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Sue's Graphics Software Blog

By Sue Chastain, About.com Guide to Graphics Software since 1999

Free Vignette Script for the GIMP

Thursday July 9, 2009
Earlier this year, I posted a tutorial on how to create a non-destructive vignette effect with the GIMP. A reader, Dominic Chomko, was kind enough to create a script for the vignette effect method presented in this tutorial, and offer it for download.
• Free Vignette Script for the GIMP
• Vignette Effect GIMP Tutorial
• Vignette Definition

Free Photoshop Layer Styles from Deborah Ramos

Tuesday July 7, 2009

Deborah Ramos has contributed a set of 23 styles covering a variety of effects. The styles include lemon rind, lime rind, cookies, glass, plastic, metal, and one awesome fabric style. They should work in all recent versions of Photoshop and Photoshop Elements.

• Preview and Download Free Styles Collection 1 from Deborah Ramos

Graphics Challenge: Freedom

Monday July 6, 2009
This week's graphics challenge theme is Freedom. What is freedom? We'll let you decide. The idea is to create an image based on the concept of freedom, so set your imagination free and have fun with it! Read more...

Explore Underpainting in Corel Painter

Monday July 6, 2009
Historically, an underpainting was used to establish the overall color values for a painting. In Corel Painter, the Underpainting palette lets you adjust the color, tone, and detail of a photo to prepare it for auto-painting. One of the new and exciting additions to Painter X is the ability to apply the color of a source image to your under painting. Explore this feature of Corel Painter, in this underpainting tutorial.
• Underpainting in Corel Painter

Creating an Action for Batch Processing in Photoshop

Thursday July 2, 2009
Photoshop Actions Palette
© Adobe
Actions are a powerful feature in Photoshop which can save you time by performing repetitive tasks for you automatically, and for batch processing multiple images when you need to apply the same set of steps to many images. In my latest tutorial, I show you how to record a custom action and use it with the batch command for processing multiple images automatically.
• Creating an Action for Batch Processing in Photoshop

Take the Frustration out of Photoshop Presets

Monday June 29, 2009
Preset Viewer
Preset Viewer from TumaSoft

If your Photoshop preset collection has ever made you want to pull your hair out, you're going to love Preset Viewer from TumaSoft! Preset Viewer allows you to browse all your Photoshop presets quickly and organize them with keywords.

From now through July 4, you can get it at a significant discount of more than 50% off the regular price. Check out my review, and don't miss out on this great deal!

• Preset Viewer Review

Graphics Challenge: Danger

Sunday June 28, 2009
This week's graphics challenge theme is the concept of Danger. Your task is to create an image that may depict or convey danger. So be careful and have some fun; we don't want anyone to get hurt! Read more...

Photoshop Elements Transparent Text Tutorial

Friday June 26, 2009
See Through Text
See Through Text
© Sue Chastain
This tutorial will show you how to create a see-through text effect with Photoshop Elements. In this beginner tutorial you will work with the type tool, the move tool, the effects palette, layers, blending modes, and layer styles.
• Create See-Through Text with Photoshop Elements

Gel Text with Layer Styles in Paint Shop Pro

Thursday June 25, 2009
Learn how to use the new layer styles feature in Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 to create a gel text effect.
• Gel Text with Layer Styles in Paint Shop Pro

Put an Image or Photo Into Text with Photoshop Elements

Wednesday June 24, 2009
Plaid P
© Sue Chastain
You may have seen the text effect where a photo or other image is used to fill a block of text. This effect is easy to do with the layer grouping feature in Photoshop Elements. Old timers may know this technique as a clipping path. In this tutorial you'll work with the type tool, layers, adjustment layers, and layer styles.
• Put an Image or Photo Into Text with Photoshop Elements

Corel Painter Tutorial: Painting Trees

Tuesday June 23, 2009
Trees are wonderful subjects to paint. Their unrefined organic makeup lends towards lots of added texture. Take a look at how you can create very realistic texture in your tree paintings, from bark to leaves, using Corel Painter software.
• Painting Realistic Texture in Trees

