Pirate Map?

[heirmeistr]

I want to make a Halloween Party invitation with a Pirate theme. I started doing it in MS Word and suddenly realized "this would look great if it was printed on old paper or better yet - a Pirate treasure map". I am looking for suggestions on how to create such a thing. Would this be more of a scrappers type of question? Thanks for any help, suggestions, or ideas.

[Wendy]

Hi Harry ...

Yes you can do that just fine in Elements ...

Search around (on the internet) for an old map then use that for the background.
Add text above it ... maybe even some clip art too
... and then print off your invitations :)

Wendy

[skstarkiller]

If you go to sxc.hu you can get a great stock photo of some parchment and use that as the base for your map.

[LoriG]

Hi Harry,

I don't know if you wanted to make this yourself in PSE3 but if you want a shortcut, you can go to mousememories.com and search for "pirate" they have some great pirate paper, stickers, etc. you could probably make something on paper then scan it in to personalize it. Just thought this would help.

Lori G

[Byron Gale]

Harry,

Our friend, Panos, has a free Scroll action (http://www.panosfx.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=139) which seems to be crying out for a pirate map!!

Be sure to check out the rest of Panos' Elements tools - they are all top quality.

Byron

[graficalicus]

seems like I downloaded some pirate shapes at the Adobe Exchange awhile back, too - map symbols, footprints in the sand, cannon, treasure chests - that kind of thing -

(...goes away to do a quick search...)

yup - search "pirate" in the Photoshop exchange (http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/exchange/) (and I hate how they redid them to be like the old macromedia exchanges, which prevent you from posting a link)

there's also a template or two in there

[kayser]

Graffi- THat's where I got mine- they worked really well.

I used it for the background here:

http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/gallery/view_img.php?id=10712

and found some custom shapes there that were useful too.

I also found some pirate fonts on www.dafont.com

[heirmeistr]

Phil,
Thanks, that was a great site and I was able to pick up some great photos to use as my base.

[heirmeistr]

Byron,
Thanks for the Panos site. I did download the scroll action or effect he has. I am not sure why it is an effect versus a picture, but it definetly looks like something I could use.

[heirmeistr]

Graffi & Kayser,
Thanks for the Photoshop Exchange. I did not know it existed. I have learned quite a lot from my question. The stockphoto exchange, Panos Effects website, and now the photoshop exchange. Plus I was extremely surprised to get so many helpful responses so quickly. Thanks to everyone. I really like the background that Kay used but I have to admit this is an area I have not traveled before. I am not sure how to install these shapes and will they work on PS Elements? Help with installing these would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[Wendy]

Hi Harry ...

First thing with installing is to download and then unzip ...

Then one way of working out where things go is:

Go to your Adobe software folder and look in the folder marked presets.
Inside there you will find a whole series of folders and these are the ones that most (but not all) freebies go into.

Files ending in .abr go in the Brushes folder
.aco in the Colour Swatches folder
.csh in Custom Shapes
.grd in Gradients
.pat in Patterns
.asl in Styles

Anything that isn't mentioned in the above list then just ask about that one individually

Hope that helps ...

Wendy
EDIT ... Close down Elements before you install anything and then restart it when you have finished the install.

[heirmeistr]

Thanks Wendy,
That did the trick! And your list helped me understand the naming convention they use. I appreciate it.

[Wendy]

Hi Harry ...

Glad that it helped :)

... and look forward to seeing your finished invitation ..

Wendy