Template 59

I have been gone for long, I know.

Have fun with this new template.

Click on preview to download.
  

Missing in action

I'm sorry that I haven't been posting as regularly as I used to.

Have been fighting an yeast infection for the past 2 months and I am really in no mood to do anything else.
Been to the gynae more than 4-5 times, taken 2 kinds of medicines, used 2-3 kinds of pessaries but nothing helps. The cream I used stop working and the itch can be really unbearable, not to mention the other uncomfortable/inconvenience symptoms.

I'm due to see the doctor again next week and I really don't know when is the end.

Sorry for ranting.
Have a great weekend, and I hope to post a new template soon.
  

Busy busy busy

I know I have been neglecting this blog but work has been over-whelming, and it's crazy.

Went to Paris for 10 days in June for work.
The weather was wonderful except for 2 days when it went up to 36 degree celcius.

Here are some of my layouts for the trip, mostly with Yin's templates.

And of course, I wouldn't forget a new template for you.
Here's #58...

Click on preview to download.

p.s. don't forget to check out my recent post on Photoshop keyboard short-cuts if you have not yet read it.
  

PS keyboard shortcuts

I thought I'd compile a few keyboard shortcuts that I use very often (or find it useful to know) when I scrap on PS (I'm using CS5 now).

For Mac, use Command or Option; for PC Windows, use Ctrl or Alt.

1. Zoom

Hold down Command/Ctrl + [Spacebar] + click and drag image left (zoom In) or right (zoom out).
I find it really convenient to zoom in and out like this but I think this is for CS5 only.

Alternatively, use Command/Ctrl + [+] to zoom in or + [-] to zoom out without using the mouse or pen. This works for CS3 at least and probably for older CS.


2. Draw Straight Lines

While moving the mouse/pen, hold down [Shift]. Works with nearly every drawing tool.


3. Move

Every time you are typing your journal or drawing in brush mode but need to move the object/text, it's always a hassle to switch the tool to the Move tool and then back again.

I do this: Hold down Command/Ctrl and click and drag to move the object. Release the key and it will switch back to the tool you were using.


4. Copy layer style

A shortcut for copying a layer style to another layer would be to hold down Option/Alt and drag the {fx} at the source layer to the target layer.


5. Hide Panels

Use the [Tab] key once to hide the panels and hit [Tab] again to unhide it.


6. Display

I'm not sure if this one works for versions other than CS5 because I accidentally discovered it.

Press [F] key to change the Screen mode. Keep pressing [F] to scroll through the modes.


7. Switch Foreground/Background Colours

Press [X] to quickly switch between the 2 selected colours.


8. Merge 2 layers

To merge a layer to the layer below, use Command/Ctrl + [E].

Note that {fx} style of the top layer will become part of the image/layer and cannot be modified anymore. However, the {fx} style of the lower level will be retained as a style and can be further modified.


9. Clipping photos to photomat

I use this the most: Command/Ctrl + [G] to clip my photo to a photomat.

However, I've personalised the [G] to [Q] because I find it easier to press Command with my thumb and [Q] with my ring-finger instead of pressing Command with my pinky finger and [G] with my middle finger.

p.s. Note that Command/Ctrl + [Q] is the default keyboard shortcut for quitting. Since I never use a keyboard shortcut to quit, it is not a big deal for me.


10. Transform

Another keyboard shortcut that I use all the time is Command/Ctrl + [T] which is to activate the transformation mode for various form of resizing.
   

Template 57

I'm so sorry that I did not realised that the template I uploaded was flattened!
(And I equally surprised that only 1 commented it after 140 downloads).

I've rectified it (by looking for an old version in my time machine).
Here it is!!

Click on preview to download.