Digital artwork is HOT right now and we’re super excited about the premier of a new publication that will feature all digital designs. Somerset Digital Studio will focus on all things digital — scrapbook pages, ATCs, collages, cards, invitations, calendars, clothing, heritage pieces — anything that is unique, distinctive, artistic and created digitally. In order to be considered for publication in Somerset Digital Studio, please send via e-mail the following for each submission: a high-res image (300 dpi, at least 6 x 6 inches), a brief paragraph describing the artwork (who’s who in any photos or why you were inspired to create it), instructions on how you created your digital artwork including the specifics as to what tools, programs, etc. you used. Please include your name, e-mail and mailing address with every submission. E-mailed submissions should be directed to the managing editor, Jana Holstein, at somersetdigital@stampington.com. Please put “Somerset Digital Studio” in the subject line.

Deadline for artwork to be received: October 15, 2009

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Call for entries: Somerset Digital Studio

It was a hit!  So that prompted me to go back and see what else BigHugeLabs had to offer.  It’s really amazing, and could also turn into an incredible time suck!  But I’m not going to apologize for that.  If you’d like to see more photos that I warped, you can visit them here, but I’d suggest that you simply grab some of your own photos and go play.  My favorites at BHL (besides the Motivator) are the Warholizer and the Hockneyizer.

If that’s not enough for you, here are a few other sites with loads of fun effects you can try:

Be Funky: turn your photos into artwork

Blingee: add glitter (I’m not sure why, but hey!)

Dumpr: really fun effects

Images: Cyndi Lavin

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Fun with BigHugeLabs

Putting together the series of postcards and clip art that became Jim’s Story was a lot of fun!  I used Photoshop, but I think you could do something similar with another good image editing program.  If you missed any of the postcards, the links are below, along with a link to step by step instructions to combine cartoon or clip art images with vintage pictures.

Part One
Part Two
Part Three

Step by step instructions

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Combining cartoon and vintage imagery

A few years ago, I became obsessed with a man I named Jim. As a young man, Jim moved to my town early in the 1900s, to take a job working for the railroad.

The thing is, Jim never existed. But that didn’t stop me from coming up with an entire series of postcards that Jim sent home, telling his parents about his adventures in his new town.

You can see more of Jim’s postcards home at the links below, and tomorrow I’ll explain how to combine cartoon imagery with old pictures, digitally.

Part one
Part two
Part three

Dear Mom and Dad,

The town of Ayer has hired me to work on the railroad. I would say it needs a lot of work.

Love,
Jim

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Jim’s postcards home

Once I get started messing around with Photoshop, I can’t seem to stop. One idea leads to the next, to the next, to the next.

Recently I was playing around with ideas about borders that can be custom-made to suit the style of the digital work you need to “frame”. One of those experiments was the glowing blurred border from a couple of weeks ago. Today, it’s a border with an inner edge that looks burned. My example shown here is fairly simple and crude so that you can easily see the effects. With a bit more work and finesse, I think the burned edge could look crispy and flaking.

Step by step instructions

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Photoshop border with a burned edge

Start with a beautiful picture taken on a clear sunny day.

Add a touch of menace.

Why would you want to do this?  I don’t really know, but it’s fun to know how!  With Photoshop, there are always multiple ways to accomplish tasks, but here’s how I did it:

Step by step instructions

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Creating a shadow in Photoshop

You all know that I love Photoshop and am totally devoted to it.  You also know that there are times when you may need to do photo editing away from home.  Then it’s great to know about online editors.

At  Art + Creativity, there are links to ten more online toys tools that you can use to jazz up your pictures.  The list includes Animoto, which I told you about before…a very fun way to turn some shots into a short music video

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Art + Creativity

Warning: Looking through the Despair gallery is one of the biggest time sucks out there!  But it’s worth the trip 

Image: Despair, Inc

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Another (de)motivational poster site

Well, Big Huge Labs to the rescue!!  Thank heavens, a service that will let you make your own.  You can even buy copies if you want!  Here’s what I did with a recent picture from my daughter’s college graduation.

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(de)Motivational posters

Life Images will feature the very best of your most artistic, emotionally moving, or expressive photos along with a few of your words. These photos should be of people, places and things important in your life, whether for a fleeting moment or a lifetime. We are interested in your journal entry that would accompany these photos – whether it be a heartfelt short story, expressive comment, or emotional poem. All original or copies of photographs submitted must be clearly identified with the artist’s name, address, email and phone number on each photo. We also require information on the camera make & model, film or digital, altered or unaltered. If altered, please indicate software and techniques used or materials and technique used for manual alteration (i.e. bleaching, etc.) We also ask that your journal entry be attached. If you prefer, you may send the images, copy and photo information electronically to the managing editor Jennifer Jackson at jjackson@stampington.com.

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Call for entries: Life Images