Check It Out! Quality Check It, That Is
I worked with Steph from The Daily Digi to put together a comprehensive guide to quality digital design. It’s free and now available for download! Head over and check it out. It’s perfect for scrappers who want to learn what to look for in quality designs, as well as for new and seasoned designers who want to ensure they are providing the best possible quality products to their customers.
ACTION: Quality Check It {PSCS}
NOTE: This contains a 38-minute video tutorial download that is over 170MB large. Please be sure your internet connection can handle it before purchasing.
When it comes to quality, don’t settle! These actions make quick work of quality checking files.
Quality check your kits before release! This action pack comes with over 38 minutes of video instruction on what to check and how to do it quickly. This set is also perfect for creative team members who QC for their designers (or for hire).
- Check and eliminate stray pixels with actions and pixel checker styles.
- Check for missing pixels.
- Check and fix gamut issues.
- Assign actions to key strokes for quick playback.
- Check resolution, zoom to check texture, jaggies, etc.
- Trim excess canvas without clipping elements.
- Close files without saving with one click or keystroke.
This is more than just another action set. It comes with a comprehensive walk through quality checking a kit. It also reviews some of the most common mistakes designers make and explains how to fix them.
INCLUDES:
Instructions Action (eliminates need to read instructions every time)
Element Pack Actions (3 color border varieties)
Paper Pack Action
Gamut Check Action
Gamut Fix Action
Clean Up Action
Trim Element Action
Close Files (without save) Action
Pixel Checker Styles (also available separately)
PDF Cheat Sheet
38 Minute Video Tutorial (mp4 format; this download is 174MB, be sure your connection can handle it!)
Tested in PSCS3-5. Mac and PC. PSE version (with slightly less functionality, is available separately.)
Personal use, S4H or Designer use at no additional charge.
ACTION: Quality Check It {PSE}
NOTE: This contains a 38-minute video tutorial download that is over 170MB large. Please be sure your internet connection can handle it before purchasing.
When it comes to quality, don’t settle! These actions make quick work of quality checking files.
Quality check your kits before release! This action pack comes with over 38 minutes of video instruction on what to check and how to do it quickly. This set is also perfect for creative team members who QC for their designers (or for hire).
- Check and eliminate stray pixels with actions and pixel checker styles.
- Check for missing pixels.
- Check resolution, zoom to check texture, jaggies, etc.
- Trim excess canvas without clipping elements.
This is more than just another action set. It comes with a comprehensive walk through quality checking a kit. It also reviews some of the most common mistakes designers make and explains how to fix them.
INCLUDES:
Instructions Action (eliminates need to read instructions every time)
Element Pack Actions (3 color border varieties)
Paper Pack Action
Clean Up Action
Trim Element Action
Pixel Checker Styles (also available separately)
PDF Cheat Sheet
38 Minute Video Tutorial (mp4 format; this download is 174MB, be sure your connection can handle it!)
Tested in PSE6-10. Mac and PC. PSCS version (with slightly less functionality, is available separately.)
Personal use, S4H or Designer use at no additional charge
ACTION: Banner It
Banners, buntings, pennants… whatever YOU call them, they are all the rage in digi right now. I cannot resist adding one to a page when a designer includes them in a kit. Now, you can make your own with ease!
This set comes with 16 different banner shapes and 6 different path templates. Combine those with the actions and you get a custom banner ready to coordinate with your layout! How does it work? Open a path template. Run the corresponding action. When prompted, choose your banner shape. Then, select your papers as it runs. When you are done, tweak the placement.
But wait… there’s more! (LOL) Each path template comes with a simple stitch that you can recolor. Or, use the path to make your own strings or stitching with your favorite actions and styles. In addition, you can use any banner shape you might want to use. Just size it to the approximate size of one of the existing banners and save it as a PNG.
Finally, you get an emboss layer for adding a little dimension to the banners. There’s an action included for clipping that later to your banners after you’re done. And, a Warp action for warping the shadows for a more realistic look. PSCS users can use any shadow style along with the warp action. PSE users have the shadow applied for them.
There’s also a PRO edition for designers that is more flexible and okay for creating banners to include in your kits.
INCLUDES:
16 banner shapes (PNG and ABR format)
6 path templates w/ stitches
6 banner actions
1 warp action
1 clipping action
1 emboss style (ASL format)
1 string style
1 video tutorial (mp4 format)
Tested in PSE6-10, PSCS2-5.5. Kit not included. (Special thanks to the Studio Girls for use of their Studio Mix kits in the previews and tutorial.) Personal Use only. See the Pro edition for Designer-Use.
