Tutorial: Shapely Scallops
Shaped papers--whether cut in circles, curlicues or scallops like these--offer instant dimension for any layout. Plus, once you've created a basic scallop shape, it's easy to reuse it again and again. Try cutting background papers, textured elements or even photos into shape with Aly's simple technique. Here's how to do it:
- Create a new 300 ppi file, 12 inches wide and 4 to 6 inches high.
- From the Toolbox, select the Rectangular Marquee tool. Click and drag to select a narrow rectangle that spans the entire width of the image. Select Edit > Fill and fill the rectangle with a solid color.
- Create a new layer (Shift-Ctrl-N on a PC, Shift-Cmd_N on a Mac). Working on this new layer, select the Elliptical Marquee tool from the Toolbox. In the Options bar at the top of the screen, click Style and select Fixed Size. Enter 1.5 inches in both the Width and Height boxes, then click anywhere on the screen to create a circle. Select Edit > Fill and fill the circle with a solid color.
- Right-click on the circle layer's name in the Layers palette, then select Duplicate Layer. Repeat to create eight or nine circles.
- From the Toolbox, select the Move tool. Move one copy of the circle layer to the far right of the image so that only half of it is visible. Move another copy of the circle layer to the far left of the image so that only half of it is visible.
- In the Layers palette, Shift-click each circle layer to select them all. Select the Move tool. In Options bar at the top of the screen, click Distribute horizontal centers, then click Align top edges.
- In the Layers palette, Shift-click each of the rectangle layers and circle layers to select them all. Right-click and select Merge Layers.
- Save the file with a name such as "Scalloped Edge."
- To use the file to cut other papers into shape, drag and drop the scalloped edge into a new layout. Using the Rectangular Marquee tool, drag to create selection the width of the scalloped edge and the desired height of the trimmed element; select Edit > Fill and fill the selection with a solid color.
- In the Layers palette, drag the desired paper layer so that it’s just above the scalloped edge layer in the stack. Hold down the Alt key (Option key on a Mac) and click the line between the two layers in the palette to apply a clipping mask.
Note: It's easy to resize the scalloped edge to suit any size paper or element; you can even use the Edit > Transform > Flip Vertical command to rotate the scalloped edge for trimming the bottom of an element.
happy holidays by aly dosdall
materials papers, elements from "Yuletide" and "Yuletide Add-On" kits by Tinkering Ink (PC Layers) + photo action (Pioneer Woman) + Photoshop (Adobe)