January 12: Cropped/Hidden Photo as Title

Hello and welcome to Day 12!! For today's challenge we are going to combine a photo with your page title in a creative way! Before we get into the instructions, let's take a look at the inspiration image for this challenge (from PicMonkey):

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Now take a look at my image below. Be mindful that the full photo is the size of the entire image. There are two visible "sections" to this photo title idea.

• Section 1: A photo in any shape you wish. It's a rectangle in this example, but it can be a circle, square, diamond, heart, etc.
• Section 2: The photo title which must extend from the original shape.

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There are so many ways to achieve this look on your page. So do what comes naturally to you. The key is to make sure your shape and your text/title are smaller than the full size of your photo! If you are looking for a little help with step by step instructions, my suggestion is below. This method allowed me to play around with the placement of the title/text and the photo to get the best fit.

• Add your photo to your page. Duplicate your photo so you have two copies. Your duplicate layer will be above your original layer.
• Create a solid/filled-in shape on it's own layer underneath the original photo layer. A rectangle shape is used in the example (Section 1 above), but feel free to use any shape you wish or even a mask. Make sure your shape is smaller than the full size of the photo. About half the size is a good rule of thumb.
• "Clip" the original photo to the shape. To do this click, on the original photo layer. Go to Layer up in the menu bar > choose Create Clipping Mask. This will "clip" or mask the photo to the shape layer.
• Type your text for your title in your preferred font on it's own layer directly under your duplicate photo layer. Move that text to align (and touch!) one of the edges of your shape. Feel free to use fonts, alphas (they should all be on one layer to making clipping to the photo easier), large word art, or a cut-out text file for your title if you wish! Remember, the title also needs to be smaller than the full size of the photo.
• "Clip" the duplicate photo to the text. To do this, click on the duplicate photo layer. Go to Layer up in the menu bar > choose Create Clipping Mask. This will "clip" or mask the photo to the text/title layer (Section 2 above).
• TIP: If you try to shadow the shape layer and the text layer separately you will probably have some weird results. So, if you'd like, you can merge all the layers and then add your shadow after you merge.

Here are some visuals! Layer order should look like this:

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To "clip" a photo layer to the shape layer or text layer underneath it, make sure you click on the photo layer, then go up to Layer in the menu bar and choose Create Clipping Mask. Like this:

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Here's what the layers look like after you "clip" them.

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Here you can see how my title aligns (is touching!) one edge of my rectangle shape. I used a Cut Out file from Scrapping with Liz's New Beginnings Cut Outs instead of typing my text. You can use whatever you want for your title as long as it is connected to one of the edges of the photo shape. Here is the Cut File section of the store in case you want to search for some text for your title!

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These instructions are for PSE/PS but these are basic scrapping techniques that I believe most programs can handle. Should you need additional help for your program - let us know what step you are stuck on and which program you are using. We will find someone to assist you!

Here is my page for this challenge. I can't wait to see what you make!

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To recap:

1. Use 1 photo to create a shape with a connected title.
2. The title must be touching one edge of the shape. Your title can be positioned along any edge of your shape - horizontally, vertically, etc.
3. Your page can include other photos if you wish.

Please remember, your page must be a new page in order to count for the Month of Challenges. Your page must be posted in three places:

1. Uploaded to the TLP Gallery (not an outside hosting site).
2. Posted in your page thread you created in the MOC Layouts Folder. You should have one post per completed challenge page. If you complete all 31 challenges, your thread should contain 31 posts. Please do not comment in the participants’ page threads so we can keep them clean.
3. Posted in this thread. People can comment here if they wish.

Pages should contain at least 75% current Lilypad product (currently for sale in the store from either permanent designers or guest designers).

 

Answers to questions and clarifications will go here:

IMPORTANT Clarifications!!!:

If adding a shadow - please don't shadow the text layer and the shape area separately. See my TIP in the original challenge post. You need to merge the layers together - and then shadow as one object/layer (same goes for a stroke). Otherwise the shadow and stroke - or other similar style added - will make it look like they are separate.
As per the pic monkey image - this challenge is to create an extension along the edge of your photo shape for your title.

As per the pic monkey image - this challenge is to create an extension along the edge of your photo shape for your title.
If using a stroke - please make sure some of your photo title area pixels actually touch the photo shape area pixels.
This is an example of a good way to make sure you have pixels touching pixels ... while still having that stroke look. The title and shape are connected BEFORE adding the stroke.


Also: please make sure your photo title area is not sitting on top of the photo shape area - there needs to be a seamless connecting/touching of the two photo areas. The title should VISIBLY extend from the shape area.

Another way to do this - from @cfile

With any software you are using make a rectangle. Fill in with color. On your next layer in a good chunky font write your title. Adhere that next to and touching the rectangle so they are one. Merge them together. Now take your photo and place above your new shape created from the rectangle and the word and place over it and use the shapeword as a cookie cutter for your photo. Once you have done all that, decorate your page as normal.



Here's a video if you need more help (PSCC but all the tools are in PSE as well)


Artisan users! @QuiltyMom shared this:

It’s rather simple in Artisan. I’m on my phone now so I’ll just explain, but I can send photos later if it would help.

1. Select a shape you want to use. It doesn’t matter if it’s a shape from the shape selector in the program or something else. Once it’s flattened you can fill it with anything!

2. Select your title font or alpha, and arrange it with the shape you’ve chosen to use. Once you have everything just the way you like it, select all the parts and flatten.

3. Fill this new shape with a photo, adjusting as needed. (I have better written instructions on my computer if you need help with this part.)

Let me know if you need more help. There are plenty of other Artisan users out there who can assist, too!

And also for Artisan users - @disneysheryl65 said this:

Short cut for artisan users is to choose photo shape (insert an empty photo frame) and the word art and group them the way you want them and flatten. Then fill with photo. That’s how I’m going to try - hopefully it works.

for Artisan users from @BevG :

One other option is once you have everything flattened into the shape you want, then use the Insert Outline tool to create an actual photo spot in the shape of the flattened shape. Then insert your photo into that. This will give you more control over moving and zooming the photo than just filling the flattened area. Just be sure to check the shape the Outline tool makes because unless they fixed it, it sometimes makes wonky curves instead of straight lines.

 

I'm thinking in Artisan you need 2 copies of your photo. One you will cut as your shape. And one you will cut with Text. Then align them together? I think cut is the way to do it in your software (as opposed to the "clip" function in PS/PSE)? You just have to keep the 2 photos perfectly aligned and not shift them at all - so everything lines up nicely.
Can you merge two shapes together in Artisan. And then shadow the two merges shapes?

I found this - check out How to Cut a Text Outline.

 

Yes! I'm hoping our Artisan ladies will jump in and tell us their secrets! Thanks for tagging Bev @Tree City - I'm confident we will find a way for all to do this one!

 

Your page is so cool @MiekSter !! I love the idea to add the attached title to the top and bottom edges of your photo! Really cool ... looking forward to seeing everyone's pages today!

 

And you nailed it! I love the cut out subtitle inside the photo too! Way to work the negative and positive space on this challenge Anne! So cool!