Backgrounds

[jORJIA]

I just love some of the backgrounds that are provide that come with PSE5 where can I find more of them some of the ones that are provided are just not my taste. Or explane to me on how to go about making my own.

Frustrated in Michigan.

[AngelicKim]

Hi Jorjia, your gallery is really looking great.

Backgrounds can be made easily by using any photo and can be downloaded from numerous sites on the web. You can also make them by go to file>new>balnk file. Then put in the info of the size you want and background white and you can change it at anytime to the color you want. Then you can make the background to what you want using graphics, custom shapes, brushes or whatever you want. Save what you come up with as a .psd so you can always change it if you want.

I have found that using scrapbooking papers make great backgounds.

[Diana]

Hello, Jorjia, from another Michiganian.

I use PSE 3 so I'm not familiar with the backgrounds that came with version 5. What kind of backgrounds do you like?

There are easy ways of making them. I believe there are a couple tutorials in the subscriber's area on making custom backgrounds. And there are a lot of tutorials on other sites. Many are written for Photoshop but can easily be used in Elements.

Here's some sites I have bookmarked:
http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/university/tutorials/ps_bkgndtextures_mb.shtml
http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/university/tutorials/ps_brushesbeginner.shtml
http://www.arraich.com/ps6_tips_bbackground1.htm
http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/forum/printthread.php?t=12737
http://www.depiction.net/tutorials/photoshop/zoomedpixelblocks.php
Pulled Pixel Tutorial:
http://www.amrgraphics.com/index.php?page=ps_tutorials
Olde Painted Wood Tutorial from Jodi:
http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6988&highlight=jodi+wood

Here's a good site for free photo background textures:
http://www.mayang.com/textures/

And there's a LOT of scrapbooking websites that have tutorials on making background papers.

Another suggestion: go to www.google.com (http://www.google.com) and search on Photoshop background texture tutorial or something to that effect and you'll be surfing all night looking at great tutorials

Hope this is helpful.

Diana

[jORJIA]

Thanks about my gallery.:D .

Great advice, I get tired of just making the background just color, I wasn't sure if I could use another photo or not...hmm interesting.

Could you name some websites. I do like some of the graphics provided with PSE5 but there is too many ones related to childeren..( which is great if you have them, but I do not) so they don't do me any good..:(

[jORJIA]

:) Well Hello ( I'm waving) Where at in Michigan, I'm in Mid Mich.

Wow:D you gave me alot of sites to go to! Thanks a bunch.
Well lets see I take alot of pic's of Lake Michigan. ( go to my gallery and you'll see pictures I just took on Suday) We went to South Haven and St. Joe it was a very nice day....anyways...if you look at the pics with all my water pics...I would have pefrerd a different background, but just came up empty with a good background.

I want backgrounds that will complament my photo's my pics are usally of flowers or Lk Mich OR my Cats...or critter's that I find outside.

Hmm now I have to go background hunting. I upgraded from PSE3 ( which I liked) but OMG's PSE5 blows my mind. It so much easier to use...

Thanks for the sites!:)

[jORJIA]

Wow the Maytag site had a Load of them thank you.:)
Question do I place them in the background file for the PSE5? and will it come up like it does the other backgrounds OR do I have to save them elsewhere? ( I know you may not be able to answer this for me)

Wow thank you so much for these sites...I've never tryed taking pics for backgrounds like they did there, I suppose I could, but for me it's just easier to just pic one an spend my time working with my pics. ( I'm suppose I'm lazy that way) hee hee;)

I'm so excited now about finding ones to use for my pic's Yippee!

[Diana]

Hi again, Jorjia. I live out in the country, about 20 minutes from Jackson. We've been to South Haven many, many times. My husband retired from Consumers Energy and for the 5 years previous to his retirement was "stationed" at the Palisades nuclear plant in South Haven. Sometimes he stayed the week and sometimes he commuted with a group from Jackson every day (2 hrs each way).

When I use a photo for a background, I just open it in Elements, then drag other photos or elements over to it which become new layers which you can arrange any way you want, and also add text if desired.

http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/gallery/view_img.php?id=14166
Here's one where I used a photo of a brick wall for a background, added some gradient for color, then the other photos and text. The filmstrip is a Custom Shape available in the subscribers section with one of the videos.

I just save the images I've downloaded for backgrounds in a folder named Backgrounds & Textures under My Documents so I'll know where to find them when I need them.

