Welcome Pattern Patter Team Members!

Welcome Team Members! 

I have decided to create a blog for the team. This blog is different frompatternpatter.blogspot.com. This is a blog for us - I will post tutorials on social media, Photoshop, seo, and so on. Do you have something to contribute? Have a request? Contact me! 

PHOTOSHOP TUTORIAL

Photoshop Elements 11 Editing Tutorial

Photoshop Elements 11 is the home version of Adobe's photo editing software.
Amazon sells it for about $75.00. HERE
A new version is also available (Photoshop Elements 12) (approx. $65.00) HERE

Since my experience is with Photoshop Elements 11 and earlier versions, my tutorial will be based on the version I use. 

My tutorial begins with scanning the patterns. I have an Epson Perfection V30 scanner. This scanner allows you to set-up profiles of different sizes for scan area. For example, The profile in the picture is Large Format Vogue, 7.7"x10". I scan at 200 dpi using office mode.
The small file picture at the bottom right is File Settings. This is where you will enter the file name and choose the destination
For Vogue I would Type Vogue(space) extension 001. My destination is always the same. I have a file called
AAA Pattern Scans. This file is kept empty until I scan. After I scan a batch, I go through and edit the file name. I change the file from Vogue 001 to
Vogue 1768 Size 12. (Back of pattern ends in (-1) When all of the file names have been changed, I move them my Pattern Scans Folder.

Now on to editing! This is the screen you see when you open Photoshop. You can choose the amount of control you have by selecting Quick, Guided, or Expert Level. I find Expert to be easier as you have more control.

Open File to be edited

Open the file to be edited. Click on
    Image>Resize>Image Size
Reduce the width to 900 Pixels. Click
File>Save for Web
That saves the image as is in the correct size for the picture slots on the listing page.

Crop Area Selected

Creating the Edited Image

Cropped Photo

Click on Image>Crop Select the picture that will be the focus of the edited image. Crop the side bar, etc.
The image below is the image that will be the base of your finished photo.



Next the background needs to be selected. There are several methods that you can use, I am just showing you my method.

In the picture to the left, you will see a red arrow. I will be using these arrows to show you what tool to use.

Tool Options

The tool here is called Quick Selection Tool.  The picture to the right shows the options for the tool. For this purpose I use the basic selection tool. Make sure that "add" is selected, the slid bar changes the size of the selection tool. Start selecting the white background.



Don't worry if part of the picture other than the white gets selected. We can fix that later! Once all of the white is selected, change the tool from add to subtract. reduce the size of the tool. zoom in close to deselect any areas of the picture that should remain after the background is replaced.






















Now the fun part.

Go to EDIT>FILL SELECTION>



Choose White at 100%

Now that the image is cleaned up, time for some fine tuning.  Go to Enhance>Auto Levels and click. The picture will most likely darken. But - the colors get richer too. Now Go to Enhance>Adjust Lighting>Brightness & Contrast. Increase the brightness. Now that the lighting is corrected, go to Enhance>Adjust Color>Adjust Hue & Saturation. Fine tune the colors. 

Now the background is white, the colors are corrected. Next is sizing the image and the canvas.

Resizing and Adding a Canvas

Determining the size of your image is important. It has taken me a long time to get the size right. I still find edited photos that need some major resizing! The final size with the canvas will be 835 pixels square. 

Go to Image>Resize>Image Size. On most patterns the height is the larger dimension. Make the largest dimension 750 pixels. The other dimension will automatically adjust with it. 

Now add the canvas go to: Image>Resize>Canvas Size. Change the measurement from Inches to Pixels. Enter 835 in both the width and height and hit ok. Now take a look at your image. Is everything where it should be? Are you happy with it? If so, It's time to Save.

Saving Your Edited Image

To save the image, Go to File>SaveForWeb
You will then see this window:

There are so many drop down menus and buttons on this page.  - Ignore them!

Hit Save. The Save window will pop up, choose your destination and click save. You're done.

Started with this

The Finished Product! 

 ended up with....