Tech Challenge No. 4: Making Postage Stamps

[kygirl]

Ever wanted to create your own postage stamps? With this tutorial (http://laughingliondesign.net/2007/09/25/photoshop-tutorial-create-a-postage-stamp-with-your-artwork/) from Laughing Lion Design, we're going to create one from scratch. Looking forward to seeing what you all come up with.

I'm not sure if Elements will allow you to create a path or not. If not, you can go to custom shapes and you'll find a postage stamp shape in there. Create your new document with a white background. Drag out the custom shape. Hit Layer>Simplify Layer and just put your image on its own layer above the shape.

Note: Because we're working in many different versions of Photoshop and Elements, your program may vary from the one in the tutorial. If you run into a wall, just post and we'll work through it together.

[Kazadoodle]

Cool! A long time ago, in a land far, far way, I used to have a whole website dedicated to making faux postage, it used to be one of my favourite things to do. I still have the templates on my computer, if anyone is interested.

[indybev]

Ah, er, Teach, it's me, your recalcitrant student. I personally think the Laughing Lion toot is appropriately named, in that he must be laughing his bum off at making a simple procedure a 99 step program. Going to your simpler instructions, I never did find the stamp shape. I got into Art and Effects - Shapes and selected All. All 999 of them came up, and the only one I saw that said "stamp" was a brown rectangle with crossed bamboo thingies. To soothe my ruffled feathers, I went to my trusty DIP, pulled a blank ATC template, got a stamp shape and filled it with white, copied it 5 times, imported my photos and sized them appropriately, added the text and made six stamps in the time it took me to aggravate myself. There are apparently some new tricks old dogs can't learn. (I would like to know where the stamp shape is hidden, though!)

http://www.digitalartquirks.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=6364&cat=576

[Kazadoodle]

Stamp Shape is hidden in your basic shape collection when you reset the shapes :) It's also under Objects. This is in PS, I just noticed you are using DIP.

[kygirl]

Glad you found a work around, Bev. One of the cool things about these programs is that there must be a dozen ways to achieve any one effect. The reason I chose this tutorial is because it teaches two interesting techniques -- modifying brushes for different effects and using a brush on a path line.

Hmmm. I wonder where your stamp shape went in Elements. Do you have any shapes that look like office supplies? The stamp shape is next to the pair of scissors.

[kygirl]

Cool! A long time ago, in a land far, far way, I used to have a whole website dedicated to making faux postage, it used to be one of my favourite things to do. I still have the templates on my computer, if anyone is interested.

Karin, I would have loved to have seen your site. Faux postage is just so much fun.

[mizamigo]

Hey Karin (Kaz!), it's so nice to see you back at DAQ.
I would love to have the stamp template.

[mizamigo]

Bev & Donna,
In PSE 5, the stamp shapes (there are 2) are next to the paperclip under OBJECTS.

[mizamigo]

Thanks for the technique, Donna. That was fun and easy.

Here's my postage stamp (http://www.digitalartquirks.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=6365)

[indybev]

Oh Victoria. I'm sure you're familiar with the phrase "it's takes a village ...." ? It applies to me and learning PSE. I have found everything from aardvarks to zebras, circles, moons, stars, and everything in between. Where might OBJECTS be hidden? sputter sputter hiss hiss arrrrrgggghhhh

[Kazadoodle]

Bev, in the drop down box, there is a list of shape categories, you should find objects in there. Load them up and voila, stamp shape.

Victoria, thanks for the welcome back :) I just checked my templates and they are awful! I thought they were super cool way back in 2002, but um, yeah, I've improved since then, LOL.

I'll see if I can whip up something much cooler to give you though.

[indybev]

The words voila and Photoshop are oxymorons, Karin. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know who's the moron!! (smile) I find the Shape Tool and investigate the drop down box. I see no stamp. I do not see the word Object anywhere. Having made my six stamps in 15 minutes in DIP, I think I retire from stamp making for a bit. I have, however, learned how to choose shapes and fill them with color. It's this collateral learning that has value. Whoopee-dam-do and thanks to everyone for their input....and for listening to me grumble!

By the way, you might want to check out what Lisa Vollrath's template for faux postage here:

http://gomakesomething.com/ht/mailart/artistamps-2/

[Nevermore]

I for one think you must do something with an aardvark since you have located that shape: as you note, it is the collateral knowledge that you pick up that is the best thing. Knowing where to find an aardvark shape on short notice is no small joy.

Kazadoodle, a warm hug. It has been ages.

Now, off to the gallery to see the stamps and to ponder on what photo to use!