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InShock
life is good
Member since 10/06 9258 total posts
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Please critique my Christmas card (pic fixed) - UPDATED with some revisions!
Let me start off by saying I am a *total novice* at using Photoshop.
I'd really love to hear some feedback on this 'rough copy' that I designed. Do you think the pictures are good enough for a card? I didn't really take them with our card in mind, but I kind of liked how they came out. I can do a photo shoot with DD in her Christmas dress, too. What do you think?
What can I do to spruce up this design? Is it too boring? Do the colors work?
Can I get the "2008" to actually go vertical (not just horizontal turned on its side)? How can I get a nicer gold color for the font? The one I used is kind of bland.
Thanks for any help you can offer! 
Edit: Here is the card with some revisions. I still have a LOT to do (explore other fonts, see if I can make Merry Christmas "pop", etc.), but I did lighten the photos, change the 2008, and make a very poor attempt at getting rid of the swingset and stoop.  How can I make the grass blend better??
Edit2: With Julz33's suggestion, I changed the font to white and then added a drop shadow.
Message edited 11/30/2008 1:36:15 PM.
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Posted 11/29/08 11:28 PM  |
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InShock
life is good
Member since 10/06 9258 total posts
Name:
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Re: Please critique my Christmas card
Also - totally novice question, but how can I save the image as a jpg? When I just change the .psd to .jpg I'm told it's an invalid file type. (I posted by taking a screenshot of the image, but that's obviously low quality)
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| Posted 11/29/08 11:37 PM |
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nrthshgrl
It goes fast. Pay attention.
Member since 7/05 57538 total posts
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Re: Please critique my Christmas card
I love the photos. I'm not crazy about the font. I think of it has a cowboy font (it's Giddyup, right?)
I have to look at what I used to spruce up a gray to silver...I'll post the instructions in the am...or will find a better gold for you.
Otherwise beautiful...great job on the photos! Her personality just shines throught them!
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| Posted 11/29/08 11:39 PM |
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nrthshgrl
It goes fast. Pay attention.
Member since 7/05 57538 total posts
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Re: Please critique my Christmas card (pic fixed)
Posted by InShock
Also - totally novice question, but how can I save the image as a jpg? When I just change the .psd to .jpg I'm told it's an invalid file type. (I posted by taking a screenshot of the image, but that's obviously low quality)
File/ Save As / Select jpg.
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| Posted 11/29/08 11:39 PM |
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InShock
life is good
Member since 10/06 9258 total posts
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Re: Please critique my Christmas card (pic fixed)
Posted by nrthshgrl
I love the photos. I'm not crazy about the font. I think of it has a cowboy font (it's Giddyup, right?)
I have to look at what I used to spruce up a gray to silver...I'll post the instructions in the am...or will find a better gold for you.
Otherwise beautiful...great job on the photos! Her personality just shines throught them!
Thanks, Barb! Do you have a font to recommend? I don't seem to have a great selection. I tried uploading a font the other day and that was a disaster!
I do like the little star on the i, though. I could probably just add one on my own, right? (how, I don't know)
Do you think I should change the background in the picture on the upper right? Is the swingset distracting?
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| Posted 11/29/08 11:43 PM |
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nrthshgrl
It goes fast. Pay attention.
Member since 7/05 57538 total posts
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Re: Please critique my Christmas card (pic fixed)
Posted by InShock
Posted by nrthshgrl
I love the photos. I'm not crazy about the font. I think of it has a cowboy font (it's Giddyup, right?)
I have to look at what I used to spruce up a gray to silver...I'll post the instructions in the am...or will find a better gold for you.
Otherwise beautiful...great job on the photos! Her personality just shines throught them!
Thanks, Barb! Do you have a font to recommend? I don't seem to have a great selection. I tried uploading a font the other day and that was a disaster!
I do like the little star on the i, though. I could probably just add one on my own, right? (how, I don't know)
Do you think I should change the background in the picture on the upper right? Is the swingset distracting?
It's a little distracting but I love the excitement in her face. You just don't get chances like that to capture moments like that pure joy. If anything, clone out the swingset or crop more.
Go to dafont.com & check some out. I'm not sure what kind you're looking for...there are a ton of scripty ones - Passions Conflict seems to be one everyone seems to want this year. I like Carpenter or PetraScript (script writing).
Star you can definitely add later.