WARNING: This action is addictive. Use of this action may result in procrastination of house chores or scrapping. Listening to scrapbooking podcasts highly recommended during the use of this action to assist in multi-tasking.
ACTION: Banner It Pro
Banners, buntings, pennants… whatever YOU call them, they are all the rage in digi right now. I cannot resist adding one to a page when a designer includes them in a kit. Now, you can add one to any kit with ease!
This set comes with 16 different banner shapes and 6 different path templates. Combine those with the actions and you get a custom banner ready to coordinate with your kit! How does it work? Open a path template. Run the corresponding action. When prompted, choose your banner shape. Then, select your paper. Repeat both steps for each banner. When you are done, tweak the placement.
But wait… there’s more! (LOL) Each path template comes with a simple stitch that you can recolor. Or, use the path to make your own strings or stitching with your favorite actions and styles. In addition, you can use any banner shape you might want to use. Just size it to the approximate size of one of the existing banners and save it as a PNG.
Finally, you get an emboss layer for adding a little dimension to the banners. There’s an action included for clipping that later to your banners after you’re done. And, a Warp action for warping the shadows for a more realistic look. PSCS users can use any shadow style along with the warp action. PSE users have the shadow applied for them. A string style was added at the last minute, or use any signature style you have!
There’s also a BASIC edition for scrappers that is slightly simpler.
INCLUDES:
16 banner shapes (PNG and ABR format)
6 path templates w/ stitches
6 banner actions
1 warp action
1 clipping action
1 emboss style (ASL format)
1 string style
1 video tutorial
Tested in PSE6-10, PSCS2-5.5. Kit not included. (Special thanks to the Studio Girls for use of their Studio Mix kits in the previews and tutorial.) Designer Use okay.
TEMPLATE: Banner It 1
Banners, buntings, pennants… whatever YOU call them, they are all the rage in digi right now. I cannot resist adding one to a page when a designer includes them in a kit. Now, you can make your own with one of these two fun templates!
This set comes with 2 different banner templates. Shadows are on their own layers and are pre-warped. Each banner shape is on it’s own layer, so you can use different papers for each one. And, a basic stitch layer is included (just change the color layer). Or, swap them out for your own stitches or strings!
INCLUDES:
2 Layered Templates (PSD & TIF Format)
$1 off coupon to Studio Wendy
Sneak Peek Video Tutorial for ACTION: Banner It
Personal Use and Scrap-4-Hire use only. See the Pro edition of the action for Designer-Use.
Adobe Creative Suite 6 Announced
Today Adobe announced Creative Suite 6. The are introducing a new subscription service, The Creative Cloud. I’ve been doing a little research on the purchase options and thought I’d share a few with you.
The highlights…
You can choose the traditional boxed version or the monthly subscription. The monthly subscription will be normally $50/mo, temporarily discounted to $30/mo (if you sign 1/yr contract) or $30/mo for educational discount.
For the box editions,
Photoshop ONLY UPGRADE: $199
Design Premium UPGRADE
From CS5: $550
From CS5.5: $275
Design Premium (STUDENT TEACHER): $349
Also of note is the fact that this will be the last time Adobe will allow upgrades from versions over one version old. So, if you have a version older than CS 5, you might want to take advantage of either the subscription or the special upgrade pricing before you’ll no longer get upgrade discounts.
With the Cloud:
1) You can install on 2 computers, but they may not be in use at the same time.
2) You can download Mac and PC versions at no extra charge.
3) Updates and other products will be no additional charge when introduced. (They claim Lightroom will be included later this year.)
4) Includes all Adobe products, not just PS.
5) Includes 20GB of cloud storage
6) May include iPad versions as well, but I’m not entirely clear on that.
Extra Credit
For further reading, check out these helpful articles:
CNET: 5 Reasons Adobe’s CS6 subscription is smart
MASHABLE: Adobe Creative Suite 6 Pricing Revealed
THE VERGE: Adobe announces CS6 pricing and pre-orders, estimated delivery May 7th
MACWORLD: Adobe Creative Suite 6 and Creative Cloud: What you need to know
PCMAG: Adobe Releases Creative Suite 6 (CS6)
I hope this info helps navigating the new Photoshop and Creative Suite options!
