Not only is making a digital version of a physical assembly a great idea, you can create a background that’s completely digital. This allows you to use it as many times as you wish.
NOTE: Though I talk about scanning throughout, you can also take images with your smart phone.
Steps
Raster Images
1. Flat.
Creating a digital background with flat materials is as easy as scanning them in. You can use them “as is” or add other elements and graphics to make your background more interesting after digitizing it. Here are a few things to use when creating a background with flat elements.
- Book pages
- Child’s artwork
- Ephemera
- Newspapers
- Postcards / mail / letters
2. Single.
You can scan unusual items by using a clear acrylic frame. Place it on your scanner bed and fill it with whatever you want to scan. For this step, we’re sticking with a single item that completely fills the frame or is sprinkled across the frame.
For example, the look of sand in groups across the frame looks completely different than the entire frame filled with sand. You can choose to photograph it instead and write a power word such as “relax” in the sand and use that for a digital background for an inspirational quote.
3. Combo.
Perhaps you don’t want just one element in your frame. You might want to combine elements. A vintage doily and piece of cameo jewelry can reflect the nostalgia of the past. Confetti and poly-filled water balloons can give you a party feel. Of course, you can add as many items as you wish.
NOTE: As you put things into and out of your acrylic frame, be careful not to scratch it as you will then need to spend time cleaning the scratches off of the scans you make.
4. Contents.
So, what can you put in a frame? Here’s a starting list.
- Beads, designed
- Beads, loose
- Beads, string
- Buttons
- Confetti
- Craft scraps
- Crafted items
- Ephemera
- Fabric
- Flowers, fresh
- Flowers, pressed
- Food items
- Found items
- Jewelry, broken
- Leaves
- Microbeads
- Needle and thread
- Sand
- Shaving cream with ink
Continue brainstorming ideas to make your own unique backgrounds.
5. Dimension.
Acrylic frames can also be used for dimensional items like bows, flowers, ornaments and toys. The thickness of the frame allows you the ability not only scan these items, but to position them as well. Look at these items and find a few that you want to try.
6. Assemble.
Since you’re assembling digital images, the possibilities are endless. For larger items, you may want to scan each item separately so that you have more versatility with dropping in items.
For example, I’m currently working on making a list of all the tools mentioned in the Craft Fun supplements. I want to make a page of images of all the tools needed for each craft project so if someone grabs a supplement and their English isn’t great, they have a second way to obtain information from the supplement.
7. Create.
So, we’ve scanned a slew of things and you’re probably happily combining and recombining them in Adobe Photoshop . . . or the equivalent. You aren’t limited to just adjusting images. You can create your own backgrounds in Photoshop using the colors, tools and filters in the software. In addition, you can use Adobe Illustrator to create backgrounds as well . . . using special patterns and brushes.
While starting with an image can make creation easier, you can start with a blank page and do all your creation in software and apps.
8. Light.
Your background may look great, but if you can’t use it with other elements, is it really a background? To make your final dark image more of a background image, add a layer and make it a percentage of white. This allows you to see the background while lightening it up so you can put other elements like a quote on it.
While you could just lighten the image overall, using the white layer allows you to turn off that layer so your original creation remains intact.
Vector Images
9. Clip art.
Clip art is also available. While we’ve been discussing raster or bitmap graphics (photos), clip art is often vector-based so you can resize it without any loss of quality. Free clip art is everywhere on the web. Find some and do a bit of playing with it. What kinds of backgrounds can you make?
10. Patterns.
One of the easiest things to create in software is a pattern. It may be random or seamless. Seamless is when you have one block that is repeated over an entire area and there are no weird artifacts / areas on it so it looks like you created one piece.
Look at patterns as a digital background possibility.
11. Frames.
No, we’re not drawing frames. The layers in image software allow you to easily make a frame by dropping a white area over a patterned background. You can even do multiple layers with coordinating colors. Sample the colors from one piece to use on others so everything is coordinated. You can also find these under “borders.” Check these out and decide if this is a possibility for you.
12. Grids.
When you think of grids in software programs, you probably think of a standard sheet of graph paper . . . or in other words squares. In drawing programs, you can create circular grids . . . or really any grid. Simply create it, make it a light color and lock the layer it’s on. Then, you can draw over it on another layer and turn off the grid when you’re done. Experiment with creating and using unique grids so all your drawn backgrounds are not rectangular.
13. Elements.
For the coloring books I created, I used a circular grid and created elements to put onto it. Some were simple shapes such as hearts and diamonds. Some looked more like tattoos with the swirls and curls. Combining them made a unique color sheet and a color sheet is always a great background.
Of course, you can also use the elements for patterns or even zendoodle designs. (Now I’m giving away my secrets.) Start your own collection of elements so when you are stuck for ideas, you have a place to start.
NOTE: If you collect a lot of digital elements, you may need to sort them into types and then make contact sheets. Ask me how I know.
14. Hand.
You can draw items by hand in your vector-based software. Of course, you can also draw in a raster environment, but it’s easier to make tiny adjustments with vector files. Try drawing your own background.
15. Words.
Words can also be a background. From apps like Word Swag to putting faux text in Illustrator to fake a handwritten letter, you have a lot of possibilities to work with. Using words in a vector program is a lot easier than a raster one. You can outline your letters, making them graphics that you can continue to play with. Now, you don’t have to do a full page of text or even a word. You can do a single letter and play with it. Experiment with words.
Badge and Supplement Files
Member Level
- EP_Badge List_Background Digital_larajla — list of badge items
- EP_Badge Set_Background Digital_larajla — list of badge set and related badges
- EP_Supp_List_Background Digital_larajla — list of supplements for the badge
- SUPP_BPG_Background Digital_2in_12up_larajla — generic badge printable
- SUPP_Background Digital_Journal_larajla — badge journal
- SUPP_Background Digital_Planner_larajla — badge planner
Supplement Fun
- N/A
Sites to Explore
- www.hongkiat.com/blog/40-cool-abstract-and-background-photoshop-tutorials
- digital-photography-school.com/make-frames-borders-using-photoshop
- expertphotography.com/digital-background-photoshop
- venngage.com/blog/simple-backgrounds
- spark.adobe.com/make/background-maker
- www.linda-matthews.com/how-to-turn-mixed-media-textures-into-digital-background-textures
- pshero.com/photoshop-tutorials/graphic-design/creating-old-paper-with-custom-brushes
- kotaku.com/tips-for-drawing-backgrounds-1759168924
- thoughtbot.com/blog/drawing-in-illustrator-for-beginners
- www.wearefine.com/mingle/how-to-digitize-your-sketch
- vectips.com/tutorials/creating-seamless-textures
- www.shutterstock.com/blog/cs6-new-trick-a-simple-pattern-making-tutorial-for-illustrator
- www.annenbergdl.org/tutorials/a-quick-guide-to-blend-tool-in-illustrator
Get the infographic here > larajla blog post
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