You said you don't always like to use plain colored backgrounds. Here's how you can spice them up a bit. After filling with a background color, go to Filter > Noise > Add Noise. You can also apply other Filters from the Artistic or Brush Strokes list to add a little variety to colored backgrounds. The Filters > Render > Clouds takes you foreground and background colors and creates an interesting cloud-like background and looks best with one light color and one darker color. Experiment with the Gradient tool to also make interesting backgrounds. Here's a background (the top part) I did with the Gradient tool (and then added the Noise Filter to it).
http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/gallery/view_img.php?id=14632

Hope this helps.

Diana

[kimi_boo]

I posted this on the another thread. It is great to try.:D


Hopefully I am explaining it correctly. Find a painting, I am sending you a link.
http://www.morguefile.com/archive/?display=41934&
Don't do anything to it but define it as a brush. (you may want to make it a little larger)
Then pick your Selection Brush Tool, in is in with the magic selection brush.

Make a new layer, activate the Selection Brush Tool. Find your brush you just made and stamp your layer. All you will have are the marching ants. Now pick a gradient and apply. It makes a fantastic background. Very Easy!
Do let me know if you try it.

Here is an example, I used the painting from the link. I made 2 stamped layers both with different gradient colors applied and then changed the blend mode on both. I also made one with the image applied as a texture. Pretty Cool.
Here is the one from above.
http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?pi...iq3iFbK12s89C1

This is one were I used a different paintings. I made a whole set of brushes from paintings.
http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?pi...iU8Druf4JRCK71

When you go to pick your gradient. Go to load and luse some of the special and pastel ones.
__________________

[jORJIA]

I like that with the brick wall...very nice I see in your gallery your have a cat. I am a huge cat lover which I have tons of pics of my cats ( I have one who is a ham) she is my favorite subject.

Hey I grew up in the Hillsdale area, my husband is from Reading. Geash what a cawinkiedink:)

I downloaded some backgrounds but they are very small in size and when I try to make them lager they became very distorted, but when you seen them on the website they were very large....hmm

I will have to try that with the clouds...cool I must try it out.

Thanks so much for the help.

[jORJIA]

How do I define it as a brush??

[kimi_boo]

Control A to select all. Then edit, define brush. Just remember to save it are it will not be there after you leave your default brushes. If define brush is grayed out... reduce the size of your image. Do let us see what you come up with. :D

[Diana]

Concerning the size of the images from Mayang, you have to click several times to get to the full-size image:
Once on the category thumbnail
Once on your choice of image from those in the catetgory...
Then if you point to that, you'll see... [name of image] - Click for full size....so click again and it will start downloading the full sized image
Then Right Click on the full-sized image and Save Picture As...

The ones I have downloaded have been really nice high-resolution images. They download at 72 ppi, so if you're going to use them in a printed image, after opening in Elements, from the menu Image > Resize > Image Size and at the bottom of the dialog that opens, make sure "Resample Image" is unchecked, then change the resolution to from 200 to 300. I always use 300 for printing, unless it makes the image smaller than I want. Changing the resolution without Resample checked will reduce the size of the image.

Thanks for the compliment on the brick wall image.

The cat in my gallery is an adopted stray and he lives in a small doggie igloo beside my back steps. He doesn't want to come in. He just likes to sit on the steps and bat at my dog Sophie's pom-pom tail as she goes up or down the steps. This irritates Sophie and she'll whip around and get in his face and growl, but he doesn't blink an eye, just sits there grinning with a satisfied look on his face. He's bright orange and we call him Butterscotch, or Scotchie for short.

If you need any help with anything else, just let us know.

Diana

[Diana]

Jorjia, I finally got a chance to look through your gallery. You have some great images in there. I love the Lake Michigan montage and the Grand Haven pier. And your cat and flower images are nice, too. Great job!

Diana

[Diana]

Kimi,

I downloaded that abstract image in the link you gave and followed your instructions. Wow, do I love what it does. The ones I did remind me of batik fabric or something. So many possibilities...thanks for sharing.

When I followed your other links to pixentral for your images, all I get is Blah!

Diana

[jORJIA]

OK I must be a big dunce because I'm not seeing a magic brush. I do see the paint brush.

