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March 9.2011

storyboards ala story form

So . . . uhhhh . . . all I can say is . . . WOW! Looks like many of you are just as crazy for the storyboard templates as I am!

I also want to mention that Miss Nichol is giving away a set of templates on her blog! So go leave a comment over THERE to be entered to win. Also, I know she’s got some projects up her sleeve, so keep an eye out. And FYI, I will be doing a giveaway here on my blog next week, so you’ll want to stay tuned for that! :)

One thing I’d like to say about using the templates is you don’t have to have Photoshop to use them--you can use them with Photoshop Elements too, which is much cheaper. And if you want to start playing with PSE, you can download the trial version for free to play with for 30 days . . . and it’s the full version of the program too.

So, since I haven’t had time to play with these new templates myself just yet and I’ve had some requests to see them in action, I thought perhaps showing you some other storyboard pages I’ve done in the past would help tide you over until I can make some pages with the new templates. (Some of these square templates will be coming in the next kit though.)

On this page I used a “white space” template,

however, I put a black background behind it instead.

Here’s how to do that.

Open a template, create a New Layer and move it to the bottom of your Layers Palette.

Make sure your Foreground color is set to Black. Select the Rectangle Tool and then click in the upper-left corner and drag it down to the bottom-right corner.

Voila! You now have a black background!

I don’t know why I love the look of collages so much. It must be the clean lines and how it just draws so much attention to your photos. I feel like my eyes dance on the page, but in a good way. It’s like reading a story as you move from one photo to another–each photo getting the attention it deserves.

I sent these templates to my cousin Tia, who’s a fabulous photographer (you can see it HERE), and she is so excited to use them! She was just starting the process of making some 10×10 photo albums (like a Shutterfly book) and thought they would work wonderfully with them (perfect timing).

It makes things so much simpler when it’s all laid out for ya, eh?

Okay, so stay tuned for Picture This/That [Squared] tomorrow!

6 comments

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Hazel A. - March 10, 2011 - 2:57 pm

Kerri – These are absolutely wonderful! I've made my own templates in PSE and then forgot where I saved them :o) Anyhow, now that you are enabling me, I'll never have a problem (unless, of course, the 'ole computer crashes :() Thanks so much for these and ones coming up! hehe! BTW – love your cuttables too and have completed TT Lucky with, if I say so myself, fantastic results!

Kerri - March 10, 2011 - 11:21 pm

Thanks Hazel! And I'm glad you had "fantastic results" with your Lucky kit too! :)

Jill McBride - March 11, 2011 - 7:14 pm

Can the square 8X8 templates be resized to use on 12×12 pages? Or will you be offering them in a 12X12 size as well?

Kerri - March 11, 2011 - 7:36 pm

That's a good question Jill and it's one that I was going to point out again in today's post. Any of these templates can be resized and rotated to whatever your needs are.

I kind of geared them with an "8×10" size in mind for the majority that might be printing them, but they can be resized larger–or smaller–than that, as needed.

Tracy Wallace - March 25, 2011 - 5:01 pm

These look like exactly what I was looking for except I am such a newbie with Elements I don't know where to start.

When I purchase and download the file, where do I save it to in Elements so that I can access it and follow along with your tutorial?

If there are helpful tutorials out there that will get me to that point, please feel free to point me in that direction.

Thanks!
Tracy

Kerri - March 25, 2011 - 5:29 pm

Hey Tracy! I like to save anything picture/photoshop related into my Pictures folder. I have a PS (Photoshop) directory under that where I save all the masks and brushes and such. You could even create a Mask directory to keep it sorted that way too.

If you look up to the right here on my blog, I included the two links about Photo Masks. Hopefully that can help you get started on your merry way. :)

Let me know if you have more questions.

Kerri

March 2.2011

picture this

Okay, if there’s one thing that I think many of you have come to know about me (I’m not talking about my weird ways folks) is that I like clean lines. For me, I like having my photos be the center of attention, so that’s why I love grouping photos together collage-style or storyboard-style.

However, the downside to creating collage-style photos for most people is the tedious task of knowing exactly the size you need, cropping the photo you want to the exact size, oh–but wait–it’s not the same dpi?, oh crud I have to resize it to what now?, ohhh but I don’t like the way it’s cropped now and need to recrop it again… Believe me you, I was in this boat way too many times until I discovered Clipping Masks, thanks to the beautiful Miss Jessica Sprague.

Oh the sweet joy!

I think I done died and gone to Photoshop heaven.

So when I got a request to make photo collage templates, I immediately thought, I like this girl! ;) But the purpose behind her asking was because she wanted to be able to print out several different photos in various sizes as an 8×10 so it could be easily trimmed to place on a page. Many collage/storyboards you can find have white space. I love that too, but this is a great way to maximize your photo paper.

That brings me to today’s kit: Picture This.

Price: $7

As you can see, there are some–what I like to call–vanilla and chocolate templates. Vanilla is simpler and more uniform while Chocolate is a little more flavorful in its design.

All templates are in 8×10 .PSD format, but could be resized–even rotated to landscape–as needed.

Here’s how it works.

(applies to both Photoshop and Photoshop Elements)

Pull up a template. If you’ll notice in the Layers palette (bottom left) there are Layers for each square with the size of each square included (sizes coordinate with the 8×10).