Making Dotted Lines with Adobe Photoshop

Monday June 22, 2009
Many advanced options are hidden in Photoshop's Brushes palette. By adjusting the spacing we can create a custom brush to make dotted lines or dashed lines. Here are two different methods for creating dotted lines in Photoshop. Know of another way? Click comments and tell us about it!
• Dotted Lines in Photoshop: Paintbrush Method
• Dotted Lines in Photoshop: Stroke a Path Method

Graphics Challenge: It's Summer

Saturday June 20, 2009
This week's graphics challenge theme is It's Summer. For centuries the summer solstice has been celebrated in many different ways. Not one to miss a celebration, our theme this week is summer! Create an image of what summer is for you, whether it's your favorite season or not, and have some fun with it! Read more...

Smoothie City Digital Scrapbooking Kit

Friday June 19, 2009
Smoothie City Digital Scrapbook Kit
© S. Braxton
Browse and download this free kit of coordinating elements and papers for digital scrapbooking. "Smoothie City" is a general purpose digital scrapbooking kit in a summer color scheme consisting of melon, kiwi, mango, turquoise, and lilac tones, with butterfly accents.
• Smoothie City Digital Scrapbooking Kit

Also see:
• What is Digital Scrapbooking? What Software do I Need for Digital Scrapbooking?
• A Beginner's Reference to Digital Scrapbooking

Improved Layer Mask Tool for Photoshop Elements 7

Wednesday June 17, 2009
Thanks to a generous reader, Paul Batty, the free layer mask tool for Photoshop Elements 7 has been improved. Paul created the XML file necessary to put the layer mask tool in its own category of the Effects palette. If you install this new version, you won't need to sift through all the effects to find the layer mask tool. The layer mask tool is also available for Photoshop Elements 6 and older versions.
• Get the Layer Mask Tool for Photoshop Elements 7

Free Graphics Sampler from PSPTubez.com

Tuesday June 16, 2009
Patriotic Bear
© Barry Meyer
For the month of June, Barry Meyer is offering a 60% discount on all new memberships to PSPTubez.com, and a contest where 20 people will win a lifetime membership. To celebrate, he has contributed 40 free images for you to download as a free sampler of the images you can find on PSPTubez.com. In addition to these 40 new all-occasion and seasonal graphics, be sure to check out the Christmas and Valentine's Day image samplers if you missed them before. And if you like what you see, don't pass up this opportunity to save 60% on a membership so you can download thousands of graphics, frames, layer styles, brushes, papers, and more.
• Free Transparent PNG files and Paint Shop Pro Tubes

More Free Photoshop Layer Style 6-packs

Tuesday June 16, 2009
Free Layer Styles
© SKS
Earlier this month, I posted a dozen 6-packs of layer styles from Shelby Kate Schmitz. Well, I've got another 20 brand new ones for you this week. These layer styles can be used in Photoshop 7 and up and Photoshop Elements 2 and up.
• 32 6-packs of Layer Styles from from Shelby Kate Schmitz

"Pick Your Own Cherries" Digital Scrapbooking Kit

Monday June 15, 2009
Pick Your Own Cherries Kit
© Darleen Araujo
This digital scrapbooking kit would be great to scrap a summer or fall memory. The colors of reds, browns and golds were chosen to make it a little different for a cherry kit.
• "Pick Your Own Cherries" Digital Scrapbooking Kit

Summer Cottage Tube Painting in Paint Shop Pro

Monday June 15, 2009
Summer Cottage Tube Painting
© Arizona Kate
One of Paint Shop Pro's popular painting tools is the Picture Tube, commonly called 'Tubes'. With a small collection of Tube files (*.tub) you can create a tube painting . In this tutorial, Arizona Kate shows you how to create a 'Summer Cottage' landscape painting with a few tubes you probably already have. Along the way, she'll show you a few artistic tricks to fine tune your tubes to add more interest and depth to your painting.
• Summer Cottage Tube Painting Paint Shop Pro Tutorial
• What Are Picture Tubes?

