NEAT TRICKS 297

PHOTOSHOP ELEMENTS – CONVERT COOKIE TO BRUSH

INTRODUCTION
Photoshop Elements features many cookie shapes.  This lesson will show how to convert any Cookie to a Brush.  This is useful because the brush can serve as a stamp which can be made any size and color.

CREATE A BLANK FILE
Open Photoshop Elements in the Full Edit mode.  Click File + New + Blank file > set dimensions 11 X 14 inch, Resolution 300 and Background Contents White > click OK.

PICK A COOKIE
Select the Cookie Cutter tool > click the Custom shape picker (down arrow right of Shape) > click the double right arrow (right side of Custom shapes) > select Objects + Umbrella > drag an umbrella about 1 inch tall > select the Magic Wand tool (or press the W key) > click on the umbrella (dashed outline appears).  Now you have the choice to have an outline or solid shape.
OUTLINE SHAPE - click Edit + Stroke(Outline) Selection > set Width: 3, Color: black, Location: center > click OK.
SOLID SHAPE – with foreground color set to black, select the Paint Bucket tool and click inside the dashed line outline (use the Zoom tool to enlarge if necessary).

CONVERT COOKIE TO BRUSH
Click Edit + Define Brush from Selection > name the brush Umbrella > click OK button.  Click the Undo button 3 times (revert back to the white background).

MAKE MORE BRUSHES
Repeat Pick A Cookie and Convert Cookie to Brush for the following shapes: Car 2, Plane 2, Tricycle and Sailboat.  Later, try Talk Bubbles which can be very useful with the right text.

TEST THE BRUSHES
Click the Undo button 3 times (revert back to the white background) > (Select the Brush tool) on the Brush tool Option bar, click the “Show selected brush presets” (down arrow to right of brush picture) > scroll to the bottom of the Default Brushes list and click a new brush.  Try different brush sizes (click “Set the brush size” button and move the slider).  Try different colors (click “Set foreground color” and pick color > click OK) > click the mouse (makes an imprint of the stamp) > change size > click > change color > etc…  Repeat for all of your new brushes.

CONCLUSION
Now you can make brush stamps of your favorite Cookie shapes.  In this lesson, you have also found many more shapes available with the Cookie Cutter tool.

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