Happy Saturday everyone! Trina here.

More and more people are looking to add watermark to their online photography images due to the sheer volume of (unfortunately) people abusing the internet and your images as their own work.

I have decided to teach a quick and easy way to create a watermark to add to your photography to help prevent your work being used by the abusers.

1^st. You need to open the image you wish to watermark and select the text/font, size and colour you want. See Pic 1 below

Now choose where you want your text/watermark to appear on your picture and type it and then hit enter and the text will appear on your image as shown on pic 2:

Now, this is far too bold so we need to softened it or blend it in your photo. With your text tool still highlighted, click in front of the first letter and drag along until all is highlighted, and then go to the top menu;

Layer/Layer Style/Blending Options and Click

As shown on pic 3:

You can now be as creative as you would like but the more creative the more you take away from your photo. So in general you simply want a basic watermark that will just do the job. All you need to do is click and drag either of the opacity bars to the left. As you do so, you will see the text start to fade as shown on pic 4:

Once you have reached the level of opacity that you think will suffice, just click of and you are left with a watermark on your image as shown in pic 5:

Now you have created a watermark. You can as well create a action if you regularly add a watermark to your image. I hope this has been helpful. Enjoy your weekend!

As always we are so awed and inspired by the pages shared in our GSO thread this week in the forums.  I can’t even begin to describe how difficult it is to choose just a few pages to spotlight here in standouts.  So much beautiful eye candy!  Here are a few that really inspired…

I was mesmerized by paint by domad

And I got lost in the little details of the airy beauty of Magda_lena’s  …memories…

Love the element composition and warmth of Discover by josette31

Congratulations to all of you!  You are all entered into the final drawing for this month’s prize: a $10 GC to the After Five shoppe!

We look forward to all the fresh art in the After Five Gallery this week!  We can’t wait to be inspired.  So keep scrapping and keep sharing!  Thank you for keeping us so inspired!

First of all, thank you to everyone for all of the gorgeous LOs that you post to the A5D gallery - what a source of inspiration!  I always know where to go when my mojo is low!

And, secondly thanks for taking the time to spotlight those LOs that are particularly inspiring to the weekly GSO thread. You make it SO hard to pick a just a couple to spotlight here!

The first LO going into this month’s drawing is by the ever talented Kathitownz - isn’t this sweet?

The other irresistible LO this week is by Monicca

Congrats to both of you! You are now entered into the final drawing at the end of the month for a $10 GC to the A5D store!!!

Now keep sharing your art with us in the After 5 Designs gallery and showing us your favorites in the new GSO thread.  Have a great week!

Hi everyone,

here’s Eva (Vanilla) bringing you this week’s Gallery Standouts. It was really hard for me to choose only two winners, because there’s soooo much amazing talent in our AfterFiveDesigns Gallery!

My first choice is Purple Love by anetka. I just love her composition here!

My second choice is ~life is…~ by Cherry. I love the feeling of this page, so fun and Cherry’s attention to details is just amazing!

Congrats girls and I wish you lots of luck for the final drawing at the end of the month! The winner of this drawing will win a $10 GC to the A5D store!!!

Now keep sharing your art with us in the After 5 Gallery and while you’re there take some time to show us some of your favorites in the GSO Week 4. You never know, you might find one of your layouts there.

I wish you all a wonderful week!

Hi Everyone!

I am Sarah with a Tips and Tricks for you today. I promise today I will keep it quick, easy and to the point!
My tip is something that we can all do to get a better photo universally whether you
use a point and shoot camera or the latest technology in digital SLR cameras!

The one thing that really helped my photos was learning how to utilize light to my advantage. I am a natural light photographer for the most part and once I learned a few things on how to really
take advantage of nature’s gift to photographers, I found a HUGE improvement in my pictures.  As a matter of fact the more you get used to using natural light the more developed your eye will become to proper exposure and in turn you will recieve much better results and camera editing is much easier.
You get a bigger bang for your buck as far as photoshop actions and the like are concerned.

So my quick and easy lesson today?  Don’t use that flash unless under extreme dark conditions. The flash can cast really harsh shadows on your subject, and blow out detail that you won’t be able to recover.  I understand at night there may be no helping it.

