demo journal for the video the pages are freshly cut and white.  After I finished the video, I went back with dyes mixed with water and brushed dye over the pages.  You can see that in the section pictured with the title at the top of this post.  

  My preference is to work intuitively and let the

materials and pieces determine how they all end up.

My journal construction follows this course.   In the video, I show you a few journals that have been assembled, what they look like when finished and different beaded backs.  The journal below is the one I assemble for the workshop.

This workshop is free to members, so if you are a member be sure to sign in before adding the workshop to your cart.

Non-members go to KathyAnne Art to purchase the workshop for $9.95.

Printer Profiles: Photoshop Elements 8

Since Photoshop Elements 8 was released, I have received emails asking me how to get decent prints when printing from this edition of Elements.  It takes a little finding the right places since it is,t a little different then the last few versions.  Here is a quick look at the printer boxes in Elements 8 that will get you what you want for printer profiles.

Personally I think it is a little confusing, but we will take several options and you will get the idea how this works.  There are other choices along the way, but for now try this.

Once I use File

My usual path would be to pick Page Setup (you see the red circle bottom left) to choose my paper size and orientation.

If the print is 8.5 x 11 this is the easy way to get to it. I could then click ok and go on.  

The only problem is then you do not ever see one of the color settings.  When I advise my students I tell them to go to More Options and skip this box all together.

So instead lets choose More Options next to Page Setup in the bottom of the box.

More Options box is now open

Choose Color Management and then under color handling change the pull down menu to say Photoshop Elements Manages Color.  This is  your first step to controling the color by taking away from the printer and letting Elements to do it.  Don't let your printer manage your color.

Next choose custom print size and choose the correct print size for your print.

Pick the size you want or make a custom size if the size is not in your list.  

Click OK 

In this box click Print - bottom right and you are on the last couple of steps.

In this box in the Layout pull down menu choose Print Settings

Go to Media Type pull down menu and pick your paper type
Under Color Settings choose Off (no Color Adjustment) again you do not want the printer to adjust your color.

If you are printing with thick paper go to Print Settings and in that pull down menu

choose Extension Settings

Now you can finally click Print

Yes there are other choices to make along the way.  My examples show my most used choices.
Then the next time I print, if I want to print with the same papers etc.  I use the last used settings choice in the print box and it does all the same choices for me.  That setting is a great addition in one of the last versions of Photoshop and Elements.

Always make sure you change you color settings in the 2 places shown. 

Working with Hardware Cloth

August's Mini Workshop, free to KathyAnne Art members, is "Working with Hardware Cloth".

The workshop is posted to the KathyAnne Art site under collections

This is a video workshop. which means that once members sign in and get the workshop, they can then download the pdf file which includes the information on viewing the video.  The pdf also contains supplier information.  

An explanation of the workshop is below.  

Non-members can take the workshop on-line for a fee of $15.  Just follow this link.  Once you pay for the workshop, you may return to KathyAnne Art site with your order # and sign in as a non member to retrieve your download of the pdf file.

Easy Pocket Journals Mini Workshop

Although I have zillions of journals, imagining new ideas for creating journals, is one of my favorite things to do.  So many times, my journals get heavy and are not convenient to carry around.  Then add pens to the mix and the whole transportation thing becomes cumbersome.  So my thoughts have been about constructing journals that are smaller and more portable.  In this workshop we will explore two of those types of journals.

Both the journals covered here are light weight and portable.  One is constructed from watercolor paper that is digitally printed on each side and the other is made from recycled pocket book pages.  This is short and sweet, ending small interesting journals.

This workshop is free to KathyAnne Art members. Be sure to sign in.

Non members go to KathyAnne Art Tutorials under Collections.  The workshop is $9.95.
Once you pay for the workshop, you will be able to download the PDF instructions.

Digital Collage Workshop Part 2

Digital Collage Workshop Part 2

In this mini workshop, we will use some of the techniques from  part one of “Digital Collage Workshop”.  In Part 2 as we take a cursory look at 3 different types of digital collage, you will be able to apply what you have already learned and learn other ways of putting those techniques together.  Transfer the ideas in this part of Digital Collage Workshop to your own images and expand on the ideas presented.

As usual, this workshop is a process workshop.  Get familiar with the process and tweak it to fit what you want. Learning how to use Photoshop or Photoshop Elements is entirely personal.  Everyone is looking for something diferent from their images and using these tools is no exception.  Once you work a photo type software long enough, you will find your favorite ways to manipulate images. Your favorite techniques will, by accident at times, take you to other ways to express your  new way of thinking.

One thing is for sure, the more you work, the better you get.  Take the time to develop your images and your style.  It’s amazing what can happen when you continue to expand what you know.

This can be an enjoyable ride.  Don’t take what you do too seriously.  Remember the undo command is just a fingertip away.

This workshop is one of my "Free to Members Monthly Workshops"  All mini workshops on KathyAnneArt are free to members.

Non Members, the workshop is $15.00

Digital Print on Alternative Surfaces: Skins and Metal Mesh

My new workshop is online the subject, Skins and Metal Mesh, how to create and how to digitally print.  Here is an intro video from you tube.