Next, open a photo and place it onto your template. The way I like to do this is first I make sure I’m on the photo (look at the tabs across the top). Next, I click on the photo and while holding down the mouse, drag it up to the Template tab and release the mouse. Notice how my photo went to the top of all the layers.

If you’re using PSE, you can also click on your photo down in Project Bin at the bottom and drag it up to the template that’s on screen.

Next, in the Layers palette, move the photo just above the layer or shape where you want the photo. In this example, I wanted this photo in the 5×7 spot, which is Layer 1: 5×7. Once you move the photo layer into its position, press down the Alt key and hover your mouse between the two layers–like you see here. The mouse changes from the pointer and looks something like a bumble bee (okay, so that’s what I think it looks like).

Now click your mouse and voila the photo now uses that 5×7 rectangle as a window of sorts or a frame opening, if you will. Everything under that 5×7 rectangle is hidden.

Let’s do it again with another photo. Open the photo and move it onto your template.

In the Layers palette, move the photo layer just above the square layer where you want it. In this example, I’m putting it in the space under the first photo, which is Layer 5: 5×3. Hover your mouse between the two layers and click. As you can see with my photo, it’s really big still, so all you have to do is resize it and move it anywhere you want and it stays all in that little “window”.

After resizing and moving my photo, it now looks like this:

Keep repeating this for all the photos you’ll need and it will end up looking like this. (I almost added the words “sunrise | sunset” over the top. Couldn’t get the song out of my head. :) Some great shots Zach has taken of morning and evening DC.) Take a look at the Layers palette and you’ll see how all the rectangles and the photos are clipped together.

If you need to “unclip” them, just hover over the two layers again, click your mouse and they will return to two regular layers again.

Final result? A lovely compilation of photos to use as one printed image or to cut easily and put on a page.

Is this not the most glorious thing for creating collages? No more guessing and planning sizes? Oy! That was such a pain! Can’t tell you just now long that would always take me. Now? It’s a piece of cake! Which also goes good with “chocolate and vanilla” ice cream. ;)

And on a completely unrelated note, I just thought I’d do a quick shout out for my Jordy-girl who made the sophomore softball team last night! Go Jordan!

9 comments

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Jan - March 4, 2011 - 12:09 am

Way to go Jordan! I loved watching my daughter play softball during her teen and high school years. Her team even went and played in a tournament in Hawaii and won the whole thing! Great memories. I can't believe Zach is ready to come home… I bet he was a fanatastic missionary.

cindysoul - March 4, 2011 - 12:53 pm

Kerri THANK YOU so much for designing these!!! They're exactly what I imagined! Now, I have 20,000 vacation photos to start printing! LOL!
Ps…I like you too! :0) Cindy

Kerri - March 4, 2011 - 1:02 pm

Yay Cindy! Glad you can get started now. :)

Kathy - March 4, 2011 - 1:33 pm

Wow! If only I had Photoshop:( It is on my list of things to wish for…just at this point it's going to remain a wish. Still I have something even more wonderful to look forward to when I finally am able to purchase it. Love the photos and Jordan you Go girl!

Kerri - March 4, 2011 - 2:24 pm

Hey Kathy! Since the files work with both PS and PS Elements, if you want to play around with Photoshop Elements, you can download the trial version from adobe.com. You can use it for 30 days. In fact, that's what I did just to make sure the files worked there. ;)

And Elements is much cheaper than Photoshop. I think you can usually find it for as little as $79 and many times it comes for free with the printers or other programs that you buy.

Maybe that might help? ;)

Michele H. - March 13, 2011 - 4:12 am

Hi Kerri! Just wanted to say thanks for designing these! This is perfect for a few projects that I want to create! Just bought them:)

Lulu - May 27, 2011 - 10:07 pm

Just bought this, and hoping I can figure it out.. I'm a bit photoshop challenged sometimes.. lol :)

Katrina H - December 6, 2011 - 8:24 pm

I just used one of your templates for the first time. I love them! Thanks for making it so easy!

feeling a little A.D.D. » Kerri Bradford Studio - February 28, 2012 - 2:59 pm

[...] then click your mouse, so that it now looks like this. (For more details on using Masks, refer to THIS POST.) The “love this” title is on its own layer and can be removed as well. It’s [...]

February 11.2011

making a lace paper

I loooove lacey papers.

And I looooove tone-on-tone backgrounds.

You might remember this page I made quite some time ago.

Did you know that you can make your own lace paper with your single-image shapes?

If you didn’t know, wanna see how?

You know that’s a rhetorical question, right? ;)

Open any shape into your cutting software.

For my example, I’m using the flower that came in the Every Little Thing kit.

Resize it in whatever sizes you need, copy the shapes, and rotate and place them so that the edges of the petals overlap a little. (I chose three sizes to have some kind of consistency.)

Once you have all your flowers laid out (let them go over the edge), select them all (Ctrl-A), choose Object/Modify/Weld. For SCAL, choose Object/Merge. For MTC, choose Edit/Shape Magic/Weld.

For whatever reason in my example, there was one petal that lost its little insides. If that occurs, simply choose another petal, copy and paste it where you need it. Rotate it a tiny bit, if necessary, by clicking on the little green dot of the selected image (in Silhouette Studio).

Voila! You’re done! You’ve made your very own lace paper!

If you want, you can draw a square or rectangle around the area that you need or, just let it cut it out as you see it and trim it however you need it.

