Realistic flower - SBB Digital Scrapbooking Forums | Scrapbook-Bytes

andyapc · #1 (**permalink**) 02-18-2005

I hope this doesn't sound too stupid...

I've noticed several kits lately that contain a flower element (off the top of my head, I can't remember which kits but I do know that Anna Aspen's new kit has a sunflower in it - there are also other kits with daisies, etc.).

These flowers look incredibly realistic. Can these flowers be made in PSCS? Are they scanned in? If so, how do you scan in a flower without having the scanner top squash them, or get residue on your scanner bed?

Jana1506 · #2 (**permalink**) 02-18-2005

If you are looking for flower elements for your personal use (not commercial) then you can get some nice onces from www.sxc.hu. They have free photos of flowers (and just about everything else) that you can convert to scrapbooking elements.

lynnestacey · #3 (**permalink**) 02-18-2005

I have taken some macro shots of flowers with my digital camera. Then, I extract the flower out of the photo and create a brush with them, or leave them as is and merge them onto the background layer. Here's one I did with an actual flower photo:

http://www.scrapbook-bytes.com/galle...cat=500&page=2

Hope that helps a little! So go to the flower shop and buy some flowers and take some close-up shots! Or go outside if you're lucky enough to live in a warmer climate right now. Can't wait to see them!

Lynne

Oh, yeah, I guess my avator is a photo I took of a flower too!

rigdonia · #4 (**permalink**) 02-18-2005

Me too Lynne....sometimes I buy flowers for that sole purpose...in fact I am due....what kind should I buy next?

I have done gerbers, peonies, roses of course, tulips.......have to find something different. Hmmmm.....

andyapc · #5 (**permalink**) 02-18-2005

It amazes me how dense I can be sometimes. Would you believe I never thought of extracting them from a picture? I think that my desire to master PSCS is making me think that absolutely everything has to have some sort of complicated procedure - the possibility that something might just be easy escapes me.

I'm sorry to have asked such a "duh" question.

Geez - it's a wonder I can zip my coat up by myself.

lynnestacey · #6 (**permalink**) 02-18-2005

Ah, don't be so hard on yourself! I tend to do things the hard way first and then realize that there was a much simplier way to start with. That would have saved me a ton of time!

Dianne, how about lilacs? Do those begin blooming in the Spring? I know I just LOVE their scent, too bad we don't have scratch and sniff monitors, LOL!

studio calico · #7 (**permalink**) 02-21-2005

Andrea,
It is Kelley in Arkansas. We've talked several times off of the Scrapping4Others list. Anyway, you are so very funny. I love reading your questions.

When you finally get your coat "zipped", don't forget how to "extract" yourself. Love Kelley

deb f · #8 (**permalink**) 02-22-2005

I have put a couple of scanned flowers in some of my kits here

I got some lovely big fake fabric gerberas for $1 each at the local bargain centre and scanned them

here is how I scanned them (I think I originally got this tip on the computer-scrapping group on yahoo, but no idea who sent it - sorry)

arrange the flower head on the scanner bed (make sure the glass is really clean, no lint either) - now put a shoe-box lid over the flower, and then drape a dark piece of cloth (doubled if possible) over the shoebox lid so that all of the scanner bed is covered - this will prevent horrible shadows from extra light getting in. Now scan at at least 300ppi, save as a tiff file, then you can open it in your program and manually extract it from the background to make it transparent (fiddly and time-consuming process LOL)