Another natural light tip. Find a good window! Seriously it works. It also helps produce great catchlights! I like to place my subject next to a window and experiment with different angles and positions so that I can control the shadowing on the contours of the face and how the light hits them.  Another easy trick some photographers use is they walk around the subject in a circle and watch how the light changes as they do so until they find the light they want to use.

However, when you have to use the flash, diffuse the light (or make it softer) and it will definitely give you a more pleasing asthetic. How do you diffuse? Easy peasy. For a quick cheap solution tape a piece of tissue or toilet paper over the flash. If you are lucky to have a DSLR with a speedlight, you want to bounce your flash or angle it so it is pointing upward, to the side or behind you so you don’t have it hitting your
subject directly on.

Lastly avoid dappled light. When you are out and your in a park or a place with a lot of shaded areas your first instinct is to head for a tree. I know they make great props, but you don’t want harsh dappled light on your subject. Dappled light is the light that filters down through tree branches or things of that nature that cast different highlights and shadows. It can give you a really uneven exposure and make it really hard for you to edit afterwards in your photoshop program.

A few people have asked to see what one of my photos typically looks like SOOC (straight out of the camera) with no editing at all.

So here it is! I just opened the door and use that natural light when I took this photo!
I hope that I have helped in some small way! I hope you will share your gorgeous photos with us here at A5!
Thanks again!
Sarah

Hi girls

It’s Jule here bringing you this week’s picks from the GSO-Thread. It was a very hard choice because they all look awesome!

But here are my two picks.

1. by Kaleandkiara

2. by Mary

Congrats girls and I wish you lots of luck for the final drawing at the end of the month! The winner of this drawing will win a $10 GC to the A5D store!!!

Now keep sharing your art with us in the After 5 Gallery and while you’re there take some time to show us some of your favorites in the GSO Week 3.  You never know, you might find one of your layouts there.

I wish you all a wonderful week!

Hi girls

It’s Jule here bringing you this week’s picks from the GSO-Thread. It was a very hard choice because they all look awesome!

But here are my two picks.

1. 9 Days of Christmas by Jimena

2. Love by Pelzi

Congrats girls and I wish you lots of luck for the final drawing at the end of the month! The winner of this drawing will win a $10 GC to the A5D store!!!

Now keep sharing your art with us in the After 5 Gallery and while you’re there take some time to show us some of your favorites in the GSO Week 2.  You never know, you might find one of your layouts there.

I wish you all a wonderful week!

This week’s spotlight shine brightly on Petra aka milo82! She is a super fabulous and super sweet scrapper. After you read more about her, go and drool over her gorgeous gallery.

Give us the Cliff Notes version of you.
I grew up with my parents and little brother, in a small town in the netherlands We used to live in the house next to my dads garage. You could always find me there as a little girl, watching my dad work…so I know a little about fixing cars! On my 7th b-day we moved to a more child-friendly neighbour hood, where my parents still live. Now-a-days I’m 27 , a fiance and live with my sweet moroccan prince. We’ve been together for almost 8 years. I’m a softball player, a teacher at a daycare, photographer & indoor soccer player

How did you get into scrapping?
One of the moms from daycare got me addicted. She once showed us her album and I loved it. She tought me some fine trics. Most of it I learned by myself, with just trying out new things. That was at the end of 2005

What program do you use to scrap?
I used to scrap with PSP X, but ever since I tried ACDSee’s photo editor, I’m hooked! It’s very easy to use and has a lot of cool features. The only minor thing is that it can’t use plugins & presets for photos.

What is your favorite NSBR thing to do?
Mmm…watch TV with my guy and just relax with a cup of hot choco

What are the top 5 songs on your list right now?
in no particular order:
- owl city — Fireflies
- edward maya & viki jigulina — stereo love
- jason derulo — what you say
- Jordin sparks — one step at a time
- timbaland ft. nelly furtado & soshy — morning after dark

What accomplishment are you most proud of?
Just being & staying myself. Love & making my family proud and help anyone wherever I can!