16 comments

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susies1955 - February 11, 2011 - 10:34 pm

Cool. Thanks for the tutorial. :)
Susie

kkrewtea - February 11, 2011 - 10:52 pm

WOWZA! How cool. Thanks for the info!

jackiestamps4fun - February 12, 2011 - 12:30 am

Hey, thanks! I actually went and tried this and I DID IT! Yea! I didn't get the whole "inside of the petal missing" thing, but that's ok. I actually learned something and I'm super happy! This one – I could follow. Thanks again!

Kerri - February 12, 2011 - 12:47 am

Cool Jackie! I LOVE hearing that!

Stephanie - February 12, 2011 - 8:51 am

thank you. very cool…so many possibilities. :)

Issy - February 12, 2011 - 9:07 pm

Love ALL your tutorials Kerri! Love from Scotland xoxo

Calene - February 13, 2011 - 2:56 am

Well, look at you being so awesome! Thank you!!

Michelle - February 13, 2011 - 4:41 pm

You are so awesome! :)

luvmysilhouette - February 13, 2011 - 5:49 pm

Great Tip Kerri You Are Awesome…Thanks so much…xoxoxo

Kelly and Dan Gengler - February 16, 2011 - 4:12 am

I am so missing you at the SIL blog! thanks for the great tutorial!

Kerri - February 16, 2011 - 1:02 pm

Thanks Kelly! You are very sweet! :) And thanks to everyone for the support here. You are all wonderful and amazing!

ljritchie - February 18, 2011 - 6:22 am

Wow! That's just beautiful!!! I am pretty sure mine would not turn out that way…

Sandra - February 21, 2011 - 7:56 am

Thanks Kerri, for the great tutorial.
With these kind of tutorials I get to learn to do more and more with my silhouette.

Sandra

Kerri - February 21, 2011 - 2:31 pm

That's great Sandra! Love it! :)

Tania - April 26, 2011 - 7:34 pm

Kerri, this tutorial is so awesome! I use these types of pre-bought papers all the time so when I saw this I immediately tried to make it work with my "other" machine but it failed miserably. Everything looked perfect on the screen, but it just wouldn't print. So after wishing for a Silhouette forever (and not having my machine cut this), I hit the buy button and it is now on its way! I am so looking forward to learning more and your blog is a great place for information! Thank you so much!

Kerri - April 27, 2011 - 1:08 pm

Congratulations on your new purchase Tania! You will LOVE it…really, there's nothing that cuts like a Silhouette.

Happy cutting! :)

January 4.2011

importing GSD/STUDIO files into silhouette

I thought perhaps today would be a good day for a quick tutorial on how to add your purchased GSD/STUDIO files into the Silhouette Studio.

Open your Silhouette Studio and click on the Show Library icon on the left.

Expand your My Library and highlight My Own Designs.

Or, right click on My Library and create a new folder with a new name.

Click on File/Import to My Library

Pull up the directory where your GSD/STUDIO files have been saved and select the needed file.

From here you can choose Keywords to search by, add a Description, and even name the Artist!

You can also specify what kind of shape it is–a regular cut, a sketch design, etc.

The shape will now be in your directory.

Now you when you click on My Library, you can enter in any search terms needed to find the shape you’re looking for. For example, say you’re looking for Christmas shapes, if you enter the word “christmas”, it will come up with ALL shapes–Silhouette or other shapes–into the Library window.

sweet!

And be sure to check out this You Tube video tutorial on how to import multiple files at one time:

40 comments

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vegetablog - January 4, 2011 - 5:22 pm

This is so fabulous! I had no idea that I could do this. Thanks so much for the tutorial… now I'll be spending lots of time today organizing my designs, haha!
~natalie

Issy - January 5, 2011 - 1:40 am

Thanks for this tutorial Kerri! I'm battling with a new computer with a different OS to what I was used to. I'm trying to cope with the new Silhouette studio, which is GREAT,..BUT new and scary and I haven't really had time to play with it because my old computer couldn't import it…..So ohh! It's fabulous to have new toys, but I need all the help I can get to "drive" them! Happy New Year and Love from Scotland!

Kerri - January 5, 2011 - 2:06 am

Issy, I get ya on the new OS….went from PC to Mac myself. It's nice now that I've got the hang of it. Can't imagine ever switching back!

And I just have to tell you we (well, hubby had it on)were watching American Choppers and they went to Scotland, England, Ireland and I'm just loooonging to go back! Hubby said he really wants to go to your neck of the woods because it looked so beautiful there. Ahhhhh, maybe someday….

(i'm dying i want to go so bad. ;) )

dawnelaine - January 5, 2011 - 2:24 pm

Thanks so much for the tutorial, Kerri! I have been feeling somewhat "out of the loop" since the new Sil software has been released. Cannot wait to get home and try this on my home computer where I have my Silhouette and YOUR files!

Thanks again! Love your designs!!

Amy Rohl - January 5, 2011 - 4:28 pm

You are the bestest, Kerri! Thank you so much for the tute…would love to see more of these as I'm such a newbie!

Anonymous - January 5, 2011 - 10:40 pm

Kerri – I was wondering if you could tell me how to get my files from the old ROBO software to the new software

Kerri - January 5, 2011 - 11:29 pm

If you're talking about the files that you've purchased from Silhouette directly, here's what you'll need to do:

1. Click on File/Purchase Online
2. Click on My Account in the upper right and then you'll have an option to Recover Downloaded Files.
3. When you click on that you'll be prompted for your password and it should begin the download of those images that you've purchased.