To make the 2008 go Vertical, there is a submenu on the Text Tool (tiny triangle, right corner), select Vertical Type Tool
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| Posted 11/29/08 11:48 PM |
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Diana1215
Living on a prayer!!!
Member since 10/05 29450 total posts
Name:
Diana
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Re: Please critique my Christmas card (pic fixed)
Hey - I think it looks great.
I don't know what the heck I'm talking about when it comes to these cards but I would cut out the swingset. Also - is there any way for you to lighten up the bottom picture a little bit? It looks a little darkened to me (not sure if it's just my computer though)
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| Posted 11/30/08 12:04 AM |
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nbc188
Best friends!
Member since 12/06 23090 total posts
Name:
C
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Re: Please critique my Christmas card (pic fixed)
Oh my-- I LOVE it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  What amazing pictures of K
I'd say crop a bit more on the top right, to focus more on her and hopefully get rid of the swingset! I really don't have any more suggestions b/c I love it that much!!!! Great job 
We miss you guys  Oh, all the 6/28's should DEFINITELY exchange Christmas cards this year   I love this, I'm sure Diana's will be gorgeous with Lori's pictures, and bayla's will be just adorable too!!!!! 
Message edited 11/30/2008 7:55:13 AM.
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| Posted 11/30/08 7:53 AM |
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InShock
life is good
Member since 10/06 9258 total posts
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Re: Please critique my Christmas card (pic fixed)
Thanks, ladies!
I also thought the bottom pic was a little dark, so I will definitely lighten it. Good looking out, Diana.
The swingset will have to go. More photoshop skills put to the test later today!
I was also thinking of trying to make the Merry Christmas "pop" a bit by adding shadows or something. I have to play around with that, though, bc I really don't know what I'm doing!!
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| Posted 11/30/08 9:09 AM |
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nrthshgrl
It goes fast. Pay attention.
Member since 7/05 57538 total posts
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Re: Please critique my Christmas card (pic fixed)
Posted by InShock
I also thought the bottom pic was a little dark, so I will definitely lighten it. Good looking out, Diana.
Try going to Image/Adjustment/Curves & select Auto. Not sure what version you're using but a short cut is Ctrl+M.
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| Posted 11/30/08 9:10 AM |
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InShock
life is good
Member since 10/06 9258 total posts
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Re: Please critique my Christmas card (pic fixed)
Posted by nrthshgrl
Posted by InShock
I also thought the bottom pic was a little dark, so I will definitely lighten it. Good looking out, Diana.
Try going to Image/Adjustment/Curves & select Auto. Not sure what version you're using but a short cut is Ctrl+M.
Thanks!
Also, why does the font on the lower left (our names) look "broken up"? It seems when I made the font smaller it got all choppy looking. Is it the font itself (which I'm going to look into changing), or something else?
Edit: Actually, it doesn't look that way on the one I posted here. I'm looking at the original in PS and it looks like that. 
Edit2: When I throw the image into iPhoto the font looks fine. Is this normal??
Message edited 11/30/2008 9:21:57 AM.
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| Posted 11/30/08 9:18 AM |
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an9elic
♥ HJ ♥
Member since 6/07 3331 total posts
Name:
kristen
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Re: Please critique my Christmas card (pic fixed)
i actually LOVEEEEE it! i think it is adorable!!!!!! 
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| Posted 11/30/08 9:25 AM |
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Stefanie
♥
Member since 5/05 23599 total posts
Name:
Stefanie
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Re: Please critique my Christmas card (pic fixed)
I agree with the other posters...but I would change the 2008 to this:
2
0
0
8
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| Posted 11/30/08 9:59 AM |
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BabyAvocado
Happy New Year
Member since 5/05 17334 total posts
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Re: Please critique my Christmas card (pic fixed)
Posted by Stefanie
I agree with the other posters...but I would change the 2008 to this:
2
0
0
8
I agree - vertical will look even better.
Try to brighten up the photos on the bottom and left. Do what Barb said with curves or with a levels adjustment layer.
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| Posted 11/30/08 10:03 AM |
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InShock
life is good
Member since 10/06 9258 total posts
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Re: Please critique my Christmas card (pic fixed)
Posted by BabyAvocado
Posted by Stefanie
I agree with the other posters...but I would change the 2008 to this:
2
0
0
8
I agree - vertical will look even better.
