Using Brushes as Stamps

By Karen Brockney · July 9th, 2012

· 14 Comments · Add to my favorites · Print

Related Tags: blend modes, brushes, design effects, using brushes

Karen uses brushes as ‘digital stamps’ to create a textured background for any photo.

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Related Tags: blend modes, brushes, design effects, using brushes

This entry is filed under Design and Layout, General-Purpose Projects, Members, Scrapbooking, Video Tutorials.

14 Replies to Using Brushes as Stamps:

Steve
July 9, 2012 at 2:52 pm

I really liked the way this “paper” turned out. It’s so much easier to make your own instead of hunting for an appropriate background. I just have a few questions.

Why have you chosen to make the document the size that it is. I’m assuming that this would be something that you would only use on a web page and never actually print.

And what is the advantage of using only web colors? Would colors picked from the other color picker not be consistent?
- Karen
  July 10, 2012 at 4:19 am
  
  Steve, I chose that size because I generally make images for the web and not print. You can use any size you want. And I chose “web colors” because it was easier for me to be consistent with the colors I used for instructional purposes – but you can use the full color picker, too.
  - Dennis
    July 10, 2012 at 5:17 am
    
    Karen,
    
    I’m pretty “green” to working with brushes so bear with me. I’m trying the tutorial using 8.5 x 11 size at 300dpi resolution for print. When I do this I noticed the 2500pixel rising sun brush does not fill the document. Is this typical of brush sizes? Would I have to be content with this brush size given my document size?
Wayne
July 10, 2012 at 5:06 am

Karen,
I really like what you have done with creating this background. Can you tell me what brushes that you used and where to get them? I like to follow along with you step by step.

Thanks,
Wayne
- Elizabeth
  July 10, 2012 at 4:15 pm
  
  Hi Wayne,
  
  Links to all of Karen’s brushes can be found in the cheat sheet PDF, which you can find under Related Links and Articles. You can download each set and follow along!
  
  -Elizabeth
Peggy
July 10, 2012 at 2:18 pm

Thanks for the clear and well explained videos on brushes. It really helped. I also appreciate the link to download the brushes you used as well as to explore other available brushes!
Janis
July 10, 2012 at 2:26 pm

Hi Karen, I enjoyed working on the tutorial, thank you. I downloaded the brushes, found some steampunk brushes, but could not find the one w/the airballoon. Can you please advise which site you found it, that would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, Janis
- Karen
  July 24, 2012 at 5:43 pm
  
  Hi Janis, Sorry it took so long to reply! The brushes I used were the Steampunk Brushes from Graphics Fairy:
  http://graphicsfairy.blogspot.com/2012/01/vintage-download-steampunk-brushes-for.html
Mikki
July 20, 2012 at 5:19 pm

I am truly going to have fun creating with this….thank you!
Lourdes
July 23, 2012 at 4:54 pm

Hi, Karen:

Thank you for the great video. I love your paper design. Like you most of my work is for the web but I was still picking “regular colors”; now I know better. Also, I would like to download the brushes you used on the video. Would you be able to tell me where you got them from. Thanks again!!!
- Karen
  July 24, 2012 at 5:52 pm
  
  Lourdes, you do not have to use “Web colors” for your Web work. Web colors were necessary several years ago when monitors didn’t display as many colors as they do now and using a color other than a “Web safe” color could have strange results. I just used “Web colors” to make it easier for me to prepare this lesson, but using them for your web designs can be very restrictive. You can use the full range of colors available to you in the Color Picker – and be assured that today’s montiors will display them accurately.
  - Lourdes
    July 24, 2012 at 8:15 pm
    
    Thank you so much for clarifying that for me. Also, for the link for the brushes. I followed your instructions and created your beautiful paper. Your tutorials and artwork are great. Thanks again!!!
Karen
July 24, 2012 at 5:49 pm

FYI – the Steampunk Brushes I used were from Graphics Fairy:
http://graphicsfairy.blogspot.com/2012/01/vintage-download-steampunk-brushes-for.html

Links to the other brushes can be found in the cheatsheet.
Barbara
September 6, 2012 at 6:03 am

Karen: I’ve watched your tutorials on Youtube and learned a lot from you when I first started using PSE. Delighted to see you contributing to Photoshop Elements Techniques. And as always–I picked up some good info in this tutorial. I always enjoy your presentation style and the quality and usefulness of your info. Looking forward to seeing more! Thanks, as always, Barbara L.