That's more or less the process. :)

carilackner - January 8, 2011 - 8:48 pm

Kerri,
THANK YOU for this tutorial!!! I am currently putting in all your files and I am so thankful to be able to access them directly in Studio instead of having to remember all the great shapes I have of yours! You rock!

pianomama - January 13, 2011 - 11:57 pm

So – after I've imported the GSD – how do I get the correct image to show up on the library icon – right now it's random – the title is correct, but the thumbnail is not. Hmmmm – learning curve.

Charlie - February 5, 2011 - 11:38 pm

Thanks so very much! just wondering…can we import more than one file at a time?

Kerri - February 6, 2011 - 2:12 pm

Charlie, I'm not seeing a way to import multiple files at one time. You can only select one file at a time this way. If I find something else out along the way, I'll be sure to add it.

Kerri

Scrapthat - March 4, 2011 - 8:14 pm

Thanks for the Tutorial Kerri!
I've been avoiding doing this because I knew I would have to relearn everything…the new Studio program looks so different! Every little bit helps with the tutorials! Thank you!

MrsMarch - March 5, 2011 - 9:27 pm

Thank you for the tutorial, although I'm following the instructions and are simple enough they are not showing up in my library in any of the folders. under my files there is an empty space but nothing appears, i even tried re-indexing my files and nothing? Any suggestions?

Kerri - March 6, 2011 - 2:57 pm

MrsMarch,
I just want to make sure you are using the most recent version of Silhouette Studio. To check, go up to the toolbar and click on either Silhouette Studio or Help and then About. It should be version 1.5. I think the one prior to that release is the one I used for this example here, so it should work.

Sadly, I'm just not that great of a troubleshooter–I leave that to the experts there at Silhouette. They have an amazing support team and could help you with your question. I'd just send them an email. They are really good at getting back to you. Their email is: support@silhouetteamerica.com

Keep me posted though. I'd kind of like to know what the issue was too. :)

Mendi - March 12, 2011 - 6:33 am

This is an awesome tutorial! Thanks so much! :)

Lisa Cutler - May 5, 2011 - 5:47 pm

Is there a way to import folders of files at once or do we have to go one at a time? PIA!! (pain in the 'tush').

Thanks for a great tutorial!

Celia - May 19, 2011 - 4:22 am

Hi All
I see most of you wanted to know how to import more than one file at a time.

I copied all my GSD files into my Robo master Templates directory. Open Sil Stud and just say import from Robo Craft (some times it will freeze due to the age of the file) – just take the file out and individually import it

Trust me – it works

Anonymous - June 21, 2011 - 5:22 pm

Please advise – I love these kits – so many cute shapes…..but I have a Cricut and also Sure-Cuts-Alot program. Would I be able to cut these shapes with these or do you need a Silhouette.
Sally

Kerri - June 21, 2011 - 5:39 pm

Hey Sally! As long as your SCAL and Cricut still communicate (after Provo Craft putting the nix on updates of SCAL), you are good to go! The kits include SVG files that you can use with SCAL.

Hope that helps! :)
Kerri

Suz D. - July 7, 2011 - 10:16 pm

Any updates on importing more than one file at a time? I just got a silhouette and have a lot of files to import. It is so time consuming one by one!

Kerri - July 8, 2011 - 1:21 am

Ohhhh how I wish it could! But as far as I know, it's still just one.at.a.time. Ugh. Maybe that's a program enhancement that everyone should email Silhouette about and maybe they can get it added to the software. :)

Carla Crosby - September 6, 2011 - 7:11 am

thank you sooooo much….love my silhouette!

Judy - September 7, 2011 - 9:28 am

Thank you!! With you help I’ve downloaded my first images in my library.

Ronda - September 8, 2011 - 11:14 pm

Kerri-

I don’t use SVG files. I have Cricut Design Studios and the Cricut Gypsy. Can your files be converted to this type of file? Thanks for your help.
Ronda

Kerri - September 9, 2011 - 7:48 am

Hey Ronda!
It used to be that you could use SCAL (Sure Cuts A Lot) or MTC (Make The Cut) with your Cricut. However, Provo Craft sued both companies this spring to ban them from making their programs work with Cricut. So unless you have one of those older versions, you can’t use it with Cricut. Or unless PC comes out with something that can handle SVG files…. Cricut users can wish, right? :)

Adriana Noleto - September 13, 2011 - 6:15 am

Well, it’s been 2 years since I’ve got my silhouette, but I have never used it, can you believe it?LOL
Once I’ve tried to install and use the machine but pointless, so I’ve decided to forget about it!
I’ll try once more!Let’s see the results!
Thank you for helping us!

Kerri - September 13, 2011 - 9:39 am

Okay Adriana! What are you waiting for?! :) Once you start, you won’t be able to stop!
Oh, and if you’re having issues getting it hooked up and working, contact Silhouette. The guys there are amazing to work with and will get you set up in no time!
Have fun!

Eveline van Heijst - September 22, 2011 - 7:20 am

Thank you.
Eveline.

Lidiya - September 24, 2011 - 12:17 am

Hi Kerri! Thanks so much for the helpful tutorial! Many thanks for the freebies as well!

