Digital Whisper: Free Trial Memberships and a New Kit, “Oz”

Posted on May 16, 2013 by su

Well, hi, there, you all! LOL Long time, no post! I know, but, it was time well-spent! I trust all is well with each and every one of you!

A few posts back, I told you about Digital Whisper. DW is a Ning group I have had the distinct pleasure of being a member at for several years now. It is a group designed primarily for the digital artist. We have groups, like Dark Whispers, Whispered Dreamers, Photography, and Walking on Water, a spiritual-based group for example, with weekly to monthly challenges. We have special events, such as Spring Fling, the Holidays and other special times. There are tips, techniques, tutorials and tons of camaraderie and support. You don’t have to do any of the challenges or you can attempt them all. There’s even a nice a gallery for your art. You ought to see some of the art that these talented folks can create!

Wait! You can! As DW is a private group, a membership is required. But, you get to sample things first. When you join, you get your first whole month FREE! After that, if you think we have what you want, the membership is only $15.00 for a year. Being a private group, this gives anyone who is interested a chance to come on over, see what we have to offer, and decide for yourself if this is for you. Neat, huh? So, now, ya’ll can come see for your selves what it is I have been yammering about for the past 4 years! LOL

I really hope you can, at least, check it out. One of the things I am real proud of is that the site owner, Patti, has implemented something new. We have made a kit for the purpose of turning folks on to our art. Ning isn’t free anymore, so, the cost of the kits, and other goodies, is to cover those dues and other fees to operate DW. Patti has set up an Etsy shop for this purpose, Elegant Whispers.

We just wrapped up a kit based on “Oz: the Great and Powerful”, the new Disney movie. It is humongous! We did two kits, in fact. One is designed more for the scrapbooker. The other, is a more compact version of some of the same things. In the ‘Midi-sized kit’, we have added collage sheets and smaller-sized pieces, designed with the collage artist, the art journaler or the ATC lover, in mind. In both, there are digital papers, elements of all kinds, frames, mattes, characters and stamps. There is something for all! Here is one preview:

Another:

I got to work on this one! It was definitely a team effort, one we plan to continue. We already have plans for more epic kits on the drawing board, so, keep an eye open!

“Oz” can be purchased right now and downloaded for you to get started creating your digital masterpiece. Check it out!

And, come see us! At any given moment, you can find so many things to become enlightened to or involved in! During the month of May, in honor of Mother’s Day, for example, we have a challenge for mother-daughters to participate in as a couple. Of course, this extends to any female-female relationship – sisters, aunts, etc. What would you and your mom/daughter/sister/aunt, come up with, artistically? You can just do a nice layout or you can get down and dirty! LOL We are also doing a four-part Fairy Tale segment, where four rather obsolete Grimm Brothers fairy tales are read, one at a time. Then, you create from your interpretation. It’s so cool! Kym is our resident idea lady and she has a surplus of ideas – all culminating in some very inspirational and fun projects for you.

Don’t take my word, come see us at Digital Whisper!

Oh, and stay tuned. With work on the Oz kit, I took advantage of the creative time and worked on my own style. I have made some goodies for you that I will post later today or tomorrow.

Until then,

SMILE!

Hugs,

Freebie – Final Parts ‘Spring is in the Air’

Posted on April 22, 2013 by su

Greetings, folks! I have had such a busy day – I should have posted last night! LOL

I want to give you the final two(2) parts to the collaboration kit with Miss Edna’s Place for this month. I’ve had to a make decision with my time and priorities. So, these parts really are the ‘final parts’. I am discontinuing my collaborating with Miss Edna. It is not an end, however, just an end to that part of things. I’m evolving. After 5 – 6 years learning Photoshop, I feel I am comfortable enough to start identifying a style for myself. As art, particularly painting, sketching and fiber work, like weaving, has always been near and dear to me, I am working to come up with a style that has the look of hand done works. Folk Art has always intrigued me. I’ve done some crafts in this style. I painted some little side tables and wooden boxes and other things, in the Primitive style of home-made resources and applications. Milk paint is one example. While original pieces can’t be duplicated digitally, some of the techniques can be created with certain steps. That is what I am working to develop.

I will still be here and posting on this blog. I want to share what I learn and make! I am also, for now, continuing at Digital Whisper. DW is my inspiration! I feel like a kid in an ‘arts-and-crafts’ class when there. Seeing how others interpret art in their works and learning new techniques is so thrilling! LOL I plan to keep doing tutorials, here, too. It’s a need in me to share something I have learned. There are so many different ways to do things in Photoshop, so much so that, when you are going it alone, grabbing a tip here and a tut there, it’s hard to know what works best for you. You may be shown any number of ways to do something! Not that I am so very advanced, but, I have picked up quite a bit and, now, I am seeing which things are good to know. That is what I try to share.

