Bird collage feedback ...

[pontiac1940]

Thanks all. Appreciate your suggestions, positive comments and other options.

"It's all about the playing."   HA HA. Looks like there will be mucho "play time" next week during an Arctic freeze.  

I will think about some text to add. 

Jan 11, 2020 10:23:35 GMT Lillias said:

you CAN still use ‘Paste layer style’. Put a layer style on the item and then right click on its layer in the layers panel and from the drop down list choose ‘copy layer style’ then click on the layer of the next item to which you wish to attribute the same layer style and right click on it and choose ‘paste layer style’ and that’s it...done.

Thanks, yes, that's what I did. Added a thick white stroke to one of the insets before any had been reduced in size. Then I changed the remaining six images at once by selecting them all in the layers panel. You might notice that each inset has a thin dark edge inside of the thick white stroke edge (border). Unless I am missing something, you can't first add a dark edge and then a lighter edge because the second nullifies the first (i.e. changing the layer style). So I added a dark edge to all seven images before dropping them into the master file..and then added the thick border. 

Anyway, that was fun and I might do some more. 

Thanks!

Clive
 

[Sepiana]

Jan 11, 2020 15:31:02 GMT pontiac1940 said:

You might notice that each inset has a thick dark edge inside of the thick white stroke edge (border). Unless I am missing something, you can't first add a dark edge and then a lighter edge because the second nullifies the first (i.e. changing the layer style). So I added a dark edge to all seven images before dropping them into the master file..and then added the thick border. 

Clive,

You may want to try this. It is a more convoluted way but it gives you more editing flexibility.

- Use the Edit>Stroke (Outline) Selection command.
- Place each stroke on its own layer.
- Apply the wide stroke first (the darker one).
- Apply the narrow stroke next (the lighter one).
- Use the Inside location for sharper edges
- Use the Center location for rounded edges.

The advantage of having the stroke on its own layer is that you can change its color, width; apply a bevel, texture, etc. If you decide you don't want the stroke, just delete this layer.

[cats4jan]

Interesting thread. Glad to see digital scrapbooking/collage making has drafted another soul. You've done an outstanding job.

I agree with the comments already made. I like the birds flying toward the center instead of off the page - I like the different sized borders - I like that the photos are tilting and overlapping...

(I'm a big fan of tilting to add visual interest, however, I've been known to go 'tilt-crazy', so the degree of tilting is something to be aware of.)

Only suggestion: 

The background color bothers me. The depth of color is very good, however, the blue you've chosen is not in the family with the backgrounds of your photos. I'd start by using the color picker to grab a color from one of the photos and choose the depth of color from that choice. However, I really like that the background is not a plain solid color.

(If you don't want to start over with your background, you could use a hue/sat layer mask on the background layer - and change it that way. It's a little more difficult, but it could be a simple adjustment is all that is needed.)

After changing the color a bit, you might find it easier to find a border color that works for you. Don't be afraid of using a thin line of intense color inside your border (as already suggested) - it will add interest.

More than any other comment about your work, I want to stress - to you and to everyone - this is an 'artistic' endeavor.

THE ONLY PERSON YOU NEED TO PLEASE IS YOURSELF. THERE IS NO RIGHT OR WRONG TO THIS.

And yes, you can play and play and play with your design and never feel it is exactly perfect. Realize there is no perfection, there is only 'pleasing to your eye' Grabbing suggestions from others is OK, it's a way to learn - but realize we are all coming from our own view of what it should look like.



BTW - If you decide to add text, reduce the size of all your photos to give yourself room for text.  Do not squeeze text into available space because then it will look like - you've squeezed text into available space.  LOL

To reduce the size of all the elements of your page - except the background - choose all the layers on your design (use the layers panel, click on the top layer, then shift/click on the second last layer -- avoiding the background layer -- then grab the move tool and make the whole selection smaller at the same time.  Shift it around as a whole - to make space for your text. 


It is not necessary to make a box for your title/text, however, if it's not showing up enough for you, you can bold it or you can use a soft brush that is only slightly off color from your background and brush a stroke immediately under your text.

[blackmutt]

Nice Job, Clive. Next thing you know, Mrs. Clive will have you quilting... HAHaHa

[pontiac1940]

Thanks to everyone. I am not sure that my soul has been sucked into the collage abyss just yet, but it is quite fun.  

Jan 11, 2020 19:37:30 GMT cats4jan said:

The background color bothers me.

Agree Janice. I'd noted that the colors were "better" in the first try. 

Thanks for the stroke tops Sepiana. I tend to do destructive work vs as you suggest. (I have learned as I go along to save new generations with a new name designation: AA BB CC etc) 

So I went for a nice long walk today (because walking next week will not be possible..too cold) and left the bird telephoto at home and took the 24-105 lens snug in a "warm" LowePro case. My mission, besides walking, was to take some photos for a new background. I wanted sparse thin tree limbs to emulate the PSE background used originally. Settled on trees and a coulee hillside which I messed with in PSE to get more or less "right." And then changed the color as suggested, to more or less match some of the blue in one or two images. Good idea Janice. 

Still not sure that I like it, but here is Bird Collage 3.0  Was going to put a title on it, "The Birds of Winter" but that is not correct as the tundra swans go south for winter. All the others  are here year 'round.   
  
Thanks again for all of your suggestions. Will likely give it a go again when we are in a deep freeze next week. And, no, I am not about to start quilting. 

[Sepiana]

Jan 12, 2020 2:52:51 GMT pontiac1940 said:

Thanks for the stroke tops Sepiana. I tend to do destructive work vs as you suggest. 

Clive, you are most welcome! There is nothing destructive about using layer styles. As long as you have the layers, they can be adjusted, scaled, removed, etc. It is just that, for what you want to do, the Edit>Stroke command works better.

BTW, if you are interested, you may want to check this new "tips" thread -- When Location Matters.

[jackscrap]

Jan 12, 2020 2:52:51 GMT pontiac1940 said:

And, no, I am not about to start quilting. 

I hear knitting is quite therapeutic...

[pontiac1940]

Jacki
I hear knitting is quite therapeutic...
HA HA HA
Maybe I'll knit a cozy for my Marmite jar!  
Nope, no knitting in my future.
Clive