Regards,

Lidiya

Colleen - December 6, 2011 - 5:39 pm

As a new Silhouette Cameo owner, can you please tell me if I purchase you Christmas kit with shapes and printable designs, which format do I choose? Will this import in to my Silhouette library with the capability to do both print and cut? Thanks!

Karen - February 11, 2012 - 9:46 am

IT WORKED!!!!! Thanks so much!!!!

Zima - July 7, 2012 - 4:42 am

Thank you so much for this tutorial!

Kim Davis - September 16, 2012 - 7:27 pm

HEY EVERYONE>> I FOUND OUT HOW TO IMPORT MULTIPLE FILES AT THE SAME TIME!!!!! Woo Hoo!. Ok: You make Studio software box smaller so you can see where your file you want to import are. DO NOT click import file to my library. Make sure the file you want them to go to is highlighted in your library. Then go to your files list (on your desktop or where ever) and click on the first one, hold down shift key and click on the last one (this will work since you didn’t click import) the hold down mouse and drag files over to the large window to the right of the library files….NOT TO THE FILE SYMBOL but to the screen where it displays the contents of your file. Woo Hoo! It works!!!! Lovin it!! Good luck everyone! I am glad we finally have a solution to this!!

Rita Schildknecht - February 15, 2013 - 10:51 am

Thank you Kim Davis! You just made my day with the multiple importing of files. It was taking me forever.

Lisa O'Donoghue - February 24, 2013 - 12:24 pm

Hi,

I am perplexed as to why I can’t import/drag multiple files over to the Silhouette Studio program. I have tried and tried and yet nothing happens! I am selecting two or more images in Windows, dragging them to the large square to the right of the folders list in SS and yet nothing! It doesn’t matter what file type I’m trying; jpg, bmp, gif, jif (only kidding on the jif!) it’s so FRUSTRATING because I will be here all year importing images one by one.

I have also tried “importing portfolio cd” and that doesn’t work, my program didn’t come pre-loaded with any images (is this normal?) and the free image from Silhouette’s own website also fails to download/install into the program….I’m going insane trying to get this to work and I haven’t even begun cutting and I’ve had the machine for 4 days lol!

I’m using the most up-to-date software (v.2.7.6) on Windows 7 (64bit), I have tried using the program from an earlier version of Windows, but that doesn’t work any better, I have spent days looking for help and advice and I’m really hitting a dead-end, can anyone offer some advice please?

Thanks in advance,

Lisa
-x-

Kim Davis - February 24, 2013 - 12:43 pm

Lisa- Do you have Silhouette Designer Edition? That is what I have. But let me tell you something that I have learned since the last TWO updates to the regular silhouette software. The best thing to do is make a file on your desktop of the non-silhouette store files you have. Then when you want to use one of those files, open your silhouette software and click open (file icon) then go to that file on your desktop-select which one you want and double click it.
Here is why you don’t need to import multiple files anymore….if you import them into your library and then open them, they won’t have the cuts (red lines). I have NO IDEA why but I called Silhouette and complained about that after an update or two ago. They said if you don’t put them in your library, and just open them from your file the cut lines will be there. WEIRD I know!!! I am on computer all day so if you still have problems, let me know!!

Kim Davis - February 24, 2013 - 12:49 pm

I meant I am on the computer all day TODAY (Sun., Feb 24).

Lisa O'Donoghue - February 24, 2013 - 6:14 pm

Hi Kim,

I have the standard program of SS, which came free with my Portrait machine – does this make a difference as to why mine had no free images?

Tomorrow I shall have a look to see if the red cut lines are on some flowers I just put along the edge of an A5 document in SS, unfortunately my eyes are dropping as it’s just gone 1am so I darn’t open the prog again to check as I’ll never get to bed!

Without looking at the A5 doc I’m working on I’m just guessing, but I’m sure the lines around the flowers I copied and pasted had the red (cut) lines you mentioned, which is odd because they are in ‘my library’ aka I had imported them across from my PC to the program itself one by one (they came from a DVD sent by the company I purchased the machine from). So you saying that images I have in my library won’t have the cut lines is something I’ll have to check in the morning!

Am I right in thinking your in a different time zone to me? I just need to be aware when posting as I might be waiting hours for any help lol!

Thanks so far Kim, you have been very helpful and I will check the cut lines tomorrow and get back to you and I might even get around to actually cutting something ;)

Best wishes,

Lisa
-x-

Kerri - February 25, 2013 - 12:51 pm

Hey Lisa!
So it sounds like you are trying to import graphics (JPG/PNG)–and peanut butter (ha ha)–into Studio. This is something that can only be done in the Designer Edition. If you have DXF files, you can import them using the drag+drop found in the tutorial here: http://www.kerribradford.com/2012/08/24/dxf-tips-and-tricks/

Maybe let’s start with that and see where we go from there.
Kerri

Lisa O'Donoghue - March 2, 2013 - 10:42 am

Hi Kerri,

So even though I have the option in the ‘File/Import Portfolio CD’ this isn’t available in the standard Studio? Sounds a bit stupid having it there if it’s unavailable!

Some good news – I worked out why my program seemed empty of any free images, the mistake I was making was installing the program and then having a play with the software ‘before’ plugging in my Silhouette machine. Once I plugged in the machine and turned it on, (I had to manually install the driver which is on the CD anyway, so just keep the CD in your laptop), I registered the machine and bobs your uncle, my program started installing the free graphics that were obviously on the CD but hidden away!

