Tips for Scrapping on a Mac?

[MsJessica]

Hi ladies,

I know there are lots of us out there using Macs, so lets put our thinking caps together and add some of the most helpful tips you have for scrapping on a Mac, including but not limited to working with iPhoto, what software to use, organizational tips, etc.

Looking forward to seeing what we come up with!

[>>aruaL<<]

I hate iPhoto, I ended up pulling all of my photos out of it and I just have my own folder structure set up that I use to pull photos from. It crashed allllllllllllllllllll the time. It was starting to get ridiculously annoying and a huge waste of my time. Bummer too cause I use to really like iPhoto....

[MsJessica]

That's really too bad about iPhoto - any idea why it was crashing so much? Just too many photos or something else? I haven't used it much yet...

[>>aruaL<<]

Jessica, I'm not sure why it crashed so much but I know I wasn't alone in the matter. I found many people online complaining about the same issue. Whenever I had Photoshop open at the same time, it was never a good thing. I could use iphoto alone, if photoshop was closed, and it worked fine most of the time... but I like to scrap with my photos accessible at the same time, so that just didn't work for me.

[debilou]

I never liked Iphoto either. It's been over a 18 months since I've tried it, but, I do remember one MAJOR problem was either seeing all black or all white .png files..

Your COULND'T see them in iphoto.

I am very happy with Adobe bridge, and, now with CS5 - and it's mini bridge - which let's you open up files directly in CS5 - I think it was the best choice for me.

[debilou]

And, basic tips are: in Windows PC's you will see the

CTRL +
or
ALT +

on Macs

The same shortcuts would be

CMD +
OPTION +

[jennilynn10]

This is a GREAT thread! Thanks Laura & Debi for the tips. And thanks for starting it Jess. I just switched to a MacBook.

I was wondering about iPhoto and where to put my photos. I guess eventually they will all go on an external hard drive and I will just create a file structure based on photos and digi-kits. I used to use ACDSee and always liked it. I am thinking now of trying to learn Adobe Bridge with my CS5. I hope it is not too difficult!

[MsJessica]

so far, I've been using iPhoto - I like it for certain things, like publishing things to Facebook and that sort of thing. I've often been terrible about it and I have uploaded two albums in the last two days because it's so easy.

[>>aruaL<<]

This is a GREAT thread! Thanks Laura & Debi for the tips. And thanks for starting it Jess. I just switched to a MacBook.

I was wondering about iPhoto and where to put my photos. I guess eventually they will all go on an external hard drive and I will just create a file structure based on photos and digi-kits. I used to use ACDSee and always liked it. I am thinking now of trying to learn Adobe Bridge with my CS5. I hope it is not too difficult!

I have all of my digi-supplies and photos on external hard drives. I MUCH prefer it this way. I also use Bridge (Im on CS4... soon to be CS5) and I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE Bridge... it's easy :-)

[MsJessica]

I'm trying to decide if it's worth the money for CS5, even with an academic discount. I downloaded a trial of Pixelmator last night, so we'll see how that works for me, and then I'll have to make that decision!!

[>>aruaL<<]

I haven't ever heard of Pixelmator.. what is that?
I loveeee my CS4... and can't wait to looveeee CS5 too.. hehe. I used the academic discount too.
I learned this weekend that my brother uses photoshop.. or tries to. hehe....

[webfrau]

I use PSE8 which on a mac comes with Bridge CS4. I love Bridge, it's so easy to use. It was worth switching to mac just for that. :)

[MsJessica]

Pixelmator is a Mac-only image editting program. So far I have found it pretty similar to photoshop (at least, CS2) so we'll see - as I said, I downloaded the free version, so we'll see how it goes.

[MsJessica]

I use PSE8 which on a mac comes with Bridge CS4. I love Bridge, it's so easy to use. It was worth switching to mac just for that. :)

So, tell me about Bridge - I HATED Bridge in CS2 :)

[webfrau]

Lauren has a great tutorial on her blog about bridge and smart collections which is what I mainly use.
http://create4u.blogspot.com/2008/11/technique-tuesday-smart-collections-in.html

I believe this appeared in CS4.
I don't tag or keyword any of my scrapping stuff. I just point Bridge at my scrapbooking folder and tell it to search for what I'm after. I find I'm using a much bigger variety of items than I used to, finding things I'd forgotten I had.

[windstorm]

Webfrau thanks for that link, I was looking for it... finally got my pictures organized and can start on my digi supplies!