Graphics Challenge: Free for All

Sunday June 14, 2009
This week's graphics challenge theme is Free for All. We have some basic retro shapes and colors for you to start with and do whatever you please with them. So get creative, and have some fun with them! Read more...

'Cookbook Chex' Seamless Pattern Tile

Wednesday June 10, 2009
Arizona Kate shows you how to create the red and white check pattern many of us are familiar with seeing on table cloths and a popular cookbook. This seamless pattern tile can be used for webpage backgrounds, email stationery, custom text, CD covers, calendars, greeting cards, scrapbooking, or many other things!

The tutorial is suitable for beginners and was written for Paint Shop Pro version 8 or higher.
• 'Cookbook Chex' Seamless Pattern Paint Shop Pro Tutorial

Graphics Challenge: Spring Flowers

Sunday June 7, 2009
This week's graphics challenge theme is Spring Flowers. With Summer just around the corner, we couldn't let Spring get by without a Spring Flowers theme. We have some nice starting images for you to cut and arrange however you like. Use at least two of them to create something new, and be sure to stop and smell the flowers along the way! Read more...

12 6-packs of Free Layer Styles

Wednesday June 3, 2009
Free Layer Styles
© SKS
These free layer styles by Shelby Kate Schmitz can be used in Photoshop 7 and up and Photoshop Elements 2 and up. This collection includes a dozen different effects in 6 colors each--72 layer styles in all.
• 12 6-packs of Free Layer Styles

The GIMP Review and Rating

Tuesday June 2, 2009
The GIMP is a powerful bitmap/pixel based image manipulation program for photo editing and retouching, and creating images and animations. It's free, open-source software for Windows, Linux, and Mac. Read my review and see if it might be right for you. Or, submit a user review if you already use The GIMP.
• The GIMP Review and Rating
• The GIMP Tutorials

Graphics Challenge: Collage

Monday June 1, 2009
This week's graphics challenge theme is Collage. We're giving you some random starting images to work with. You can add to them, chop them up, stir fry... whatever you like. Just use all three and be sure you have some fun with them! Read more...

Get SnagIt 7.2.5 for Free

Friday May 29, 2009
TechSmith is offering free registrations for SnagIt 7.2.5 from now to June 5, 2009. The registration also qualifies you for upgrade pricing on the latest version, SnagIt 9. SnagIt has always been my favorite creen capture software, so if you've never tried it before, here is your chance!

From TechSmith:

We are happy to offer you a free, legal version of Snagit 7.2.5 through 5 pm (EST) on June 5, 2009. Please note this version is not compatible with Windows Vista. Please register below to receive your software key. As a registered user, you automatically qualify for upgrade pricing to our latest version – Snagit 9.1.

Update, June 2: Sorry folks, the link for this promotion has been pulled.

Update, June 3: The link is working again. Thanks for letting us know, Steve!

On this site:
• SnagIt 9 Review
• Screen Capture Tools and Tips

"It's the Manly Thing To Do" Digital Scrapbooking Kit

Thursday May 28, 2009
Manly Digital Scrapbook Kit
© Darleen Araujo
This kit was made with men in mind when choosing colors and patterns to start the design. With a color scheme of blue, green, mustard and red and masculine textures of denim, plaid, and argyle, the items in this kit will allow for a scrapbook page to be designed for that special man in your life--for Father's Day, a birthday, or any occasion!
• Manly Digital Scrapbooking Kit by Darleen Araujo

iPhone for Graphics?

Wednesday May 27, 2009
I came across an article today about how the June 1 cover of The New Yorker was created on an iPhone using the $4.99 Brushes drawing application for iPhone. Over on Flickr, there is a gallery with thousands of examples of iPhone art created with the Brushes app, and I must say I am impressed.

So how many of you have an iPhone or an iPod Touch that you use for drawing graphics and/or photo editing? Can it really be taken seriously as a graphics tool? What are your favorite iPhone apps for graphics and photography?