I was also having problems downloading the free image from Silhouette’s website, I placed the order and got the “thank you, your image will be downloaded when you run Silhouette Studio” or words to that effect, but nothing – no images were sitting in my ‘recent downloads’ folder. The mistake I was making with this one, was actually going to Silhouette’s website via my Chrome browser – how I got it to work was going to their website via the Studio program, logging into my account, going into my account history and re-downloading them, this then installed them into the correct ‘recent downloads’ folder!

What a pain but sorted!

So, I’m still stuck with importing any files one at a blinkin’ time as I can’t mass import or drag and drop, so that’s a pain and I don’t see why drag and drop is SO standard across many computer interfaces now, yet not with this Studio program?

Thanks for your link, it didn’t help really as the files I wanted to mass import are jpg/svg type and not DXF but thank you anyway :)

Best wishes,

Lisa
-X-

October 7.2010

beALIVE + using this+that digitally

The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.

—Eleanor Roosevelt

*****

I see that many of you have been enjoying the giveaway of the This & That series over on Lisa’s blog. See some new friends here and that’s just plain exciting! Welcome! The contest ends today though, so if you haven’t entered, hurry!

I’ve noticed a couple comments and thought I should address them.

So, the first item on the agenda is:

How to use the This & That Pieces if you don’t have a digital cutter.

Many of the pieces are a simple cut so you can still create some of the layers on your tray. However, there are pieces like the chandelier, the haunted house, the date, the pumpkin, etc., that I would not recommend cutting by hand. But you can use your photo editing software (like Photoshop or PS Elements) to create the illusion of layers with the pieces.

Here’s how to do that.

First, I’m using Photoshop, but what I’m using are basic features and should be in Elements as well. Other programs should have similar ways of doing this. You’ll need to read your manual or Help screen to find those steps that don’t match up. The principle is still the same. And if you don’t have Elements, you can download a free trial version from the Adobe site HERE. It’s good for 30 days. You can do the same with any of their programs, which is pretty sweet.

Open one of the composite PNG files. I’m using tt_halloween_print1_PNG_0009 for this example. You can add your dimensional layers to the file as it is, or work with them individually as I am doing here–just because I’m rotating images and such so that it’s easier to work with in the right orientation. Select the background piece for the image that contains the chandelier and crop it.

Rotate the image 90 degrees clockwise.

Open the Chandelier_PNG_0009 image which should be located in your PNG_Other directory.

Select the Paint Bucket tool and make sure your color choice is on white. Then, click on the chandelier with the little paint bucket and change it to white, so that it looks like this.

Click on the Selection tool (arrow), click on the chandelier and drag it to your other screen with the background on it. Hold down the Shift key to keep the sizing proportional and click on the bounding box (the little “handles” on the corners of the image) to size the chandelier to fit within the background.

Now here is where you would add the shadow by selecting the “fx” button on the bottom-left (shown above) and choosing Drop Shadow (I just used the default settings). However, with this particular shape, you can’t really see the shadow because the background is basically black.

Open the halloween_title_PNG_0009 and card_PNG_0009 files and repeat the same steps you did for the chandelier–changing the color for the Halloween title as needed. Use the Color Picker tool (okay, so it’s called the Eyedropper tool) to pick out the orange color from the flourish to have your title match it if you want. It should now look like this.

If you’ll notice, I still added the shadows to everything and you can really see it with the Halloween title as it hits the white of the chandelier and the card. Even where the 13 card overlaps the one edge of the chandelier. You could take it one step further into the 3D world and punch two little holes on each side of the card (once it’s printed) and tie a black string around it similar to what I’ve done with the individual piece version.

And just remember, many of those pieces can be cut by hand and layered, even the witches boots could be cut easily and then use a paper piercer to punch the tiny little shoelace holes. I would just avoid cutting things like the letters & numbers, the haunted house, chandelier, spider web, pumpkin, tree, fence, and clock hand . . . unless you have excellent hand skills with an X-acto knife. ;)

Okay, the second item on the agenda.

How do you get the right size SVG files for Make The Cut (MTC) or Sure Cuts A Lot (SCAL)?

OH MY GOODNESS! It didn’t even occur to me that that would happen. Duh!!! lol They are all sized correctly when they are saved. I don’t know why those programs bring them in so small and then you have to resize them.

If you are using a Silhouette with the GSD files, the sizes do remain in tact though.

Therefore, here are all the sizes of each cuttable shape as they appear in the cut file. Width x Height

BLACK

tree: 1.5 x 2.8125

clock hand: .3557 x 1.5514

candlestick: .9133 x 3.8837

“Don’t Look Back”:1.5999 x 1.3251

grave stone: 1.1358 x 1.6596

witch boot: .8398 x 1.0279

haunted house: 1.4368 x 2.1792

pumpkin: 1.6778 x 1.8661

bat: .8534 x 2.0688

fence: 1.2376 x .9077

WHITE

moon: .4971 x .581

3: .7074 x 1.3011

1: .6501 x 1.2839

chandelier: 2.0783 x 2.1424

fall: 1.0898 x .3627

RIP: .5542 x .2346

star: 1.286 x 1.4072

PUMPKINS: 3.948 x .6701

web: 2.7812 x 1.0587

TAN

leaves: 1.1487 x .5254

trick or treat: 1.6716 x .7321

GREY

grave stone: 1.1358 x 1.6596

ORANGE

BOO: 1.3517 x 1.0625

O: 2.2335 x .8377

C: 2.2421 x .8377

T: 2.1732 x .8257

pumpkin back: 1.4975 x .9482

halloween: 4.1237 x 1.0564

I hope that helps! :)

16 comments

add a comment

saerwin - October 7, 2010 - 6:45 pm

Just thought I would mention that I cut everything with my cricut using SCAL software and the SVG files. I used the file that started with "tt" and then separated each group of cuts by colour. Everything cut out perfectly sized and I didn't have to resize anything. Hope that helps others!

