Digital Pin Exchange - AUGUST Edition!

A few months ago Mommyish (Leah) released the Enamel Pin Builder and started a Pin Exchange.... which made a lot of us very happy and very addited to creating PINS! She also released an add-on with additional styles for your pins called Glittery Enamel Pin Styles. I will be the first one to say that I can't have enough of them! I can't WAIT to see all the pins from the exchange! AND.... I CAN'T wait to do this all over again this month! I sent Leah a private message to volunteer myself to run this challenge because I NEED to HAVE MORE PINS! This time we are going to follow a very loose theme.... drum roll please........ the theme is AUGUST & SEPTEMBER & Back to School!

Just in case you have no clue about what product I am talking about that revolutionized our pin making skills, here it is:

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Did you hear there is a new Enamel and RIM styles in the store? I am going to try these for this month.

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June PINS are ready to download, so please grab them ASAP before they are gone!

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How do I even make a pin?!

• Install the Enamel Pin Builder Styles & actions
• Watch the video tutorials for your program - if you are still unsure - hit me up here and I will be happy to help you out. . @angiekey created the following step by step instructions for those that like written instructions better. HERE (I have posted the written instructions in the second post of this thread)
• Have an idea! If you aren't sure look up "enamel pin" on pinterest and you flooded with ideas.
• Get creative. <3 Use shapes, your brush tool, text, etc! Use other styles to create other interesting effects.

Remember, since this is an item that will be shared with others - if you use outside graphics they have to be CU ok.

Still unsure - watch this video!


Drawing from scratch? Watch this one!



How do I save my pin for other folks?!

• You will want to create a new document that is 300ppi in RGB format with a transparent background.
• Keep in mind that pins shouldn't be GIGANTIC - ideally you will want your pin to be smaller than 2 inches. (600 pixels)
• When you save your pin be sure to save it as a .PNG file (this maintains the transparent background)
• Save the file as username_tlp-xchange_pinname.png for example I'd save mine as mommyish_tlp-xchange_rainbow.png
• UPLOAD HERE

I can not wait to see what you guys come up with! Try to limit yourself to no more than 5 pins

Deadline is August 31st, 11:59pm EST[/QUOTE]

 

Adding this here because our super sweet member @angiekey put down some written instructions in case you are still having trouble after watching the videos. THANKS ANGIE!


You do not have to use the action. As is the case with many of Mommyish's action/style sets, you can use her turn-key "just press the button" action or you can do it manually, by applying strokes and styles and what-not as you go. I generally prefer to do it that way, because it gives me maximum control over the process.

I think the issue you're having is that everything is on one layer. As I look at your screenshot, you seem to have a "pin" layer that contains the black outline plus the solid color fills. In order to use the style set, you need these separated onto their own layers.

It helped me to think about how these pins are physically made. Enamel pins are first cast in metal, as the pin back and the raised ridges for the outline of the design. Then, they pour liquid enamel into each of the spaces to create the colored areas. The liquid pools into the space, thicker along the edges, and then dries.

So to create one electronically:

1. Create your metal cast - that's the outline of your design. It goes on one layer all by itself. Draw it in the color you want the metal to be - any shade of grey works great, or gold - but be aware that black doesn't always show up well with the style (at least, in my experience).



2. Turn your outline to metal. Once you've got your design done, apply style Pin Builder - Metal Rim to that layer.



3. Start filling the spaces with enamel. Create a new layer and fill it with the color for your first enamel section. This layer should be BELOW your metal frame layer.



NOTE: In one of the videos, Leah walks through selecting the area to fill, then expanding the selection by a couple pixels before filling it. Or you can go back through with the Brush tool and paint in the corners. That's definitely a best practice because you want to make sure the entire shape gets filled with color.

Then apply one of the enamel styles to the enamel layer: Enamel - Thin, Enamel Small, Enamel - Med, or Enamel Large. The one you choose will be entirely based on how you want the pin to look, and how deep the "pooling" of the enamel will look around the edges of your metal frame.


I find it easier to understand if I can see the four different styles, side-by-side, for comparison:

Do you see how the "Enamel Large" style makes it look like it's a really deep well into which they poured the enamel? It's pooled up around the sides, and then smoothed out in the middle like a thick, sticky liquid would do. Versus the "Enamel Small" where there's not as much difference between the edges and the center. It's like that well was shallow or they filled it up with more of the liquid enamel.

4. Keep going until you've filled your whole design. I found it easiest to do each section of enamel on its own layer. If you do that, here's what it would look like:

And then apply an Enamel style to each enamel layer:


ALTERNATIVELY, you might choose to put all your enamel color on a single layer. If you do this, you need to make sure the different wells of color are separated - otherwise, you won't get that cool look where it pools up next to the metal. Here's what I mean:

I've got two fill layers - one with the enamel separated into individual wells, and the other with the full shape filled, metal channels and all. I've hidden the layer with the metal rims so you can more clearly see what's happening here. So I'll add the style Enamel - Med to this layer:

And do you see how it looks like liquid has been poured into each of those sections? But if I use the layer with the big shape, where all the individual channels are connected, this is what I get:

Hang on, it's easier to see if we do this one side-by-side:

That was a huge eye-opener for me! Once I realized the enamel pieces have to be separated, I started getting the look on the left and it actually looks like a poured enamel pin.

If you feel like your pin isn't looking like everyone else's pins, this is probably why.

So, back to our original heart design: we have one layer for the metal outline, with style Pin Builder - Metal Rim applied. Below that, we have a layer for our colored enamel, with one of the 4 Enamel styles applied. If you want to get fancy, you can duplicate the layer with your metal outline, put it below your metal rim, and apply style Metal Rim - Under Shadow. It gives it some pretty depth. That goes below your metal rim layer and above the enamel fill layer.



And then as a final touch, when you're happy with your pin, merge the layers together, make sure your foreground color is set to the same color as your metal rim, and then play the action "Give It Depth". It will add a really cool edge to the lower right side of your pin that makes it look like a thicker enamel pin, like it's standing off the background by its pin back.

I hope this helps ease a little of your frustration. If you have more questions or run into trouble as you walk through these steps, just let me know - I am happy to help if I can!

PS: Sorry for the horrible terrible quality of these screenshots - I'm rubbish at drawing by hand, but I wanted to get these posted quickly, so ... they are what they are.

 

OMG SANDY, I LOVE HIM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Bev they are super cool!

 

They are adorable.

 

super cute! I need those cameras!

 

LOVE the eclipse one!!!!! Great idea!

 

She looks like me!