ACTION: Frame It
It’s super easy to add your favorite photo to your favorite frame with this action pack! You get actions for 1-photo, 2-photo, 3-photo and 4-photo frames, plus an add-a-photo actions for larger frames and a trim/crop option for trimming excess canvas and saving your framed photo. From there, it’s easy to drag and drop to your layout. You control the placement of the photo. And, for unique frame shapes, just paint on the clipping mask layer for a quick cropping adjustment. (Watch the included video tutorial to see how it works!)
INCLUDES:
1-photo frame action
2-photo frame action
3-photo frame action
4-photo frame action
Add-photo frame action
Crop/trim action
Video Tutorial
Personal use or S4H okay. Tested in PSCS3-5.5, PSE6-10. Mac and PC.
Photos and frames not included. Special thanks to the Studio Girls for use of their Studio Mix frames used in the preview and video tutorial.
ACTION: Cluster It {2}
Cluster It {2} by Studio Wendy and Lifestyle by Studio Rosey Posey Were Made To Match!
Cluster It {2} is the second in my series of clustering actions! This collaborative collection created along with Studio Rosey Posey will help you create clusters in her amazing style quickly! The method has been completely revised for this version, allowing better placement and sizing of the elements.
How does it work? It will ask you for each element as it runs, allowing you to size it to fit. Then it will place it on the cluster, allowing you to tweak as you go. When you’re done, you’ll have an expertly crafted cluster to add to your scrapbook page! Choose from 4 different cluster layouts. Includes an action for adding 3 additional elements, and for trimming/cropping the cluster to remove excess canvas.
As an added bonus, you get an assortment of elements that coordinate with Studio Rosey Posey’s Lifestyle kit (1 paper, bracket, leaf and 2 flowers)! PLUS, you get the set of 4 clusters that the actions were based on (png format).
INCLUDES:
4 cluster actions
1 add 3 elements action
1 trim/crop action
4 clusters made from Studio Rosey Posey’s Lifestyle kit
1 coordinating bonus (1 paper, 1 bracket, 2 flowers and 1 leaf)
1 video tutorial
Tested in PSCS2-5.5, PSE6-10, PC & Mac. Paper is 12×12, 300ppi jpg; elements are 300ppi pngs; video tutorial is .mov/wma format.
MADE TO MATCH OFFER!
If you purchase Rosey Posey’s Lifestyle Add-On Bundle, you’ll also get the set of shadow styles for personalizing your clusters. Quickly add shadows of a variety of depths to any layer.
Personal & S4H Use Okay. A commercial use version of the action only is available separately.
ACTION: Pocket Pages {2} Journalers
Want a faster way to scrap? An easier way to catch up on all those piles of photos? Want to escape from the guilt of unscrapped photos? Or, maybe you just have project that you’d like to work on digitally! These actions help you create your own custom journal cards using any supplies in your stash, including Becky Higgins’ Project Life digi supplies.
How does it work? Really it’s quite simple! First decide between horizontal or vertical. Then, choose either 4×6 or 3×4 and select one of 7 layout designs (doodled, embellished, paper strip(s), border, scallop, photo, text). Then, as the action runs, choose your own papers, photos or embellishments when prompted. You can add journal lines with the optional actions, and save a PNG or JPG when you’re done.
Once you have your cards, you can journal on them digitally, print the base shells and stockpile them for hand writing on later, plop several up on an 8.5×11 sheet (with the provided actions), or add your new cards to a layout.
You can use your completed journal cards with Pocket Pages 1 to create layouts. You can run the collage sheet actions to put several cards on one sheet for printing and cutting. Cut files are included for many die cut machines, though not all support cutting as close to the edge as the collage sheets get. So, individual card cut files are included as well.
So, if you’ve been held back from creating Pocket Pages because you really wanted it to be digi, now’s the time to try it!
INCLUDES:
7 4×6 vertical designs (doodled, embellished, paper strip(s), border, scallop, photo, text; vertical & horizontal)
7 3×4 horizontal designs (doodled, embellished, paper strip(s), border, scallop, photo, text; vertical & horizontal)
2 Journal Line Actions (straight/wavy)
2 Saver Actions
3 Collage Sheet Actions (large, small and combo)
Cutter Files (small, large and sheets of large, small and combo; ai, eps, svg, sfx, studio formats)
PDF Installation Tutorial
Video Tutorial (WMV, MOV formats)
Available Separately: Pocket Pages {1} and Pocket Pages Templates for those who don’t want to mess with actions.
Personal Use only unless you purchase the optional Designer Use License. To create journal cards to sell select the Designer Use license from the drop down menu.