Kerri - October 7, 2010 - 7:42 pm

That's great to know saerwin! Thanks for sharing that!

Issy - October 7, 2010 - 8:36 pm

Thanks for the wee tutorial! This is exactly what I'm missing so much from your (extremely missed) input on the Silhouette blog.
Girl! You are THE BEST Silhouette/ Creative Tutor in the whole wide world…and that's SO understated!
Love, as always, from Scotland xo

Issy - October 7, 2010 - 8:38 pm

Kerri…forgot to say…the quote..yes it's so true xo

kat-in-texas - October 7, 2010 - 11:18 pm

Kerri, what's the cursive font on your blog?

(I thought I asked the other day).

Love it!!! :)

Barbara - October 8, 2010 - 1:00 am

Thank you so much. I just got the MTC -mainly because of this kit (and hopefully many more) and thought I was doing something wrong. Thank you so much. Off to do some cutting:)

this & that: winter » Kerri Bradford Studio - November 8, 2011 - 7:34 pm

[...] You can use this kit with Cricut, Silhouette, or an digital craft cutter that can use SVG/DXF/GSD files. If you don’t have a digital craft cutter? No worries because you can create it digitally! For information on how to do that, read this post HERE. [...]

this & that: gratitude . . . break it down » Kerri Bradford Studio - November 9, 2011 - 6:17 am

[...] can create the project digitally. Refer to THIS POST for information on how to do [...]

this & that: christmas » Kerri Bradford Studio - November 9, 2011 - 6:39 am

[...] No worries, you can also create it digitally. For information on how to do that, refer to this post HERE. For those of you that have preordered it, I will be sending out files tonight! It’s pretty [...]

this & that: christmas . . . break it down » Kerri Bradford Studio - November 9, 2011 - 6:41 am

[...] can create the project digitally. Refer to THIS POST for information on how to do that. Just like the other two kits, due to my current method of [...]

this & that: winter . . . break it down » Kerri Bradford Studio - November 9, 2011 - 7:22 am

[...] talk to your Cricut so it can use the SVG files. You can create the project digitally. Refer to THIS POST for information on how to do that. Just like my other This & That kits, due to my current [...]

this & that: love . . . break it down » Kerri Bradford Studio - November 9, 2011 - 7:31 am

[...] if you don’t have a digital craft cutter? No worries. You can create it digitally! THIS POST has some great information on how to do [...]

this+that: christmas past » Kerri Bradford Studio - December 7, 2011 - 9:26 am

[...] cutter? No worries. You can create it digitally! There are PNG/JPG files in this kit as well. THIS POST has some great information on how to do that.Distribution and Use of the File I’ve have to [...]

this & that: autumn . . . break it down » Kerri Bradford Studio - January 13, 2012 - 9:19 pm

[...] cutter? No worries. You can create it digitally! There are PNG/JPG files in this kit as well. THIS POST has some great information on how to do [...]

this & that: family . . . break it down » Kerri Bradford Studio - January 13, 2012 - 9:20 pm

[...] And if you don’t have a digital craft cutter? No worries. You can create it digitally! THIS POST has some great information on how to do that. Distribution and Use of the File I’ve [...]

this+that: all hallows’ eve » Kerri Bradford Studio - September 13, 2012 - 11:02 am

[...] cutter? No worries. You can create it digitally! There are PNG/JPG files in this kit as well. THIS POST has some great information on how to do [...]

September 7.2010

accessing your GSD files

In light of a little thread going on over at Two Peas, I thought perhaps I might share a little step-by-step on how to access the Silhouette GSD files from me or any other GSD source–not purchased through Silhouette.

One note to remember, the GSD files that outside sources make to use with Silhouette cannot be used in the My Library software that comes with Silhouette. The GST files that Silhouette sells are proprietary in that they can only be used with their software–through My Library.

To easily peruse and access GSD files that you have purchased via outside sources (like me ;) ), open a new document in Robomaster and click File/Thumbnail Browser.

Then you’ll see this screen (below). Choose the directory where your GSD files are located and the thumbnails of all the GSD images in the directory will display. I would keep all my GSD files in one directory. However, you could also sort the files by creating additional directories. For example, create directories called Nature, Birthday, Travel, Phrases, etc. (In my example I have them separated the way I need them for what I do with selling them–so don’t go by that.)

Next, click on the needed image and voila! You are good to go!

I hope this helps all you Silhouette fans. :)

23 comments

add a comment

Carrie - September 7, 2010 - 7:31 pm

This is great! For some reason, I never even noticed this menu item – it will definitely come in handy :)

vegetablog - September 7, 2010 - 7:32 pm

this is super helpful–thank you!

p.s. i used a modification of your filmstrip freebie on a recent layout– it was perfect!

Cassie - September 7, 2010 - 7:38 pm

Thank you so much! I never even realized that there was that menu option. It inspired me to try it and then I cleaned out my designs that I keep there too. Perfect!