Since I'm simple....
1. I got that picture (which is way cool) now do I make duplicate of it?
2. I pick the paint brush and the marching ants go all the way around the picture.
3.The I pick a granite type? is this right? so far.

[Coyote]

I just love this website! I just lurk around and the most amazing subjects come up. I'm new to PSE5 and never thought to use my own photos as a background. Thanks all for the great ideas!

Carol

[kimi_boo]

You have to make the picture into a brush. Then you go to your Selection Brush to find it in your brush palette. It will be on the very bottom.
It has to be the Selection Brush Tool. It is not in with the brushes. On my version it is in with the Magic Selection Brush Tool. It will look like you stamped the image, you will have nothing but the marching ants. Then you pick your gradient tool and draw a line.

[kimi_boo]

Kimi,

I downloaded that abstract image in the link you gave and followed your instructions. Wow, do I love what it does. The ones I did remind me of batik fabric or something. So many possibilities...thanks for sharing.

When I followed your other links to pixentral for your images, all I get is Blah!

Diana

Diana... I think it is one of the coolest things. I do hope you loaded some of the other gradients? I didn't even know they were there. :o

Looks like pixentral is also having problems. :(

Do post your image if you can. I would love to see what you came up with.

[Diana]

Jorjia,

PSE 5 might be a little different than my 3.0, but perhaps this image will help you identify the Selection Brush:
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1OhjcDn4pqIX927t1Wtk0608OS9CF0_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1OhjcDn4pqIX927t1Wtk0608OS9CF0)

Here's a link to some pretty goods detailed instructions for creating and saving custom brushes:
http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/pselements/ss/custombrush_3.htm

Kimi....I have a whole palette of gradients loaded, quite a few I downloaded from Adobe Studio Exchange and some I downloaded from other sites. I'll post some of my tries at your technique when I get back to my desktop computer. Right now I'm on my laptop.

Diana

[graficalicus]

Diana, that's pretty much the way it is in 4 & 5, too - nothing really changed.

For backgrounds, brushes & stuff, here's a few more ideas:

Cutout Effect (http://www.graficalicus.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=245)

Using the cutout (includes "stretched pixel" effect) (http://www.graficalicus.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=247)

Making Grunge Brushes (http://www.graficalicus.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=158) (also grab the BrushMaker (http://www.graficalicus.com/graffishop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=36)utility - it's free for a little while longer)

The ever-popular Reflection (http://www.graficalicus.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=246) - there's a video linked there, too

[Diana]

Kimi,

Here are a few designs I did with your technique. The first one is a brush using the abstract you linked to and the other two are brushes from abstracts I found on www.caedes.net (http://www.caedes.net).

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1ztEIiZ9kMmxkFiSe9LRis5O77Z3_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1ztEIiZ9kMmxkFiSe9LRis5O77Z3)

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1rXRPJsFblreLAgR43AqwDh97UQJZV_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1rXRPJsFblreLAgR43AqwDh97UQJZV)

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1DZslfrcK7gwXuHohwS8pPleNTR_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1DZslfrcK7gwXuHohwS8pPleNTR)


Diana

[TonyW]

Some very nice backgrounds.

If you want to add them to the PSE5 backgrounds they need to be JPG (although I think PNG or PDF files will also work) and they go into:

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Adobe\Photoshop Elements\5.0\Photo Creations\artwork\backgrounds.

Put your background files in one of the existing folders or place them a new folder. The new folder name will show up as a new background category.

The standard size for use in creations is 11.7" x 8.5" at 220 dpi (or 2572x1871 pixels). I don't see why other sizes wouldn't work but if you're using the built in creations it's probably best to stay with the standard.

Tony

[Diana]

Hi Tony,

Is your post above an answer to Jorjia's question... [...do I place them in the background file for the PSE5? and will it come up like it does the other backgrounds OR do I have to save them elsewhere? ]

I have PSE3 so I couldn't answer that question for her.

Thanks,
Diana

[TonyW]

Diana - yes it was the answer to that bit - I tried to quote but the site is acting so strange at the moment that it didn't want to work so it got left out.

Thanks for doing it for me :)

Tony

[graficalicus]

Tony, you're right - they can be any image format (jpg, tif, etc.) but I recommend png - use the true color (24-bit) kind. To me, they seem to reanslate best. JPG can leave artifacts, even when saved at the highest quality settings, and tifs are just so dang big.

PSDs will also work, BTW...