Are you musically inclined?
Well I think I can sing… a little anyway! My primary school teacher always told my mom I had a beautiful voice and recommended me to go take singing classes, but I never wanted! Some days I really regret that

What is a typical day like for you?
When I’m off of work… wake up after I slept in a little (till 10-ish is normal now-a-days), make some tea and turn on my pc. Check email and browse my digi homes (A5D is nr.1).
Maybe scrap a bit and edit photos from shoots I had. Then it’s time for a shower and head outside… either grocery shopping, cloth shopping or any kind of shopping. Visit friends or family and go home to prepare a nice diner… after diner scrap a page or two and then relax on the couch with my sweets, before we go to bed!

What inspires you?
Lots… just simple moment,s music, colors, fabrics, nature, smiles & more…

What are your top 5 layouts you’ve ever done?

How do you start a layout?
If I’m scrapping for my CT’s I start with the kit and then search for a photo. If I’m scrapping for me, I pick a photo and find the perfect kit. But I always start with adding a paper and the photo… everything else comes after

What made you want to apply for your first CT?
Well seeing others being on CT’s I wanted to know what it would be like. I loved her designs & style and just went with it.. I was pretty nervous though to find out wether I made it… and I did!

What did you want to be when you grew up?
Different things: An animal doctor, a teacher & a sweet mommy of course!

How long does it take you to create a layout?
Depends, on wether I want it to be simple or more busy. The simple pages usually take me longer somehow, cause I want them to be perfect and clean!

Who are your scrapping/designing heros?
Scrapping: Sara (scarletsierra), her photos always stand out, love her journalling for her sweet bugga and everything is always perfect in it’s place. Jule, I think she really gives it all when creatinng a page… it’s never too much and her style is just daring! Liz ( Paislee press) I just love her simple & clean designs!
For designers and there are just too much to name!!

Do you have a specific style?
Nope, I let the kit inspire me and just see where it leads me!

Do you have a vision of what a layout will look like when you start it?
Well sometimes I’ve got it all clear in my head, but actually it always turns out different… or almost the same or completely different

What would be your dream vacation?
Well anything if it’s with my love. But if I went for places it would be: Australia, Africa, USA (the places I haven’t seen yet), Cuba & on top of my list: Indonesia (since I’m 1/4 indonesian) and for romantic places with my guy I would wanna go to: Venice & Paris

And no After 5 interview would be complete without this question…What is your favorite after hours drink?
A Strawberry daiquiri, made by my sweet auntie Carla! (Who lives in the USA, who I really miss!)

It’s that time of year. If you are anything like me, you are running around completing last minute errands, checking presents off of your list, and chauffeuring everyone in the family to their Holiday activities. Maybe you too are a little bit over scheduled and you need some last minute gifts.
Here are some quick and easy ideas that you can complete with supplies that you already have at your fingertips.

Start with a digital quickpage and insert a photo. Customize the page with words or text for your recipient.

This quickpage is from the [url= http://www.afterfivedesigns.com/shoppe/product.php?productid=73&cat=0&page=2]Summer Evenings Quick Page Album by Catherine Designs[/url].

You could print out this image and put it into a photo frame:

Or you could save it to an appropriate size so that it becomes wallpaper for your friend’s computer:

But you don’t have to stop there! There are a ton of other things you can do. For example:
Photo magnet frames
Check book covers
Photo keychains
Custom gift tags
Custom gift sacks
Clipboards
Photo cubes
Altoids tins filled with miniature layouts
Breakfast trays
Shadowboxes
Luggage tags
Altered mini books
Book marks

Happy Holidays to everyone and good luck with all of your projects.

(Note: Images in this post created with the help of PhotoFunia.)

Hello everyone! Hope your all having a great start to the week!!

Here with the picks from this weeks GSO thread we have….

A gorgeous page by Miheda…Whispering Wishes

and the fantastical page by Kateno4ek…Magic of Autumn

Congratulations to everyone and good luck to you 2 girls!

Dont forget to stop by for our 12 days of Christmas sale( ) and grab yourself some fantastic bargains!!!

Thanks for playing everyone!!