#1 tip - Backup ooh did I mention backup... lol

[MsJessica]

Well, I started trying to make my first layout in Pixelmator. Great program, easy to use. No layer styles. Which means - no drop shadows. There are lots of things that you can work around, but a lack of drop shadows is kind of a problem for digital scrapbooking!!!

So, now - I'm DLing a trial of CS5 and I'm gonna talk to hubby about whether we make that expenditure. I hope so!

[debilou]

Jessica, I would miss a ton a layer styles but drop shadows would now be one of them, you could make your own.

1. if you simply duplicate the layer - move this layer below the layer you want to shadow.
2. I'm not sure if you can do this, but if Photoshop CMD or CTL CLick the thumbnail, so you get a selection of the contents of the layer - And, fill the layer with A medium grey - or a color to match your scrap layout.
3. Go to Filter > Blur > Gaussiun Blur - Blur the pixels enough so you don't reconginze the object.
4. now move the shadow just enough to the right and down a bit so you have a shadow.
I use the down and right arrow keys (while I'm on the move tool) (it's called nudge).


Another free ware Scrapbooking Editor is called GIMP.. it is pretty close to Photo shop Elements.. you might try it... I've personally never tried it - I don't know if it will run on a Mac, but it might work for you.

[debilou]

Well, I started trying to make my first layout in Pixelmator. Great program, easy to use. No layer styles. Which means - no drop shadows. There are lots of things that you can work around, but a lack of drop shadows is kind of a problem for digital scrapbooking!!!

So, now - I'm DLing a trial of CS5 and I'm gonna talk to hubby about whether we make that expenditure. I hope so!


Oh, also, on CS5 are either of you in school, you could use an academic discount.

[MsJessica]

We're actually both going back to school - so that is something I'm looking for. Jenni also gave me information about upgrading if you change platforms, and that should be pretty affordable as well...so there is hope! Thank you :)

[jennilynn10]

Got my new CS5 today and installed it on my Mac. Some very funky things are happening! It doesn't "look" right when it opens. The work space is not working! There is no background - the menu bars and tool bars are there, but no background - just an empty space where it's still my screen wallpaper. Help!

[MsJessica]

My trial is doing that - I thin it just all floats. Do file new or open something - and then you can stretch it out to hide your desktop. I did that cause I found the desktop distracting. It should all work perfectly - just a new look (that I could do without). Pixelmator didn't even have as much anchoring it on the sides - that was really freaky!

[jennilynn10]

My trial is doing that - I thin it just all floats. Do file new or open something - and then you can stretch it out to hide your desktop. I did that cause I found the desktop distracting. It should all work perfectly - just a new look (that I could do without). Pixelmator didn't even have as much anchoring it on the sides - that was really freaky!

Yay - I did that thanks. I just think there should be a way to reset it somehow. Don't you?

[MsJessica]

I agree! It's very strange.

[debilou]

Simple

Go to Window > application frame

[debilou]

Then Set up all of your panels the way you want them

Go to Workspace > save workspace

I call mine something really unique > debilouworkspace

now they give you some preset workspaces

if you go to Windows > workspace - like what THEY whoever they are
think you would need say for Painting, design, photography, etc

you can use one of them as a template, or just start from scratch..

there isn't a template called Digital Scrapbooking - drats.

but, if you want what I'm using - send me a pm with you email, I'll screen print it for you ok

[jennilynn10]

Thanks Debi! You'd think it would just come set with that as a default. I'd love to have a screen shot of your desktop please!!!

[>>aruaL<<]

Sorry Jennilynn for my delay in getting back to your PM. Glad you got it all fixed now.

I also have my workspace saved with a creative and unique name.... laurasworkspace!
ahahahaha....

Sometimes my workspace ends up missing, not sure why.. and so then I just go back to the window>application frame and I'm good to go again. I think sometimes I accidentally click on things and it makes things go haywire :-)

[debilou]

Laura this version is different.

it automatically saves your last settings.

so, you have to do a reset of Laurasworkspace to get it back.

weird.

and, if you make a change to Laurasworkspace - you have to
go to Workspace > new workspace

and, save Laurasworkspace again

you can't save over laurasworkspace

2 minor differences.

[debilou]

Thanks Debi! You'd think it would just come set with that as a default. I'd love to have a screen shot of your desktop please!!!

it was already coming your way, you knew that....

[>>aruaL<<]

Laura this version is different.

it automatically saves your last settings.

so, you have to do a reset of Laurasworkspace to get it back.

weird.

and, if you make a change to Laurasworkspace - you have to
go to Workspace > new workspace

and, save Laurasworkspace again

you can't save over laurasworkspace

2 minor differences.

