Photoshop Brushes: Fun to Create and to Use

brushes.jpg

Are you new to Adobe Photoshop? The program is huge, and powerful but often scary to new users. Knowing how to create your own brushes is a handy trick; it helps you to personalize your images and other creations.

Photoshop brushes are easy to create, and if you save your new brush, you can use it in many of your projects.

1. Why Create Your Own Photoshop Brushes?

The primary reason to save something as a Photoshop brush is so that you can use the item again at a click.

The item you want to reuse could be as simple as a digital signature, or a watermark which you want to add to your images before you post them online, so that you display ownership.

Perhaps you’re creating a website design, and want to create a brush from a business’s stylized logo. You can use your new brush in the site design to add coherence.

You’ll find lots of uses for your own brushes if you’re a hobbyist. Whether you just want to add some pizazz and flair to your images, or create a complete design for stationery or a photo album.

If you’re into scrapbooking, creating your own brushes lets you create outstanding original designs which will give you great pleasure and will draw lots of compliments.

2. Create a New Brush in Minutes

You can create new brushes from scratch, or you can create them from images you’ve already designed. (If you’re using others’ images, be sure that you have the rights to do this.)

To create a brush, create a new document, and create the image you want to use as a brush. Your image must be in black, on a white background.

Drag a marquee selection around the image, and choose Define Brush Preset from the Edit menu. Type a name for your new brush, and you’re done. Now check your brushes palette — your new brush will appear at the end.

Get Social, Bookmark Us!!:
  • blinkbits
  • BlinkList
  • blogmarks
  • co.mments
  • del.icio.us
  • digg
  • Fark
  • Furl
  • Ma.gnolia
  • NewsVine
  • Reddit
  • Smarking
  • Spurl

Photography WordPress blog: get the plugins you need

Got a photography blog in WordPress?

You may already be using some great plugins, here’s a wonderful list of 20 you should consider.

I love the All in One SEO pack, and install it on every blog. It has great customization options.

20 Amazing Wordpress Plugins | Flash, Design, Vector, Photoshop, Adobe Tutorials | GraphicMania.net suggests:

All in One SEO Pack

Automatically optimizes your Wordpress blog for Search Engines (Search Engine Optimization). This plugin also helps you avoid duplicate content found in blogs. With this pack, you can easily modify and tweak everything.”

Try it.

Get Social, Bookmark Us!!:
  • blinkbits
  • BlinkList
  • blogmarks
  • co.mments
  • del.icio.us
  • digg
  • Fark
  • Furl
  • Ma.gnolia
  • NewsVine
  • Reddit
  • Smarking
  • Spurl

Digital SLR: Getting started

If you’re new to digital SLR cameras, and are collecting information for your purchase, there’s a lot to decide.

I’m looking to buy a new digital SLR camera too, and have been collecting information for a couple of weeks. Let’s just say that I’ve managed to confuse myself. :-)

This article Factors to Consider when Choosing a Digital SLR Camera – photo.net gives an excellent summary of things to take into account when you decide.

One of my big concerns is the expandability of the camera I buy. I know that I’ll be buying more lenses over time, so I want to get the right system, which will grow with me for years to come.

On this point, the article suggests:

“The question of system expandability and support comes up if you intend to get really serious about photography and need (and can afford) exotic lenses or very high performance camera bodies. In that case you’re certainly better off looking at Canon and Nikon cameras. For example, both have 400mm f/2.8, 500mm f/4 and 600mm f/4 lenses (with stabilization), while Sony, Pentax and Olympus do not.”

I’m leaning towards a Nikon, at the moment. :-)

Get Social, Bookmark Us!!:
  • blinkbits
  • BlinkList
  • blogmarks
  • co.mments
  • del.icio.us
  • digg
  • Fark
  • Furl
  • Ma.gnolia
  • NewsVine
  • Reddit
  • Smarking
  • Spurl

Next Page »