iPhone / Phone Camera Tutorials & 2 Give Away Opportunities

Hello, how are you? I hope well.

Oh my goodness.... I've been under the weather this past week. In fact, it's all a bit of a blur. But, it feels good to find my way back. My oh my.... good health is such a gift....

Anyhow, sweet friends, I have some good stuff today....Let's dive right in.

I receive lots of emails, asking about iPhone photo editing... my favourite apps, how to use textures on the iPhone etc.... Today I'm going to focus on that. I have 2 iPhone/Phone screencasts for you. 

First, just recently adobe released PS TOUCH for iPhones and androids. It originally released for the iPad/tablets. Anyhow, I LOVE it..... It has a lot of fabulous photoshop features.... seriously packed with all kinds of power and possiblities. Today's tutorial is texture specific...Just enough to get you texturizing on your phone.

As for accessing my textures from my phone....I store all of my textures in the Adobe Revel cloud, so I can access them from any of my devices...even my macbook.... The Revel lets you import as many photos as you want for the first 30 days. After that you can import up to 50 photos every month. It's a free service. Check out my video for a quick walk through. (thanks again today Wendy Woodby for the heads up on this... xo)

Dropbox is also another option. I don't know what I ever did without dropbox. I use it all the time between my iMac and Macbook....and on my phone and iPad... It's great for accessing files on the go....sharing files, photos etc.

Finally, The awesome folks at Totally Rad released a new app called Pic Tap Go..... It's so fun.... I put together a quick little demo below... LOVE...LOVE...LOVE...

As for a few of my other FAVOURITE iPhone Apps. Let's see. I love Phonto and Over for adding type to my images. (but PS Touch also lets you do this) I think I will always love the VSCO cam app.... and pre-PS Touch ... Snapseed was always my first stop.

::

Okie doke...before you check out the videos, how 'bout a give away?

I have 2...

1. a spot in my upcoming Photoshop/Elements class Picture Process. (8 weeks access to the Elements or CS6 class).

2. my latest Texture set, The Cloth & Paper Collection. 

To enter, share your favourite Phone app below.... not into phone photography?... that's okay...... How 'bout a favourite font... We all love fonts.... Right?! :)

I will announce the winner here on Wednesday.

I think that covers it. I'm off to find something for dinner. :)

Here's to a fabulous week.... so much gratitude.

xo,

p.s This week's Texture Tuesday is anything goes....which means.. pop back and share your favourite photo..textured, untextured, iPhone.... share, share, share... xo

PS Touch & Adobe Revel Screencast

Pic Tap Go Screencast

Update on March 13 by Kim Klassen

thank you for all the app & font suggestions. Keep 'em coming if you like!

The give away is now closed.

New Classes & new Texture Tutorials

today....a little Ben love...just cause..... 'smile'

Hello friends,

You know that saying.... a day late and a dollar short.... today I'm thinking... instead... a week late and so many days short. Hmmm, where does the time go?

I know I'm not alone....'sigh'..... 

Enough of that...

I'm excited to announce 2 new classes today... and a few eCourse ideas that are spinning around in my head today.

First the new class is.....

Picture Process - actually it's 2 separate classes.... One for Elements 11 users and another for Photoshop CS6 users. I will announce all the details early next week....Here's a basic overview of the class.

This class will fill your creative brain with all kinds of ideas for making your photos unique and oh-so-you. We will start at the beginning, no experience necessary. Once we have the basics covered we will move into the more advanced and interesting possibilities of Photoshop/Elements. By the end of class you will be rocking photoshop.....  Layers, masking, creative touches, text, textures, skin retouching, photo layouts, banners, buttons....and more.

I'm just finalizing the dates and details. Registration will open next week...Class will begin mid-March. 

I also have a few brand new class ideas in my head...

Picture Process - Lightroom 4 Creative Edits
The title says it all, I think..... 

Ready, Set ..... SLOW - a 3 month slow-paced Lighroom class.
Details are still brewing..... this would be a slow & steady approach to learning Lightroom.

Ready, Set .... GO - Mini Workshops - a variety of short, instant access classes on Lightroom, Photoshop & maybe photography....spin, spin... goes my head.

The Art of Texture - an all new texture class - from applying, to creating your own textures both painted and digitally.... completely new lessons.... 

So that's what's inside my head.....  waiting to come to life..... Class-wise....

