Wavy Waves (Photoshop Elements)
Tip of the Week by Jen White on April 12, 2010
Custom Shapes.
Ahhh… if they had a smell, I’m certain they would smell sweet.
In fact, I’m pretty sure Adobe had me in mind when they created the Custom
Shape Picker.
For every time I point my little clicker to the picker, it is as if I’m taking a stroll through the candy store.
Now, some of you are thinking, “Are you serious? Like who is ever going to use the shape of a snail and a
rabbit?” Well, if you blur your eyes, and tilt your head to the side, and raise one arm … HA, just kidding!!
I have to admit that the snail and the rabbit don’t really do much for me either. But most of the other shapes
that Adobe offers can be manipulated into sweet little bits of usefulness – especially for a crazy scrapbooker
like me!
Come along with me as we uncover a popular wavy look in an unlikely place – the Custom Shape Picker.
Introducing Adobe Photoshop Element’s “Sign 11”: The interstate sign.
Step 1: Prepare
* Open a new document (File > New > Blank File) that is 12x12in, 300px/in, RGB Color, and a White
background.
Step 2: Create
* Get the Custom Shape tool. It is nested with the Rectangle tool. In the Options Bar, choose the following
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settings:
o In Geometry Settings, choose Defined Proportions.
o In Shape Picker, choose Sign 11.
o Choose the Create a New Shape Layer icon.
o Color should be black and the Style should be set at None.
* Click on your document and drag so that the entire edge of your shape is outside your document. See
image below. To reposition while dragging, hold down the Space Bar.
Step 3: Adjust
* With the new shape layer active, get the Move tool and make sure Show Bounding Box is checked in the
Options Bar.
* Move your mouse near a corner handle till you see the curved arrows.
* Rotate your shape 90 degrees counter-clockwise.
* Click the check mark or press your Enter key to commit the rotation.
* Click inside the bounding box and drag the shape down and to the left. See image below.
* Right Click (Mac: Ctrl Click) on the shape layer in the Layers panel. Choose Simplify Layer.
Rotating Tip: If you hold down the Shift key while rotating, your shape will rotate in increments of 15 degrees.
Step 4: Decorate
* Open (File > Open) a piece of digital paper.
* Drag your paper onto your document. Holding down the Shift key while dragging will make the paper
land in the center of your document.
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* With the paper layer active, choose Layer > Create Clipping Mask from the Menu Bar.
Step 5: Save
At this point, you should save (File > Save As)
your scrapbook page as a PSD file. Then continue
on to decorate the rest of your scrapbook page.
Consider repeating the process and adding more
waves. Each time you add another wave, try giving it a slight rotation and resizing it.
You’ll be amazed at what you can create with just
one little custom shape!
Credits: Scrapbook page by Jen White. Kit used
was Memories by Vera Lim.
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