Weird... oh well.. minor enough I suppose. I can't wait to get mine! I may go ahead and install the trial while I wait....

[debilou]

Weird... oh well.. minor enough I suppose. I can't wait to get mine! I may go ahead and install the trial while I wait....

why not, I did, as soon as I got my "real copy"

I just had to put in the serial number.

nothing changed.

[jennilynn10]

it was already coming your way, you knew that....

You're too good to me Debi :D

Thanks Laura for your help too!

[allsmilz61772]

Ive never had iphoto crash, but use it more as a photo viewer and dont do much else on it. I have bridge that i use more for scrapping...but its the one that e crassh all the time - i know now that its certain designers and how they save their files, and found a "fix" for it, but havent had the time to use it. I use CS4

[jennilynn10]

Quick scrapping in CS5 on the Mac question: duplicating a File

on the PC I can left click the title bar of a file (jpeg, PSD, whatever) and it will duplicate the file as a copy. It doesn't have this option when I left click on my Mac. How do I duplicate a file - especially an entire layered PSD file - at one time?

[>>aruaL<<]

Im not sure if Im understanding you right.. but if I am...

go to the top IMAGE>DUPLICATE

[jennilynn10]

Im not sure if Im understanding you right.. but if I am...

go to the top IMAGE>DUPLICATE


Thanks Laura - I got it that way. I was just wondering if there was some shorter way - left click or keyboard shortcut. ??? (I have my touch pad set for right click and left click and sometimes I use my mouse too.)

Today was the first day I actually used my CS5 on my Mac. It just has some differences in the default interface and that one left-click duplicate to make a copy. Otherwise, everything went pretty smoothly.

One thing I can't figure out. When I minimize an image, it actually disappears from my Photoshop screen. I can get it other ways, but I'm used to a little box appearing at the bottom of photoshop that represents the minimized item. I'd like that back. Anyone know how?

[debilou]

Go to Window > arrange > float all in window

[jennilynn10]

Go to Window > arrange > float all in window

thanks Debi. I don't know what I'm doing wrong - I tried that already. All the windows float when they are open all the way. Okay - here's what I'm doing. I press the yellow minus button hoping that the image will appear in the bottom of my photoshop frame. But instead, the images leave photoshop and sit on my dock! :help:

[>>aruaL<<]

I guess Im confused as to what is going on... lol! I have all mine as tabs.. so like if I have say 4 files open they all show as tabs across the top... I don't have the red/yellow/green buttons unless Im floating the windows... I hate floating, so I have them all set to tabs. So basically I never have to minimize.. I just click on whatever tab I wanna work on.. if I want to see more than one at a time, then I click the arrange documents icon at the top and I select whatever I need.

So Im assuming you have yours set to floating, if your seeing the colored buttons on each of your files...

[jennilynn10]

I guess Im confused as to what is going on... lol! I have all mine as tabs.. so like if I have say 4 files open they all show as tabs across the top... I don't have the red/yellow/green buttons unless Im floating the windows... I hate floating, so I have them all set to tabs. So basically I never have to minimize.. I just click on whatever tab I wanna work on.. if I want to see more than one at a time, then I click the arrange documents icon at the top and I select whatever I need.

So Im assuming you have yours set to floating, if your seeing the colored buttons on each of your files...

Yes, I do have all mine set to floating. But I think I might use the tabs instead - if I can't figure out how to minimize. Tabs seems like a good option. Thx.

[debilou]

Yes, JL, and, I just sent your the change to your prefernces that you need to make..

Guess I should have read this part first..

So, ignore the first part of the email...

[jennilynn10]

Yes, JL, and, I just sent your the change to your prefernces that you need to make..

Guess I should have read this part first..

So, ignore the first part of the email...

thanks once again Debi! :hug:
I guess I am still having some tiny adjustment pangs when I relapse and want things to act exactly like they do on a PC. But, mostly I LOVE my new MacBook!

[debilou]

No problem JL, there are some differences between the mac and pc.

PLUS you are learning CS5 - so sometimes it's hard to know if the issue is

your MAC or is it CS5...

just keep asking the questions, and don't get frustrated ok?

[jennilynn10]

So, I have just discovered you cannot use Virtual Photographer on a Mac (and also my favorite professional plug in Noiseware Professional by Imagenomic). I am really bummed! I am not a great photographer, and I really heavily on both of those to enhance my photos.

I know Debi - you are excellent at enchancing your photos in photoshop.
Are there any good filters/plug ins for those of us Mac users who just want a quick fix???

[debilou]

I use the on one software plug ins for CS5..

and, Nik plug ins in Lightroom.. love them