Calligraphy Flourish Friday - Photoshop Discovery

 This is one of the prints I made during my Gelli Arts Printing Plate bonanza a few weeks ago.  I liked it and decided to scan it, so I could print it on watercolor paper.

When I printed it on my Epson R2000, however, the colors were drab.  This is one of my frustrations with printers - the incessant fussing with printer settings. Media type. Print Mode. Color Mode. Color Profile. Paper selection. (Where's the "Make it look exactly like it is on the screen" button?) It reminds me of learning calligraphy and all the options between nibs, papers, holders, inks, and variations of alphabets.

I did some tweaking, and the second print (on far right) was much better.  I decided to go into Photoshop itself and change the hue. (Image>Adjustments>Hue/Saturation)

While doing this, I discovered moving the "Hue" slider bar from left to right yielded all sorts of wonderful variations to my original print.  The colors changed, and even areas unseen on the original print became evident.

When I think of applying this technique to all the backgrounds I have saved over the years...

...well, this could be a full-time job! :)

The stencil I used in making the original print on my Gelli Arts Printing Plate was given to me by Bill Lilly.  You can see it on the right.  He cut it by hand (of course!).  In addition to his tremendous pen skills, he also sports amazing skills with a pair of scissors.

I traced on the print using a pencil and an envelope template.

Trimmed with an Exacto knife.

Used a stylus to score the inside edge of the template window.
(Sorry for the blurry image.)

Folded using a bone folder. Then I opened the envelope flat to do the addressing.

I wanted to try this new ink I received from Kuretake UK.

I love the bold colors.

Here is another print I made, after playing with the hue on Photoshop.  The colors on my original Gelli Arts print are quite different.  Using Photoshop, I added some of my lettering. Fun!

Want to learn Photoshop for calligraphers?  You're in luck!
Harvest Crittenden is now accepting registrations for her online course: Photoshop for Calligraphers
She is also offering a separate, online course: Copperplate Calligraphy for Beginners

To learn more or to register, visit the Online Classes page of Harvest's website by CLICKING HERE.
Harvest is an excellent teacher, and her online courses are well worth the time and financial investment.

It's hard to believe this is the last day of November.
Wishing you a great weekend.
Go forth and flourish!
xo

Calligraphy Flourish Friday - Gelli Arts Printing Plate

Although I have been grateful for all the work I've had this year, I've missed having time to simply play in the studio.  A few weeks ago I decided to make the time to play.  The project: my anniversary card to Tom.

As I stated in THIS POST, I purchased a Gelli Arts printing plate after being inspired by THIS POST by Jane Royal.  I purchased the Gelli plate back in January, and it was still in its shipping box!  

I gathered some leftover paper, as well as paper made during THIS field trip to Twinrocker Paper.

I rounded up some stamps and other items that I could use for making texture.

Using THIS VIDEO from the Gelli Arts, I began to make prints.

My first print of many, MANY prints.  I kind of went nuts. :)

Another print with 3 layers.  I didn't really like this print, so I decided to tear it into pieces.

In typical Jane fashion, I liked the results for these throwaway pieces I used as masks better than some of my prints. I'm definitely NOT throwing these away now.

While attending a Nashville Calligraphers Guild meeting last year, I was introduced to this little, purple "X" Xyron sticker maker. I put it on my 2012 Christmas wish list, received it, and... you guessed it... it was still in the box!

I sketched some Neuland style letters onto the backs of small pieces from one of my prints. (Easy for me because the letters-T,O,M- didn't need to be reversed.) I then ran each piece through the sticker maker. 

Cut the letters out...

Pulled the backing paper away...

Stuck the letters onto the envelope and decorated. Fun!

It felt wonderful to try something new and to play.

To visit the Gelli Arts site, CLICK HERE.

I encourage you to work some play into your day.

Go forth and flourish!

xo

Jane