the Graficalicus web & graphics workshop newsfeed

Combining Effects for a Dreamy faded image

webmaster@graficalicus.com (Graffi)

I got to noodling around again with some of the actions I've got loaded into my Photoshop Elements 6, and arrived at an interesting multi-effect in just four steps.

Video Tutorial: Adding Drama to a Boring Sky

webmaster@graficalicus.com (Graffi)

Anothertechnique I found while surfing around, trying to find new ways of sprucing up some of my vacation photos from this summer. This one is a snap of an old church in Boston (right around the corner from the original Cheers, if you're interested) and the hazy sky didn't really do much for it. The technique here really makes the blue pop out of the haze, and adds a bit of depth and contrast to the shadow areas. *Note that it requires Handy Actions 3, or an action that will select just the highlights of your image and place them on a new layer. The image to the right is split, with the original photo showing on the left and the effect showing to the right. Check out those rich blue Boston skies! Adding Drama and Contrast to a Boring Sky

Create A Neutral Density Graduated Filter with Photoshop or Elements

webmaster@graficalicus.com (Graffi)

This simple one-layer technique will really make your images pop. It takes longer to show you how to do it than it does to actually do it - enjoy the video! The photo to the left is a split, with the effect on the left side and the original photo showing through on the right. Creating a Neutral Density Filter Effect with Photoshop or Elements

Changing the category titles for Added Layer Styles in Elements

webmaster@graficalicus.com (Graffi)

Severalfolks have written and asked me how to change the menu names for Layer Styles added using their Add-O-Matic, so I figured I'd put the info in one place rather than typing it out each time - so here ya go:

Action Pack Sampler for Photoshop Elements 6

webmaster@graficalicus.com (Graffi)

Anew Sampler Pack for Photoshop Elements 6 (Win) is now ready for free download. This pack contains an effect from each of the full packs - B&W Lab, FunFotoFX, Glam Photo, Handy Actions and Sketchy Paint. The download includes the installer and an information sheet.

How I Made Snowy Stable

webmaster@graficalicus.com (Graffi)

Here's a step-by-step of how I made my Snowy Stable image using Photoshop Elements 6:

Tape graphics for Scrapbook Projects

webmaster@graficalicus.com (Graffi)

There's so many different ways to make tape using Elements & Photoshop (just Google "Photoshop tutorial tape" for about 1.8 million ways), so I figured I'd toss out a few ways to make a few slightly different kinds.

Two Different Looks for the Same Photo

webmaster@graficalicus.com (Graffi)

I got to messing around with some of my Sydney photos and came up with these two treatments of the Opera House, taken on a cloudy gray morning. I like how simple it was to create two different looks from the same image using just the tools in a few action packs. *I should mention that both of these were done with my Handy Actions 2.5 & B&W Conversion Lab action sets in Elements 5.

Using Handy Actions 2.5 : the Selection Actions

webmaster@graficalicus.com (Graffi)

This is the third article about using Handy Actions 2.5 for Photoshop Elements. In this episode, I'll go over all of the different Selection tools in the action pack.

Using Handy Actions 2.5 : the Channels Actions

webmaster@graficalicus.com (Graffi)

This time, I'm going to show a few examples of how to use the 8 different Channels actions in Handy Actions 2.5. They're all conveniently clustered together in the palette, under the Channels category. You'll find actions for editing one of the three color channels (Red, Green and Blue), and few swap channels actions, plus a return to RGB editing and the popular Channels Mixer for creating Black & White images. It's hopefully pretty obvious that channel editing is a pretty powerful way to correct some colors and get your photos looking their best with very little effort.

Using Handy Actions 2.5 - Layer Mask actions

webmaster@graficalicus.com (Graffi)

I'vebeen meaning to do a little write up on all of the various actions in Handy Actions 2.5 ever since I put them out there awhile back, but somehow just never got around to it. Now, I'm getting around to it! I'm just going to start at the top of the effects list and explain each of the actions one by one, covering a few with each post, until I get to the bottom.

Making Action Thumbnails using Add-O-Matic

webmaster@graficalicus.com (Graffi)

Using Add-O-Matic, now it's easier than ever to create custom thumbnails for your added effects and add them to your Special Effects palette.Here's a walk through on upgrading your version of Add-O-Matic, reinstalling your actions, and creating thumbnails for them....

Creating the Cross Processed Look with Photoshop Elements and Handy Actions

webmaster@graficalicus.com (Graffi)

Making a Cross Processed Look Using Photoshop Elements & Graffi's Handy Actions 2.0 The "Cross Processed" look is pretty popular these days - creating an image with unnatural colors and a high contrast look. These effects are easy to accomplish with Photoshop Elements 5 and the Channels & Curves actions available in Handy Actions 2.0. Read more...

Create a Cumpled Paper Graphic with PS Elements

webmaster@graficalicus.com (Graffi)

Making a Crumpled Paper graphic for Scrap Pages Using Photoshop Elements Here's an easy way to create a "crumpled paper" graphic that you can use for your scrap or webpage projects.