Try to brighten up the photos on the bottom and left. Do what Barb said with curves or with a levels adjustment layer.
Yes, that's what I was talking about in the OP (about the 2008). I will definitely be doing that!
Right now I am working on the background in swingset photo -- but for some reason the photo, when I open it in PS, is not at its full clarity! It's kind of blurry looking. What is going on here?? Ugh, these small things can make for hours of setbacks!! 
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| Posted 11/30/08 10:23 AM |
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bayla
Love my two kiddos :)
Member since 8/06 7178 total posts
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Re: Please critique my Christmas card (pic fixed)
OMG she is beautiful!!! Great card M!! I def like some of the suggestions of the other posters and then it will be so perfect!
Message edited 11/30/2008 10:45:00 AM.
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| Posted 11/30/08 10:44 AM |
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Stacey1403
Where it all began....
Member since 5/05 24065 total posts
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Re: Please critique my Christmas card (pic fixed)
Posted by Diana1215
Hey - I think it looks great.
I don't know what the heck I'm talking about when it comes to these cards but I would cut out the swingset. Also - is there any way for you to lighten up the bottom picture a little bit? It looks a little darkened to me (not sure if it's just my computer though)
ITA
Great shots of her. She looks so happy But I would love to see the bottom picture lightened up.
Great Job!!
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| Posted 11/30/08 10:52 AM |
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nrthshgrl
It goes fast. Pay attention.
Member since 7/05 57538 total posts
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Re: Please critique my Christmas card (pic fixed)
When you started the card, what resolution did you start with? Should be 300. That may account for the blurriness.
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| Posted 11/30/08 11:30 AM |
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InShock
life is good
Member since 10/06 9258 total posts
Name:
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Re: Please critique my Christmas card (pic fixed) - UPDATED with some revisions!
Updated the OP with some revisions.
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| Posted 11/30/08 11:53 AM |
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InShock
life is good
Member since 10/06 9258 total posts
Name:
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Re: Please critique my Christmas card (pic fixed) - UPDATED with some revisions!
Posted by nrthshgrl
When you started the card, what resolution did you start with? Should be 300. That may account for the blurriness.
Does this apply even when I just open a photo? I know how to check that when opening "new" (you showed me ) -- but how does that work when you just open a photo?
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| Posted 11/30/08 11:54 AM |
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BabyAvocado
Happy New Year
Member since 5/05 17334 total posts
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Re: Please critique my Christmas card (pic fixed) - UPDATED with some revisions!
Definite improvement in the photos!
The clarity thing could have been that you may have been working in the resized version of your original photo (the smaller version you used on the card). Make sure open your full res original, make your changes there then use a resized copy in your card - that way you don't damage the original photo.
To check your image size and resolution go to Image->Image Size.
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| Posted 11/30/08 11:59 AM |
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julz33
i run for bacon
Member since 5/05 20584 total posts
Name:
julz
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Re: Please critique my Christmas card (pic fixed) - UPDATED with some revisions!
Would you be against agging borders arount the different boxes? Maybe white borders and chnge the font to white also?
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| Posted 11/30/08 12:19 PM |
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InShock
life is good
Member since 10/06 9258 total posts
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Re: Please critique my Christmas card (pic fixed) - UPDATED with some revisions!
Posted by julz33
Would you be against agging borders arount the different boxes? Maybe white borders and chnge the font to white also?
Ohh, I just changed it to white and it looks so much better! Thanks!
I tried the border thing yesterday and for some reason I couldn't get it to work. But I will play around with it a little more and see what I can do!
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| Posted 11/30/08 12:27 PM |
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InShock
life is good
Member since 10/06 9258 total posts
Name:
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Re: Please critique my Christmas card (pic fixed) - UPDATED with some revisions!
I just updated the OP with my latest version. I am headed out for now, but look forward to ANY other suggestions and advice anyone has.
2 questions for now:
1) Any advice on how to make the grass blend better in the upper right photo? I know it looks very sloppy now.
2) Does anyone know how I go about installing new fonts? (I have a Mac, just FYI)
Thanks again, everyone! I *so* appreciate all your feedback!!
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| Posted 11/30/08 1:35 PM |
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nrthshgrl
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Member since 7/05 57538 total posts
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Re: Please critique my Christmas card (pic fixed) - UPDATED with some revisions!
I think it looks great!
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| Posted 11/30/08 1:37 PM |
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