Can I do this in PSE 6?

[pearlseyes]

I'd like to create a piece of art that is similar to the link listed below. Is this possible in PSE 6? I'm new to the program and layers for that matter but anxious to learn. I'm designing my toddler's bedroom but I'm on a limited budget so I thought I'd try and create some art myself. His bedroom is going to be chocolate brown and baby blue and I like modern, sleek, and simple type decor. Any thoughts?

http://www.tinydecor.com/art-and-wall-decor-76/posters-77/olli-and-lime-teal-egg-wall-print-298.html
Alecia

[Jeff Perry]

Alecia, Photoshop Elements is perhaps (as the name suggests) better suited for working on photographs, and other paint-type programs probably have better tools for creating this type of artwork. Take a photograph of something, and Elements has a lot of terrific tools for turning that image into a work of art. But drawing something from the beginning...I would use a different program.

Just my opinion, and I'm sure others will chime in as well.

Jeff

[Diana]

Hi Alecia,

You can create many colorful artistic and abstract images using the tools in Elements.


Something similar to the image you posted a link to can be done by filling selections made with the Elliptical Marquee. It's really fun to play around creating with colors. Try this...
From the menu: File > New > Blank File
Set the dimensions to 6 inches width and height, Color Mode RGB Color, Resolution 300, Background White
Select the Elliptical Marquee tool (5th tool from the top in the toolbar, or press M on the keyboard until you get it)
Create a new blank layer in your document by clicking the "Create New Layer" icon in the header of the Layers Palette and work on this blank layer.
Drag out a big egg shape in the middle of the document almost touching the edges.
At the bottom of the toolbar, click the Foreground color chip and select a color.
From the menu: Edit > Fill Selection > Use: Foreground Color > OK
Click on the Foreground color chip and select the next color you wish to use.
From the menu: Select > Modify > Contract - Enter 50 to 100 pixels (you'll have to gauge this by how thick you want your stripes to be) - OK
Fill this new selection with your color - From the menu: Edit > Fill Selection > Use: Foreground Color > OK
Repeat steps 8 through 10 until you get as many stripes of color that you want.
Duplicate your striped egg layer by pressing Ctrl-J repeatedly for as many eggs and you want
Get the Move tool (top tool in the toolbox) and, one at a time, click on the layer for each egg and drag to move the egg into place where you want it positioned. You can drag an egg so only part of it shows in your document.
This should give you a reasonable facsimile of that design. Here's one I made:
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1fQGYfRazQTVNfzVRA7smSD0LC3BuQ_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1fQGYfRazQTVNfzVRA7smSD0LC3BuQ)

Another way to make multicolored stripes is to use the Gradient tool. Press G to select the gradient tool. In the options bar at the top of the workspace, click the drop-down arrow beside the gradient display and select any gradient from those shown. Then click the Edit button and in the edit box, where it says Gradient Type, set it to Noise, then OK.

To the right of the Edit button there are five buttons for types of gradients. Click the 2nd one which is Radial gradient.

Draw out an oval or egg shaped selection with the Elliptical Marquee tool on a blank layer on your document. Click on the center of the oval and drag outward toward an edge of the selection. You'll get a very colorful design.

Here's one I made with the gradient tool:
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1p6SFcpJhCR9evfO1yJv2GbqRHoUK1_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1p6SFcpJhCR9evfO1yJv2GbqRHoUK1)

Here's another fun thing to do with the Gradient tool: Pick the Chrome gradient from the gradient picker drop-down in the options bar (it looks blue, white & gold - hover your mouse pointer to see the label), then set the Mode to Difference from that drop-down menu in the options bar.

Working on a blank document, pick one of the five gradient types and start draging across the document to create a gradient. Each time you drag the colors will change. Try changing gradient types and keep dragging to see what beautiful abstract designs you can make. Here's one I made with this method:
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/11gS615x9qnjxVvI03xMlVjVp7ZsYZ_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=11gS615x9qnjxVvI03xMlVjVp7ZsYZ)

Hope this gets you to experimenting to see what colorful designs you can make with color in Elements.

Diana

[vawitt]

Wow, Diana. that last one is very cool!

[pearlseyes]

Here is my first attempt. I had no idea layers could be so fun. I'm totally loving it. I mentioned a few weeks ago that layers are for onions and now I'm totally loving the onions. I have so much to learn though. Anyway, here is my first stab...2828

[cats4jan]

Your first attempt is very cool. You can now "graduate" to using shapes to create your art. :D

Grab the shape tool - pick a shape - pick a foreground color -
start dragging across your new blank canvas.

When you are happy with the size - simplify the layer. In my version - PSE4 - the option to simplify is in the shapes tool option bar. Look to the top of your editing screen for the tool option bar anytime a tool is chosen.

To make larger and larger layers of the same shape:

Control click on your thumbnail of the shape layer in the layers palette - this will make a selection in the shape of your shape :) (marching ants)

Select> modify> expand to make the selection larger - choose a number over 40 for a substantial increase in size

Change the foreground color to a coordinating color

Make a new layer below the original shape layer (if you make the layer above the original layer, the bigger sized shape will bury the smaller sized shape.)

While on the new layer - use the paint bucket to fill the layer with color - by clicking inside the marching ants selection with the paint bucket.

control d - turns off the selection.

Now, to make another - larger shape -

Repeat the above steps using the new, larger shape you just created.

Because all your shapes are on their own layers, you can stroke each of the layers for even more contrast

Go to any layer (you can click on them or use the layers palette)

Edit> stroke (a drop down menu allows you to change the color and size of the stroke after selecting edit> stroke)