Create a Grungy-Style Avatar with Elements

webmaster@graficalicus.com (Graffi)

A Washed Out Grunge Effect - Perfect for Avatars! H ere's a fast and easy effect you can apply to a snapshot if you're looking for a quick way to create a stylish avatar - There's a few variations, but the entire effect shouldn't take more than a minute or two to finsh, and it's very effective. Read on...

Cheat Sheet and tips for Handy Actions

webmaster@graficalicus.com (Graffi)

By requestthere is a new "cheat sheet" available for the newly-updated Handy Actions for Photoshop Elements 3-4-5 Action Effects pack.This spec sheet outlines the details of each action, as well as a few tips on when and how to use them.There is a pdf of this document available here (pdf, 60k, opens in a new window)

Creating and Organizing Thumbnails for Actions in Photoshop Elements 5.0

webmaster@graficalicus.com (Graffi)

Creating and Organizing Thumbnails for Actions in Photoshop Elements 5.0 There is a new way of using and manipulating the Photoshop Elements 5.0 file structure. The old file structure is gone, and there's a new, more robust and manageable way of adding Elements Add-Ons, like styles, shapes, graphics and, yes, actions! If you've tried Add-O-Matic already, you probably have a lot of new actions to organize. .. It's a fairly simple technique, but there are some specific formatting rules that must be followed. This article will show you how to manage your Add-On actions and how to create thumbnails for them within the new Elements file structure.

The Add-O-Matic! Specially made for adding extras to Photoshop Elements 5.0!

webmaster@graficalicus.com (Graffi)

An AutomaticAdd-Ons installer forPSElements 5.0!Graffi's Add-O-Matic! Auto-installer for Photoshop Elements 5 Initial Release: October, 2006 Still trying to figure out where to put all your Photoshop Elements extras in Elements 5.0? Are you not sure where to store those actions, shapes, styles, plug-ins, and all the other goodies you've accumulated over the years? Graffi's Add-O-Matic is your best friend! It will do all the sorting for you - all you have to do is click and drag your extras into it, and it will sort them and organize them and put them away for you, right where they belong! There's a video for this new utility here

Handy Actions 2.0 Release Party!

webmaster@graficalicus.com (Graffi)

Ready forPSElements 5.0!New: Handy Actions upgraded to v2.0! Your Swiss Army Knife for Photoshop Elements: this pack gives you many of the features only available in full Photoshop!Updated and upgraded to install to PS Elements Windows versions 3, 4 or 5.0 manual installation available for Elements 1 & 2 users, as well as Mac versions 1 - 4 - this updated pack released October 1 2006 Not sure how easy they are? Grab the Graffi Actions Sampler 2.0 for free, and see for yourself how easy they work!

Using the Cutout Effect

webmaster@graficalicus.com (Graffi)

Using the Cutout Effect for Wallpapers, Backgrounds, Embelleshments or Accents Now that you've created the Cutout Effect (this tutorial), what should you do with it? There are a ton of different uses for this effect - here's a few examples using a pixel-smear, a circular addition, and some retro pop-dots:

Recreating the iTunes Reflection Effect

webmaster@graficalicus.com (Graffi)

Recreate the iTunes Reflection Effect This is episode 13 of our podcast, GraffiTV! the Photoshop Channel. The podcast is available on iTunes, the full-sized video is available in the Photoshop video vault, and this is a handy printable version you can use to follow along. Your buddy Graffi is looking out for you! It's a very simple effect to do, but still very versatile, and it can be used on so many different image sources like rainy sidewalks, lakeside scenes, frozen ponds and any other place that needs a reflection.

A Cutout Effect for Scrappers or Poster Makers

webmaster@graficalicus.com (Graffi)

A Cutout Effect with Photoshop or Elements I've seen this effect a lot lately in ads for Old Navy stores, the new iPods, various websites and some scrapbook pages. It's an effective way to make an image really stand out, and the best thing is that it's really easy to do.

The Apple Gel-Chrome-Glass Effect

webmaster@graficalicus.com (Graffi)

Groovy Gel-Glass-Chrome Effect, ala Apple Apple has really polished up the internet with all these gel buttons and glass effects they use on iPod, iTunes, Mac and Mobile ads they run. Here's a way to recreate this gel effect on just about anything at all. Ironically, I'm doing this in PS Elements v 4.0 - on a PC!

Affiliate Program for the Graffishop almost ready to launch

webmaster@graficalicus.com (Graffi)

I'mvery close to adding an affiliate system to the graffishop. It's been doing very well the past few months, and many of you have been very helpful in getting the new launch off the ground, so it's payback time! This is a new setup, and I'm very excited about it - and it's so simple to use, whether you have a website or not - you can just add the link as you would normally in a forum, chatroom or blog - read on for more....

brand New RealDraw Pro e-Book Released: "Tips, Tricks & Techniques"

webmaster@graficalicus.com (Graffi)

Just released Aug 14 - check it out here. 82 pages of tutorials, projects, ideas & tips. PDF format with complete linked TOC. This book contains the original 32 tutorials and articles from the graffi workshop - Introductory sale for a limited time!the regular price is $11.99 USD, but the introductory price is only $7.99 for a very limited time. Check out a few samples of what's in the book: view a sample chapter here check out the Introduction and Table of Contents hereGrab your copy in the Graffishop today!