Lately

On a more personal note... a few weeks ago a guest popped by..... uninvited.....and she still here. Perhaps you've met? I call her... the blues... the blahs.... the ughs..... 

'sigh'..... 

It might be a winter thing.... gosh it goes on far too long....  But I find it's pulling me down... Not so much in my work... but definitely in my personal day to day life. It feels like an extra weight...hanging off of me. I'm quite sick of it. I'm irritable, overly sensitive, short-tempered...... I grumble about the cold & the ice, all the extra clothes I have to layer on.... I'm dragging myself out the door for my walks.... Oh my... listen to me. It sounds quite pathetic.....

I know this too shall pass....  I must sound really ungrateful. I know it's best to focus on all the good in my life... I'm trying...and truly there is so much to be thankful for... But for some reason... I just can't see to shake these blahs.....

I restarted my morning pages today...and this got me to thinking..... maybe I should share this my lovely readers. I like to be honest and real with you. I thought perhaps someone out there... might be feeling this way too...It always helps to know we are not alone.

In fact, just writing this  .... feels good. I'm hoping the next time I pop in, I will be free of 'her'.... and back to my old self....

I thought I'd ask you all.... what do you do...when the blues hit? Share in the comments if you like. I'd love to hear from you.

one more week til Benny gets his haircut.... phew.. it's like his head is shrinking as his fur keeps growing in all kinds of unruly ways..... :)

As promised I put together a few new Texture Tutorials... for cs6 and Elements 11. Please take a peek if you have a moment.

If you are new to textures, be sure to sign up for my texture list HERE, and start receiving lots of lovely freebies right away.

I must sign off... until next time... much love...and the biggest gratitude.

xo,

Texturize CS6 - Part 1

Texturize CS6 - Part 2

Texturize Elements

Texturized Peeps - a Few Tips

mouse over to see the before texture photo

I have a confession.... I didn't take one single people pic this week... or the week before... or the week before that!  'sigh'....

Something must change.... I'm telling you... it must. :) 

I was sure this week's TT challenge would get me inspired.... but the truth is... I need some cooperative peeps to photograph!  I need to hang a sign...  

Wanted: Willing Models NOW. {please} 

If you missed it.... this week's Texture Tuesday challenge is - PEOPLE... :) Are you feeling it? Can you dig it? Are you ready?

I had to dig into the archives....and beg my sweet friend and fab photographer, Denise Balyoz, for a few people pics to play with. Watch for a few of Denise's fab photos in the next post. 

Above goes way back in the archives....  a 'for-fun' shoot for my hairdresser.... and this beautiful model.... I dug it out and reprocessed the photo. I have to say I adore what 'granny's cupboard' did to the already grungy background!

So let's talk texture on people .... 

I love both textured and non-textured portraits and people pics. Textures can add the coolest effect to the background of a photo...

I normally remove the texture from the skin.  Unless I'm going for an artful look.... than I may leave it.... There's some amazing flickr folk who do the coolest things with textures and self-portraits....Heavy texture can be fun and oh so FAB!

But if you are going for a natural more subtle effect...removing it from the person/people is the way to go.

There's all kinds of techniques you can use....

• you can use a selection tool and outline the skin area, then add a blur filter to that area of the texture. This allows you to keep the tone of the texture, without funky lines and texture on the skin. 
• Another options is to select the main color from the texture, create a new blank layer, and paint over the skin and hair (and clothing). You can then go ahead and change the layer blend mode and adjust the opacity. Normally it works best if you set the blend mode to match the blend mode you used on the texture layer.

I converted today's photo to a vintage feel black and white. I then added 'granny's cupboard' and changed the blend mode to soft light. I desaturated the texture layer. Then added a layer mask and removed the texture from the model's skin, hair and clothing. 

Because the photo was black and white, and I desaturated the texture itself, I didn't have to worry about the skin looking greyed after I removed the texture.  

.....

So there's a little food for thought, my friends.....

What about you...any tips to share? Thoughts?  I'd love to hear!

I will be back to put up our TT challenge post before midnight. 

I seriously can not wait to see what you all have come up with!!

xxo, 

p.s. I'm thrilled to be featured at A Place for Twiggs, today.  I'd love to see you there!! 

p.s.s. The final round, before Fall, of The Essentials eCourse begins tomorrow. Are you in? :)