More Extractions in Digital Scrapbooking Layouts

Using Extractions in Digital Layouts: Brushes

©Bonnie Covel, created in Photoshop 7

1. Press "Ctrl" and use your mouse to click on the extraction layer in the Layers Palette.
2. Choose Edit > Define Brush. Type a name for the brush and click OK.
3. Select the Brush tool in the toolbox. Open the Brushes window (Window > Brushes) and select your extraction brush.
4. In the "Brush Presets" menu, set the Master Diameter to whatever size you wish your extraction brush to be (this may take some experimenting). In this example, my shovel brush was set at 181 pixels.
5. In the "Brush Tip Shape" menu, experiment with different settings until you have a brush you like. I used these settings for the shovels border:
   • Spacing: 226%
   • Shape Dynamics: Everything at zero and off, except for "Angle Jitter." I set Angle Jitter to 29%, so all of my shovels were not going the same direction. (Another option I use often is to leave Angle Jitter at 0% and in the Angle Jitter Control drop down box, I choose "Direction." This angles the brush in the direction the mouse is moving.)
   • About Graphics Software has in-depth information on brushes for many programs.
6. Run your brush around the edge of your layout (or wherever you want it to be). For straight lines, hold the "Shift" key, click on your layout, then click on a second spot and the brush will fill in with a straight line. Experiment with size, spacing, and "Brush Tip Shape" options.

• Using Extractions in Digital Layouts: Background Blending
• Using Extractions in Digital Layouts: Movement
• Using Extractions in Digital Layouts: The Pop Out
• Using Extractions in Digital Layouts: Nonsensical
• Using Extractions in Digital Layouts: Patterned Background
• Using Extractions in Digital Layouts: Brushes
• Using Extractions in Digital Layouts: More Brushes
• Using Extractions in Digital Layouts: Elements