I've had limited success with pdf format - the thumbnails don't show up, and sometimes colors don't quite match the original (I'm still using Acrobat 6 - wonder if that has anything to do with it?)

Anyone else have any issues with PDF images?

[douglas m scott]

jORJIA,
Are the names of your red roses-- the dark one DonJuan the lighter one Mr Lincoln??
Doug

[kimi_boo]

Diana

Great backgrounds!! :D I just think it is such a great way to make your own page background.

Tony and Graffi. I had no idea that I could put my own things in the artworks palette. I will need to read your instructions again. :o

Is this something we could always do are is this new in 5?

[TonyW]

Is this something we could always do are is this new in 5?

No - that's new in PSE5 - it's a handy place to store clip art and backgrounds.

Tony

[kimi_boo]

No - that's new in PSE5 - it's a handy place to store clip art and backgrounds.

Tony

Well... that is pretty nifty. :D :D

[jORJIA]

Geash I've been gone for 6 days hmm now I can't remember which roses your talking about...you'll have to re rattle me brain on which ones. hmm I don't remember buying them two....

[jORJIA]

Ok.....I had to leave for 6 days you were trying to help me with creating a background and I was way confused:confused: .......sniff sniff...now I'm back an If I don't figure out how to do it I'm going to bang my head up against this keyboard.....

BTW I just LOVE the look of that background.....

[kimi_boo]

Did you look at the Gallery Images. They picked one of your images. :D

[TonyW]

Went looking for a background and found a whole bunch at the Microsoft clip-art site:

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/clipart/results.aspx?CategoryID=CM790019031033#0

Some jpeg (and some a bit small but could be as patterns), some scaleable wmf (which can be opened in Elements if you have the right plug-in). All free even if you don't have MS Office.

Tony

[jORJIA]

Tony thanks.....

Sorry for such a late reply my PC Crashed, :( lucky for me they could retrieve most of my info..it just has taken what seems like forever. I will check out the site...

Thanks a bunch....
Dang it all now I have to get re- caught up with everything I was doing.

[hukari]

Went looking for a background and found a whole bunch at the Microsoft clip-art site:

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/clipart/results.aspx?CategoryID=CM790019031033#0

Some jpeg (and some a bit small but could be as patterns), some scaleable wmf (which can be opened in Elements if you have the right plug-in). All free even if you don't have MS Office.

Tony

(Pricking up my ears) Plug-in? Which plug-in???

[jORJIA]

Ok Tony I went and wow their are a bunch...ok now how do I get them from there to PSE5 in the larger size...for free? :confused:

[jORJIA]

I did and thanks for the heads up.
I can't believe I got picked! I'm so proud...( can you see me I have perma grin:D )

After getting the My book hooked up my Computer crashed on me...I was devastated, but thank god for the man who I took it to he was able to get most of my information off the old one and now I have a brand new mother board or hard drive. it has taken what has seemed an eternity.

Sorry for my late reply.

[TonyW]

Ok Tony I went and wow their are a bunch...ok now how do I get them from there to PSE5 in the larger size...for free? :confused:

You can download them from the microsoft site for free but for the ones in wmf format you'll need a plug-in to open them in Elements

Download this zip file:

wmfforma.zip (http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=606&d=1165871540)

Unzip it and put it in Plug-Ins>File Formats

Now the file open menu in Elements will show .WMF files as an option.
It will give you a choice of resolution to open it at - pick the highest one.

Tony

[AngelicKim]

Tony, thanks for the link.

For those who are not sure of where Tony means for this to go, here is the path

C:/Program Files>Adobe>Photoshop Elements 5.0>Plug-ins>File Formats
(or whatever version you have if not v5)

[jORJIA]

Ok I did Program files> Adobe> Photoshop Elements 5.0...but no where do I have the plug ins or the file formats...

Does it make a difference if I got my PSE5 as an upgrade from the 3 off of the net as a download?

[AngelicKim]

Having the download is the same as if you had the CD. There is a file in PSE5 path you have stated. Under the Photoshop Elements go down to Plug-ins and click it and then you will find the file formats folder there.

[TonyW]

Just a thought - make sure you're looking in Photoshop Elements 5.0 and not Photoshop Elements 5 - you may have both. When you download from the Internet and install it puts the CD contents in that second folder. I have never bothered to move it somewhere else and occasionally I've gone looking in the wrong place.

Tony