Free PhotoTools 2 Lite Photoshop Plugin

Tuesday May 26, 2009
Today onOne Software announced the release of a free Lite version of PhotoTools 2 Standard Edition.

"PhotoTools 2 Standard Edition utilizes the power of Photoshop Actions to provide a range of imaging tools including effects, corrections and production automation in a full-featured interface... PhotoTools 2 Lite includes 14 of the most popular effects found in both PhotoTools 2 Standard Edition and PhotoTools 2 Professional Edition. The 14 effects available in PhotoTools 2 Lite range from reproducing classic photographic effects like Bleach Bypass and Cross Process, to reproducing film stock such as Kodachrome and Velvia, to modern effects including automatic skin smoothing."

The free PhotoTools 2 Lite plugin works with Adobe Photoshop CS2, CS3 and CS4 on Windows and Mac and is available for immediate download today.
• onOne Software Free PhotoTools 2 Lite Plugin for Photoshop

On this Site:
• onOne PhotoFrame 4 Professional Review
• About Plug-ins, Filters, and Extensions

Graphics Challenge: Black and White to Color

Monday May 25, 2009
This week we are going to take some old black and white images and interpret what they may have looked like in color with a Black and White to Color theme. We've dug up a couple of starting images from The Library of Congress on flickr for you to use, so try your hand at coloring some history! Read more...

Get the Graphics Software Newsletter

Friday May 22, 2009
If you don't get the Graphics Software newsletter, have a peek at the most recent issues to see what you're missing.
• 4/30/09: Prim and Purple Kit, Photoshop Peeves & Solutions
• 5/7/09: Fluid Mask Review, Transparent Special Effects
• Sign Up for the Free Weekly Newsletter

Beta Test ACDSee Pro for Mac

Wednesday May 20, 2009
Today, ACD Systems opened beta testing for ACDSee Pro Photo Manager for Mac, a new professional photography workflow software built from the ground up for Mac.

The initial beta release of ACDSee Pro for Mac will focus on the fundamentals of browsing, viewing, organizing and printing images. Additional features planned for subsequent beta releases of ACDSee Pro for Mac include professional non-destructive image processing; digital asset management leveraging IPTC, XMP, and EXIF metadata standards; browsing of unconnected devices; and integration with Mac OS X technologies including Quick Look, Cover Flow and Spotlight.

The full release of the product is anticipated for release in 2010. At that time, ACDSee Pro for Mac will be available for a free 30-day trial and for purchase at $169.99 (USD).

Get it: ACDSee Pro for Mac

Also from ACD Systems:
• ACDSee 9 Photo Manager
• ACD FotoSlate 3.0 Photo Printing Software
• Canvas 9 Professional Edition

View an Index Sheet of Pictures with Mac OS X

Monday May 18, 2009
Many people don't realize there is a built in feature for quickly viewing pictures in Mac OS X. You don't need to open iPhoto or install any third party software to see a thumbnail index or a quick slide show of your pictures--just use the built in Slideshow feature.
• How to View an Index Sheet of Pictures with Mac OS X

Graphics Challenge: Down the Drain

Sunday May 17, 2009
We're in the sewer this week with a theme of Down the Drain. We give you free reign over the starting images, use them as you will, the only rule is to use at least two of them. Flush your troubles away and don't get drained as you work on this week's challenge! Read more...

Using the Snipping Tool in Windows Vista

Friday May 15, 2009

The Snipping Tool in Windows Vista.
Before Windows Vista, if you wanted a screen shot you had to use the less than intuitive method of pressing the print screen key and pasting the screen shot into a graphics program to add markup and save it. With Windows Vista, Microsoft has included a utility called the Snipping Tool to make capturing screen shots easier.
• Capture a Screen Shot with the Snipping Tool in Windows Vista

Also see:
• What is a Screen Shot?
• Capture a Screen Shot with Mac OS X
• Capture a Screen Shot with XnView
• Capture a Screen Shot with Windows (any version)
• More Tools & Tips for Taking Screen Shots

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