Planning fabric choices with Photoshop

I had this lightbulb moment yesterday, and have been asked to share with you how I do it, so here goes! :D

1. Take a photo of your pattern picture, and the upload it into photoshop. I resize mine to 600x400 just for ease of use and file sizes! This will be referred to here as 'Background layer'.

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...als/Image1.jpg

2. Create a new layer (layer>new in menu bar) - this will be referred to here as 'Layer 1'.

3. Make sure your brush tool is set to 100% hardness and around 3 pixels (if you're using 600x400 image), then using your PEN tool, draw around one section of the pattern. Then right click>stroke path. When the pop up box appears, make sure it's set to brush, and if the little box is checked underneath that, uncheck it. Click OK. Then right click>delete path. Repeat for each section, and it should now look like this -

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...als/Image2.jpg

4. Hide the Background layer (click the little 'eye' next to the layer in the layers palette), and you'll be left with this...

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...als/Image3.jpg

5. Either drag-and-drop or use right click>place to add a fabric pic. Place this layer BEHIND (or below) Layer 1 in the layers palette. Then right click>rasterize layer.

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...als/Image4.jpg

6. Click on Layer 1 in the layers palette so it is highlighted, then using your magic wand tool, click on the section of pattern you want to add the fabric to. You will get a marching ants outline.

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...als/Image5.jpg

7. Click your fabric layer in the layers palette to highlight it, then go to Select>Inverse in the menu bar, then press Delete on your keyboard.

This is what you should get...
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...als/Image6.jpg

8. Repeat with different fabric layers for different parts of the pattern until you're happy with the result!

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...als/Image7.jpg

9. Finally, show the Background layer by reclicking the eye icon, and hide Layer 1 by clicking the eye next to that layer, and you're done!

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...als/Image8.jpg


***If you already have a black and white line drawing on your pattern (lucky you!) you can skip steps 2-4, add your fabric layer ON TOP of your background rather than underneath, and just proceed from there, treating your background layer as LAYER 1 above. :D

Hope that makes sense!

:D

I do not have Photoshop but thanks for typing that up!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DUMPDUCK3

I do not have Photoshop but thanks for typing that up!

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Lol you're very welcome! :lol: :hug2:

brilliant thanks-do you take photos of the fabric or copy and paste from a website pic?

I use photos....but I suppose if I wanted to try a fabric I don't actually have yet, then that would be the way to do it! :D

very cute idea! How do you keep the sizing/ration correct for the fabric print?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by lil_ladybug

very cute idea! How do you keep the sizing/ration correct for the fabric print?

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I just resize it (using the free transform tool - and if you clcik the little aspect ratio icon up in the menu bar - it looks like a chain link, inbetween the width and height percentage windows - before you transform then it maintains the aspect ratio for you) until it looks right!

:D

Brilliant!
Now why have I not thought to do this?
Ugg now instead of sewing tomorrow I will be "making" new computer outfits.

Great tute!!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by staceycanada

Brilliant!
Now why have I not thought to do this?
Ugg now instead of sewing tomorrow I will be "making" new computer outfits.

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That is totally what I would do!! Good thing I don't have photoshop!