New Mini Workshop on Digital Collage

Each month KathyAnne Art members can download a free mini workshop.  This month's "Digital Collage Mini Workshop" gives instructions for both Photoshop CS4 and Photoshop Elements 8.

This workshop depicts simple ideas on combining images, without much work but creates wonderful results.  It's easy to use these ideas on your own images.  Most of the images used in the workshop,  are  available for download on the site.  The url for those pages are in the workshop information.

Discover what works for you and develop unique compositions with your photographs and images. 

The more you play with photo software, the better you get.  This will be the first of 2 mini workshops on Photoshop and Photoshop Elements.  Next months we will go into more ideas on how to combine and collage images.

Members the workshop is free, just sign in.

Non members, the workshop is $15.00

Using Images to Create Patterns

Here’s a cursory demo “Using Images to Create Patterns” that is the same for both Photoshop CS4 and Photoshop Elements 8.  

I will briefly explain this process with an image from the KathyAnne Art site - The image title is Journalpage_leaves and it is on page 9 of the Journaling Section.  These instructions are the same for both Photoshop and Elements.  The only difference is the menus are slightly different in both programs.  Since it is great to learn something and remember it, I am only going to tell you what to do and let you find out where it all is.   

Open your image.

Then make a selection using the marquee tool  (set the tool on fixed size with a height and width of your choosing.  I use 4” x 4” on this sample)

Open a new file (command n  mac) (control n pc)

the same ppi as your original image and twice the width and height as the original selection.  (My new file is 8” x 8” with 240ppi)

Copy and paste the selection to the new image file.

Now make another copy by either (command j mac) or (control j pc)  

Move both the selections to the top of the box to where the edges meet.  

With one of the layers selected, flip the section horizontally.

Next merge the 2 layers till they are one and copy that layer by (command j mac)

or (control j pc)  and move that layer to the bottom.  

Flip the bottom or top layer vertically and merge them again.

Define pattern under edit

Test your pattern by opening another new file.  Open it larger then your pattern.  I opened a file that was 12” x 12”.  Then fill your new file with the pattern from the pattern palette.  

That’s it, simple.  You made a pattern:) 

Amazing Texture with Synthetics

Synthetics fabrics and surfaces are interesting additions to mixed media artwork and journals.  After a recent trip to Joann's Fabrics, I added a few of these surfaces to layers in some of my works in progress.  This all came about during my "Extreme Textural Surfaces" workshop in Alaska last month. We played with many different synthetic fabrics, with interesting results.  One of the exercises for the textural workshop started with a piece of heat distressed felt.  Each student then interpreted the exercise using the felt in their own way.  The results were incredibly creative.

After returning to my studio, I composed this min-workshop to digitally print and heat distress synthetics and combine the surfaces in a composition.  My work often uses tyvek and lutradur, so I worked with polyester, nylon and organdy.

This workshop is free to KathyAnne Art Members.  A monthly member benefit is the mini- workshops.  To date the mini workshops free to members include: Dying Watercolor Paper, Creating a Background and Frame from an Image, Garbage Journals, Printing with Epson PM 360, Putting it all Together:Assembling Digitally Printed Surfaces, Enhance Surfaces before Printing and then this months Amazing Texture with Synthetics.  You can download these and other tutorials from  KathyAnne Art> Collections>Tutorials

Non Member price for the workshop is $9.95

Photoshop Elements 8- Making Puzzle Texture

Here is a quick tutorial on making a puzzle from an image.  This will work on other versions of Photoshop Elements, but I did this one in Photoshop Elements 8.

KathyAnne Art has mini-workshops, tutorials and on-line workshops.  To see what is available visit-
Tutorials on KathyAnne Art

Printing Uncommon Surfaces on the Epson PM 260

New Mini Workshop on KathyAnne Art

This month’s mini workshop is “Printing Uncommon Surfaces on the Epson PM 260”. The workshop pdf is 6 pages and takes you through my entire process using the PM 260 to print uncommon surfaces.

When teaching workshops, this printer sometimes does most of the printing for the workshop.  It is easy to use and will print many fabrics and papers.  It will even print on aluminum and fiberglass screen.

This compact photo printer is really versatile.  My original idea for this printer was to

print on the road, just in case I wanted to create journal pages, or test a new print in the design stage.  Now it is used more for teaching workshops and does an awesome

job.  Just remember if you are going to use surfaces other then what Epson intended, your warranty will be null and void.   That said my Epson PM 260 is 2.5 years old and without serious incident. 

You can purchase this workshop at KathyAnne Art.  If you are a member the workshop is free.  As a member, sign in and then put the workshop in your cart.  At check out the workshop price will be $0

For all others the workshop is $15.00 visit the KathyAnne Art website or buy now at PayPal

Text Play in Photoshop Elements 8

This tutorial about filling text with patterns, is written for Photoshop Elements 8, but Photoshop users will be able to see how to use it with their software also.  It's pretty simple.

A short tutorial with a couple of images for download on the KathyAnne Art Site. 

Links for these 2 images are in the tutorial and can be copied from the bottom of this post.

Members can download the background and pattern for free.  The downloads are $3.00 each for non-members.  Any questions? Contact KathyAnne!

Background link: Background 11
Pattern link: Yosemite Falls 5