A good example is the Preset Manager, from a recent post. When I first started with PS, I would load new presets by going into the program file and placing them in the ‘Preset’ folders on my C-drive. That was the way I had learned! I knew no other way! One day, I happened upon a video a lady had done showing how to load her brushes. She used the Preset Manager! I didn’t even know I had one! Once I used it, I never did it any other way! That’s what I mean by knowing what works best for you. By watching enough tutorials, I am beginning to see which ones are good, but, also, the ones that are fantastic. Those, I will share!

So, without further adieu, here are the last two(2) parts of “Spring is in the Air”. Links are beneath the preview.

Part 5

http://suruha.com/download/su_april13/su_SITA_Pt-5.zip

Part 6

http://suruha.com/download/su_april13/su_SITA_Pt-6.zip

Miss Edna’s Preview – Click on image to go to her blog

So, it isn’t ta-ta, it’s ‘stay-tuned’! LOL But, I can’t end this segment without stopping to say how grateful I have been to have had Miss Edna as my co-collaborator! She is the greatest to work with! She’s been a good friend, supporting me even in this decision. We will continue to be friends, as well. We both got such a kick out of the CU kit we did, we might just do another sometime soon!

So, until next time…

Hugs,

Huge Membership Discount at Digital Whisper – Limited Time

Posted on April 19, 2013 by su

From DIGITAL WHISPER!

Welcome to Digital Whisper!

We welcome ALL Digital Artists.

Digital Whisper has several groups that you may choose to join and many have challenges and offer tutorials that help in learning new techniques to grow as an artist.

Weekly Challenges are also posted here on the Main Page if you choose to not join any of our groups.

Master pieces are created everyday and we look forward to seeing all the different styles of Digital Art that our members have to offer.

Digital Whisper is very proud of all the talent we have here so weather you are a newbie or you have been creating for years, we look forward to seeing you create your Master Piece with just a Whisper.

Our regular annual membership fee is $25.00

WE ARE HAVING A SPECIAL, SO IF YOU JOIN DURING THE MONTH OF APRIL ONLY, YOU WILL GET A YEAR FOR $15.00!

This fee is to help keep Digital Whisper active and up to date.

As a member of Digital Whisper we require you follow our “guidelines” which you will find at the top of the page.

If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to send a message todigitalwhisper14@gmail.com

Your Digital Whisper Administrative Team

Easily Install Photoshop Pre-sets – All in One Place

Posted on April 19, 2013 by su

I wrote this tutorial one day after reading another online tutorial for installing brushes via the Adobe files on one’s C-drive. That way works great, cut and dry! But, it adds to the program’s size and, eventually, this can really slow down the loading and performance of the PS program.

Did You Know…?

I want to show you all, once and for all, how easy it is to load presets into Photoshop. This method works for all presets, is semi-permanent and takes very little space on your hard drive. It’s called the ‘Preset Manager’.

(Note: I use CS6. It’s possible that you don’t see all the presets listed in CS6 in Elements. It is my understanding you can access some others by clicking on ‘More’ in Layer styles/effects. This may not be correct, so, the best I can do is tell you to Google installing these. Sorry!)

We already know that a ‘pre-set’ is a brush, style, pattern, color palette, shape, etc. What better way to deal with these than through the Preset Manager(PM). You can access the PM by going to Edit>Presets>Preset Manager.

Or, you can access it by going to any of the preset tools and clicking on the tiny icon at the top on the right.

The Preset Manager

This is where all the action takes place. I have my ‘brush’ manager open. It’s getting full! LOL

Now, obviously, as with the tutorial that inspired me to write this one, you can drop the individual presets into their perspective folders in Adobe’s files on your hard drive. They are inside the program and will be until you manually remove them from that folder. Follow this path, or one similar, on your pc: C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CS6\Presets. But, this adds them to the program ‘permanently’, in a way that makes it load slower. (If you have too many loaded this way, when you try to change or ‘Re-set’ a preset, often, the entire list/menu isn’t viewable.) I would only recommend doing this for special presets that you use all the time – as in every day. By adding them to the PM, they stay in the program until you remove them, but, they don’t count near as much, if anything, against the program as far as taking up space and taking longer to load.

Check out the options you have with the PM:

If you want to load a new preset:

A window will open, then, navigate to the preset you want on your hard drive.

If you want to save an assortment of presets you frequently use, click on the ‘Save Set’ button. (I save the ‘best of’ certain brushes, like ‘clouds’, for example, into one set for frequent use – making sure the designer’s name is on the individual preset for crediting, then, I label the set accordingly and save):

First, click on the preset you want to save. If there are multiple presets, like if you just created a set of 24 gorgeous rose brushes, you need to click on the first preset, then, hold down the Shift key and click on the last preset you want. All of the presets in between should be highlighted, too. Or, you can hold Ctrl/Command and click on each preset, one at a time. Either way, when you have selected all the presets you wish to save, click on the ‘Save Set’ button. (Some buttons will appear ‘grayed-out’ until you select at least one of the presets.) Navigate to the place on your hard drive where you want to save and name it something catchy. Be sure to include your name or initials in the title! Click Save.

