Postcards from the EdgeCollage with PicasaCarol Dowsett |
Requirements Picasa: download from www.picasa.google.com |
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 First, load your camera photos into the program. Pick two pictures that contrast well with each other. I have chosen a clematis flower (see above) and the gates of The Globe Theatre (see below). |
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Double click on your first image and it will come up full size and also into the 'photo tray' at the bottom left of the screen (see below). You will also see the 'basic fixes' window on the left hand side of the screen. Here you can crop the image, if required, and make the image stronger in colour and with more contrast by clicking the 'auto buttons' and by moving the slider on 'fill light' - these moves are fully undo-able.  The clematis has had the colour paled down. You can play with this image further by clicking on the 'tuning' page and put in more shadows or more highlights etc. but, to make permanent, save them into a folder (see below).
 Go back to 'basic fixes' page and click on 'hold' next to the photo tray. Now choose your second image by going to top left and clicking on 'back to library'. Double click on your chosen image - mine being the Globe Theatre gates. If you wish to manipulate the image, do as before. When ready, click onto the 'collage' button at the bottom and the two photos will be placed over one another (see below). On the screen will be
Location as: current folder.  Double click on this collaged image to bring it up full size and into the photo tray. Try some different 'effects' on it. Click on 'effects' (see below). Here you can choose 'sharpen', 'graduated tints' and others, always being able to undo.
 The pic below shows 'sharpen' applied many times.  Go back to your original collage. At the very top of the screen, you can also see the images that you have been playing with, so click on it there and go back to the 'tuning' page and try 'colour temperature' and 'maximum highlights' which is how I did the pic below. Save your images into a file ready for printing them out.  The next stage is to print the image onto pre-treated fabric, either using BubbleJet Set or buying the fabric already prepared and backed. Whichever way you choose, put the fabric into your printer and away you go (set the printer for postcard size (either 6" x 4" or 15 x 10 cm). Read the instructions on heat setting etc and then pull the fabric away from the paper and stitch using colours that will accentuate the collaged effect. I used one strand of black silk for the gates and one strand of fine perle cotton in a variegated colour for the clematis (see below) showing the first row of running stitch.  To accentuate the flower, I have whipped a thread through the running stitches (see below). At its centre, I have stitched small pink beads. I always use a layer of cotton wadding to give emphasis to the stitching.  Cut craft Vilene to your postcard size. This will have the address and stamp on. I decorate this with either runny paint or transfer painted papers ironed on. Finally place both together and satin stitch around the edges (see below).  |
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The postcard on the right uses a small tulip over a large tulip, printed onto silk habutai with thin wadding behind to hold the stitches. The postcard below uses the same ideas but the starting point being a gazania flower head over the gates shown at the beginning of the article. In both cases, attach to heavy Vilene as before and satin stitch around. |
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 Note:
If you are a Mac user, a way of creating the same project will be to print out a flower that you have manipulated in your camera software, or using software such as Paintshop Pro or Photoshop Elements, onto prepared cotton or silk. Then, to achieve the shadow effect, print your second image onto pre-prepared Organza. Place onto your first image and stitch through as one! You will then achieve the same effect for your postcard.
The last step is to stick on the stamp and run to the postbox. These only incur a 1st class stamp and are eagerly awaited at the PO sorting office ... according to my postie. | |
| Carol Dowsett is editor of Quiltwow. See her interview in this issue to find out all about her. |