Digital Stamp Shadows

Recently, Julie wrote a blog entitled “Stencil Shadow,” showing a great technique using stencils and two different colors of ink. If you missed it, you can read it HERE. Since the inks have a bit of transparency to them, a third color is created where the inks overlap.

If you look closely, you can see the third color where the two inks overlap.

This technique is easily replicated digitally. Since we don't have digital stencils, we'll just use stamp images. Here’s how . . .

1. Create a new square document with a white background.

2. Open a stamp image and drag it onto the new document. I’m using an image from the Versailles Digital Kit.

3. Resize the image so it fills the document; rotate it slightly.

4. Reduce the image opacity to 60%. This mimics the CS Ash ink nicely.

5. Duplicate the layer.

6. Command+Click (Mac OS) or CTRL+Click (Windows) on the new layer thumbnail in the Layers Palette. You’ll see marching ants around the image.

7. Use the Fill command to change the color; I used turquoise.

8. Press Command+D (Mac OS) or CTRL+D (Windows) to deselect the image.

9. Use your arrow keys to nudge the image a few pixels up and to the left. Because the opacity is reduced on the two image layers, a third color is created where they overlap - just like the paper version!

10. Merge the layers together and save your file.

To use the image to make cards . . .

1. Create a new document - I made mine 4.25x5.5".

2. Add a background. I chose a shade of turquoise to match the art.

3. Using the Marquee tool, grab a section of the newly created file and drag it onto your card.

4. Resize as needed.

5. Add a sentiment.

Wasn't that easy?

Sentiment from Oopsie Daisy

Sentiment from Hydrangeas

Make these in several colors and you can whip up a bunch of digi-cards in no time. You can also print out your original art, trim it into panels like Julie did, and make some easy hybrid cards!

Until next time, thanks for stopping by!

-Ron