Similarly, to Rename or Delete a preset, or presets, highlight the specific preset(s) and click on the appropriate button:

WHEN YOU DELETE A PRESET FROM THE PRESET MANAGER IT DOES NOT GO AWAY FOREVER! It is just no longer in your manager. If you need it again, go through the steps to ‘Load’ it again.

When you are done with all your presetting, click ‘Done’.

I use the term ‘preset’ throughout this tutorial. Replace it with whatever you like – Brush, Style, Custom Shape, etc. The same PM can be used for any and all presets, except Actions. Here’s how! At the top of the PM is a drop down menu.

You can go to any of the other presets via the same manager. (Exception: Actions – no PM.)

So! Any time you want to know how to load a brush or a pattern, maybe, the only thing you need to remember is the Preset Manager. You don’t even have to reboot PS when you add a preset via the PM! Jus’ keep on goin’! LOL

Any time I can find a way to expedite the actions I perform with Photoshop, it is good. Keystroke shortcuts are real helpful in performing many tasks quickly. We haven’t learned any new one’s lately, so, how about this one?

Key-Stroke Shortcut

Ctrl/Cmd>’E’

This keystroke shortcut is one you can use to merge selected layers together. Say, you are working on a layout and you have created the textured background. With all the blending modes and adjustments, like Levels and Color Balance, often, when done, you may want to merge those layers together. This can save space in the Layers Palette for the rest of the layout. There are other ways to Merge – right-click and select Merge Layers, Flatten, Merge Down, etc. This shortcut allows you to select multiple layers (hold Ctrl/Cmd and click on each layer you want to include in merge), then, hold Ctrl/Cmd and hit ‘E’. Takes care of that! LOL

I hope these things help you! If you have any questions, please leave a comment and I will respond ASAP.

Thank you so much for your visit!

Freebie, “Spring is in the Air”… Finally!

Posted on April 18, 2013 by su

At long last! I was finally able to finish these parts of the new kit, “Spring is in the Air”. You won’t believe all that tried to get in the way. Well, for one, my daughter was home yesterday afternoon. I started talking to her about ‘things’ since I am growing more and more concerned for her and her actions. It went very well! Turns out, she wants help. It’s hard as a parent because, too often, we sound like parents! But, we were able to connect for a few hours yesterday and, folks, the news is hopeful! She all but asked for help. I’m really pleased that she is able to reach that first step. She loves her babies. She has, and will get more, help just by asking for it – from other family members to professional help. I don’t mean to go all personal on ya’ll, but, those who read this blog regularly, kind of know what is happening. I wear my heart on my sleeve! Though there is a time an a a place, I think everyone understands. We’re human! So, thanks for being like that, ya’!! I feel so much better! The hard part is ahead of us, but, I am hopeful!

Anyway, I took time for that, then, when I went to package up the kit parts, for some reason, I couldn’t create a “New Folder”! I clicked on the little button. Nothing! I was getting scared! I thought maybe it was because my drives are getting close to maximum capacity! I only have around 100 gigs left on both EHD’s. Once, when they got real full, folders disappeared! They didn’t go anywhere, but, they didn’t show up when I opened a window. There was just the file name and an empty spot! I Googled it and found it was due to my drives being so full! I chunked some stuff and they returned!

Thinking this may be the problem this time, I went in search of some files I knew I could stand to toss out. When I first started with the digital design, I was careless and downloaded any and every thing I found online. Now, as part of my regular maintenance, I have been going through and deleting stuff. As I was scrolling through some files, I came upon a folder that said it held 3.25 gigs. Three gigs is a huge folder! I looked at it and found it was a folder of images from the “Library of Congress”(LOC). But, why would it be so large? I started looking through the folder and, lo and behold, the better part of the images were ‘.TIFF’ files! .TIFFs are the largest of all the file types! They are the most resolute and therefore the best to maintain an image’s resolution and purity. But, they is humongous! LOL

I used Photoshop to change them all to .JPGS. (There were probably 200 of these TIFF files!) It was really easy! What I did was to create an action. I clicked on ‘Create New Action’ and went through the steps to save one of the images to a .JPG, then, closed it. Then, I stopped recording the action. After that, it was just a matter of opening a .TIFF, then, running the action on it. It automatically changed the files to .JPG’s, saved them and closed them, too! There is a way to do this as a ‘batch’, but, it requires creating a ‘new folder’ of those files first. I couldn’t open a New Folder! So, I would open a group at a time of a bout 20 – 25. It took me about 10 minutes to change and save, then, delete all the .TIFFs.

