Jo - Can you Explain the Process?

[NMarti]

Jo
I love this picture/orb but was wondering if you can explain how you do the texture for the background. I know several people have mentioned using photos as texture but am just not getting it. Mine don't come out with much detail. Could you please explain for a slightly dense person? ;) :D

http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/gallery/view_img.php?id=11237

[mom to 4]

Jo that is awsome! What a beautiful orb! Your work is beautiful!

[jo]

Nancy, Kimi explained it in her thread about texturizing, but let me take a stab at it.

Find a pic that looks like it has enough pattern to it for a texture and make it a psd for the texturize step.

I just use that as my starting point for sizing the document.

Make a new layer.

Pick a foreground and background color and do filter>render>clouds.

I like to put a gaussian blur on that so it isn't too spotty looking.

Then filter>texture>texturizer. Click on the little arrow pointing right to pick a texture. That's where you browse for the psd name you want for the texture. Then play with the scaling and relief sliders to get the texture you like.

You can then play with other effects on that layer like lighting or color or opacity.

[jo]

Thanks for the compliment, Nancy and Colleen.

[NMarti]

Thanks Jo. I don't think I used the clouds first, just used a color. Maybe that's why it wasn't working too well. I'll give it a shot.

[Diana]

Jo, that is just beautiful! What font did you use for the text?

Diana

[jo]

Diana, that font is "PassionsConflictROB"

[Caroleen]

Jo, Hi my name is Carol and I'm brand new at this photoshop stuff. I just got my program a week ago and have been working with it some. Confused but have had some help from a tutorial. Your work is absolutely gorgeous. Have you been doing it a long time? I hope to be that good someday. Another question is "Are these pictures that you have taken yourself or do you get them off the internet"? What is the font that you use if you don't mind sharing? Thanks for answering, I'm really impressed at these works of art. Carol

[jo]

Carol, you're embarrassing me! But thanks for the compliment anyway.

I started playing with Elements 2 a couple of years ago and used it to make adjustments to photos and to make some collages. I'm up to Elements 4 now, but I didn't know very much about Elements until I found this website. There's soooo much information here! The subscriber videos and tutorials are fantastic and the members of this forum are so ready and willing to help out with any questions. And seeing other people's work in the galleries and the posts is an inspiration!

You may be surprised at the beautiful things you can do with a little encouragement. Stick with us, girl!