Scrapthat - September 7, 2010 - 8:10 pm

that is THE most fabulous tip!! I love it! TFS!

Rhadonda - September 7, 2010 - 9:29 pm

Thank you. Very helpful. I wondered if there is a way you can have a preview picture of each kit so that we can easily see what was in the kit w/o opening the file. Does that make sense? I know as you sell more and more designs that would be helpful. Previews are something i have learned and love from the digital world of kits. But i don't have a clue how hard design-wise that would be to accomplish. Just wondering because you needed something else to do right? ( :

luvmysilhouette - September 7, 2010 - 10:40 pm

Thanks Sooooooooooooo much Kerri, between You and Nichol mabe I will learn all the neat little things this Silhouette can do…

Amy - September 7, 2010 - 11:16 pm

Thank you so so much!! This helps a ton!!!

Darlene Melvin - September 8, 2010 - 4:26 am

OMG!! i had a wishblade for years..all those files i never go to because it was just too time consuming.. THIS ROCKS! Thank you so much for this tip. It has made my week!

dawnelaine - September 8, 2010 - 1:46 pm

Thanks for tips, Kerri. They are always so helpful! I actually PRINTED OUT your instructions for making a P&C out of a regular design, the one with the two birds on the tank top – 17 pages!! (I know – LAME!! What can I say – I do not retain well!!) I can't tell you how many times I have used that information! Thanks so much!!

Kathy - September 9, 2010 - 12:53 pm

You make being creative so much simpler!! Thanks a bunch, Girl:)

Luv2stamp - September 10, 2010 - 4:44 pm

Good Gosh that is one awesome tip..TX so much it will come in handy, since I have loads of other GDS images from other sources.Thanks once again for sharing!!

ColoradoCropper - September 12, 2010 - 4:37 am

Well, heck. I followed the directions and it didn't work for me. None of the files will open up. Is because they're zipped and I have to unzip them? As you can probably tell, I'm not very tech savy. HELP! The little icon next to each file is a stack of books if that helps.

Kerri - September 12, 2010 - 1:07 pm

Hey ColoradoCropper!
Yes, you need to Unzip the files first. You need to use something like WinZip or StuffIt to do that.

Usually when I double click on the ZIP file (or even right-click on it), I will get an option of what to Unzip it with. I use StuffIt because that's what I had on my computer when I bought it. It will ask for a Destination folder–where you want to Unzip the files to–and I just specify where I want it at that point. Then once it does its little Unzip magic, you'll see the GSD/SVG/DXF/JPG/PNG directories as each type of file is sorted into their own directories so you can use the ones as you need.

I hope that helps. :)

Angela - September 15, 2010 - 2:24 pm

That is way cool, I have a ton of GSD files that I down loaded a long time ago and never used them because I hated opening them to see what they where.

Thanks a bunch

Sandra Correale - October 8, 2010 - 2:30 am

How do I access them now with Silhouette Studio? There is no thumbnail browser.

Kerri - October 8, 2010 - 3:08 am

Hey Sandra!
I'm waiting to get my new Mac before downloading Silhouette Studio. Then I'll be able to work through all those details. In the interim, I did find this information on how to open GSD files in the new Studio program.

This is what it said on Silhouette's FAQs:

"Silhouette Studio does allow for the opening of GSD files. When using the "Open" feature, make sure you click on the "File Type" at the bottom of the window that looks for files to open and set to "GSD" rather than "Studio". This should enable you to open your GSD file."

I'm hoping to get my Mac here in the next few days…so stay tuned… :)

Sandra Correale - October 8, 2010 - 3:05 pm

Thanks so much Kerri! I appreciate your quick response. I just ordered your Halloween kit – so excited to play with it. Have a great day ;)

Cutiephinphin - November 16, 2010 - 11:32 am

Hi Kerri

I'm contemplating on getting a Silhouette SD but I'm really wondering how it's gonna work together with my Mac. I do see that there is a Mac version of the Silhouette Studio but I'm worried about being able to use the digital shapes from outside sources. Would love to have your insight on that.

P.S Pls do update once you've worked on the Silhouette with your Mac. Thanks!

Penny - May 9, 2011 - 4:44 pm

Kerri,

Thank you so much for the information, but when I tried this I get an error message that says, this is a new version of file and cannot be opened by this software. Any insight?

Kerri - May 9, 2011 - 5:03 pm

Hey Penny! What version of Studio are you using? On the Mac you can find the version by going to Silhouette Studio/About Silhouette Studio (above the Toolbar). On a PC it may be under Help. I'm not sure.

The current version I have is 1.5 and I know that if your version of the software is lower than what the file has been saved in (from Silhouette or anyone), then there's usually a compatibility issue.

Maybe check that out and see if that might be what's going on and let me know.

Penny - May 10, 2011 - 4:41 pm

Thanks Kerri. I've downloaded two other versions. I'll let you know if it works this time. Thanks again.

Hugs,
Penny

Penny - May 10, 2011 - 5:04 pm

Okay, I have downloaded 2.4, 4.0 and 5.1. I still can't get the files to open. I don't have any idea what I'm doing wrong.

Penny - May 10, 2011 - 5:17 pm

I figured it out, Kerri. Thanks anyway. The files I downloaded from you were not GSD files.

Hugs,
Penny

new stuff --->