The lesson here is look at file types when downloading! Though .TIFFS are the best quality all around, for my use, .JPGs work as well as take up less than half the space! After I converted the .TIFFS to .JPGS, the file size was just a little over a gig! So, I saved about 2 gigs’ space! Whee! If anyone wants the specifics on the action, leave me a comment and I will post a “how-to” for ya! M’kay?

In spite of all the interference, I like the way this kit turned out. It isn’t done completely in the ‘artsy’ style, but, I did do some things that way. I hope you like! Here are the next two(2) parts, Pt-3 and Pt-4. Click on the links below to download. I know you have already been to Miss Edna’s Place, already, by now, but, just in case, I have included her preview. Click on it to go to her blog for her parts.

“Spring is in the Air”

Part 3 – http://suruha.com/download/su_april13/su_SITA_Pt-3.zip

Part 4 – http://suruha.com/download/su_april13/su_SITA_Pt-4.zip

Miss Edna’s Preview

(click on image to go to blog)

You know, I had this image, in my mind, of me in ‘retirement’. Though I have never had a lot of money, I found a way to budget to where I have what I need and can still ‘play’ a little bit. But, having the grandchildren and my daughter live with me just happened. It just happened that things weren’t all that great for my daughter as a mom. It just happened that I had to step into the role of ‘mother-figure’. Things just happened! But, I wouldn’t have it any other way! I think of my own grandmother. She lived in another town, with my aunt. She came to visit several times a year and we went to see her about as many times. We weren’t real close, but, she was grandma! I look back now and realize, it is what you make it. I’m a much more active granny to my g-children, but, that is only due to circumstances. I just want my g-children to know me while they are growing up. My other g-children and I don’t see each other as often, but, I speak to them on the phone and make all my time for them when they are here. It’s all in what you have going on. Maybe my retirement doesn’t have me traveling or hanging out in the hammock reading a good book, but, that’s okay. I know some little children, running around these parts, growing up and becoming decent adults. And, they know me!

Until next Monday, or sooner,

Hugs,

My Sincerest Apologies

Posted on April 16, 2013 by su

Hello, folks! I guess you have noticed by now that I am late with my part of this month’s collaboration kit with Miss Edna’s Place. I had literally slapped some things together to finish it in time and decided against it. I can’t do that just to make a deadline. It isn’t fair to you. As it is, this isn’t easy for Miss Edna, either, I’m sure. I’m nearly done and will post it, if not this afternoon, then tomorrow. I appreciate your understanding so much! Ya’ll are the best!

I’ve had to re-think my priorities in lieu of the way things have panned out with my grandchildren. In my last post, I think it was, I mentioned, too, that Digital Whisper is back up and running. I have always been so inspired there. The support is awesome and, while I am one who handles two ‘technique’ groups writing tutorials, I always learn something. Because of my exposure, once again, to the digi-art community, my creativity is making a transformation to a more ‘artsy’ style. I am trying to work that in to scrapbooking. It is working wonderfully, too! You will see! LOL

In between nursing my g-daughter’s toothache and watching as my g-son impresses me with his game-playing expertise, I have been doing some experimenting with new concepts. I have even been making more of my own ‘tools’ – brushes, patterns, overlays, blends, etc. I have become quite a fan of art-journaling because of the hand-worked style and the propensity for a more original design outcome. So, this will all be for the best – I hope.

In the meantime, though, all of this is wreaking havoc with my usual routine. I am really a creature of habit, but, once I get my routine better established, I will be fine. The children are my first priority. Period! They have been put on the back burner for so long, I am working hard to make them feel better and to let them know that they are important. My god and goddess! The response is awesome! My granddaughter is doing 90% better at school already! My grandson is also turning in to quite the young man. After them, my art and my scrapping is next. I will always love digi-scrapping, but, I have to flex my artistic muscles with my art, too. If I don’t take time for myself, all of this will have been in vain.

I promise to keep you all in my loop. You mean so much to me. Without your wonderful responses and kind comments, I would never had made it this far. Besides, it has been you and this community that have given me what I needed to become involved in design and I want to give back. I have a good handle on the Photoshop program after 5-6 years of learning and practicing daily. From here, all I can do is spread my wings and soar! I want you all to come along.

Once I get this installation of parts for the monthly kit to you, I have a really good tutorial for ya’ll. Not only that, but, I will start sharing my creations of the brushes and other resources I have made. I think you’ll be pleased.

So, let me get going and I will return later with my ‘parts’. Again, I really do appreciate everyone’s patience with me as I make this transition. Well, both transitions, actually. One, from granny to ‘mom’ again, and, two, to a more artistic style. Whee! It’s all good!

Until then,

Smile!

Hugs,