Overlays in PSP9

[DMurray407]

I just love some of the new kits I've been seeing that include overlays. The only thing is that usually, I'll look at the overlay and say "well, I really like this, but I wish it had/didn't have . . . ". So I decided that I should learn to make my own. I did a google search for PSP overlays and found a few good tutorials for making overlays on individual layouts and it doesn't sound too hard. The best tut I found is for PSP6 and is just lowering the opacity of the "overlay" image (ie: a photo), but what if I want to make an overlay, say 12x12, with brushes and word art, leaving an "opening" for a photo, and save it as a .png to use again (though I tend not to do that, but maybe I would) or to use in another program like Fotofusion. Am I making sense?

Does anyone know of a PSP9 tutorial for doing this, or have any tricks to share. I don't think it should be too hard, but it might take me a while to figure it out on my own.

Thanks!

[valeri]

I don't know of a tutorial for overlays in PSP 9 persay, because they are each different. I would say a good tutorial for learning your brushes would help more, then you would be able to use the different techniques to create your overlays. Emma has a tutorial on the Brush varience (http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/university/tutorials/psp_brushpalette_ep.shtml) pallett, which is invaluable information for getting your brushes to do all the fun different things.

For word art, I recommend the class by tina Chambers, DSU 195 (http://store.digitalscrapbookplace.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=4&products_id=734) it is only $15 and you learn so much! great value!! Just a sample of the kinds of things you can learn, see this quick class (http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/university/tutorials/wordart01.shtml) which is free.

Overlays are not as easy as they might seem, and it just takes a lot of trial and error, so hang in there!!

[Emma]

I think they're pretty new...Lauren teaches in her PS 311 class and I in my upcoming PSE 361 class, but nothing for PSP yet (would be 331 if we had it)

Anyway, open the overlays you like and learn from them. Basically what you're saying is right on: use brushes and fonts to create them, then save as PNG files.

I just create mine right on my layout, on many new layers. If I want to share I'll put just those layers into a PNG, others I just leave on the PSP file.

The brushes tutorial will help. As you start to create your overlay, keep asking questions as they arise: we're all here and happy to help! Better than a tutorial ;)

[DMurray407]

Thanks Emma!

[Emma]

Have you had a chance to mess with it or read the Brush Variance tutorial yet?

Let us know when you get started, and what you learn. It's fun!

[DMurray407]

Nope-I haven't had a chance yet. We had my little grandaughters overnight (ages 3 and 6) so I've been just a little tied up. I did get some great new photos of them at the MN Science Museum. Maybe tomorrow(Mon).
I will be working on it this week, though.