Picasa Tutorial

I recently participated in an AMAZING online meeting with the wonderful Handmade Collective group, which I'm a part of on Facebook. During these gatherings we share information and tips related to the various forms of work we do as artists.  I'm really grateful for any opportunities I have for sharing what I've learned while I've been doing the whole online selling/photo-taking/editing/marketing & promotion thing over the past 8 yrs.

Plus, I enjoy showing people how to do stuff! (See here, here, and here.)

During the meeting I mentioned how I used the photo editing program Picasa to create collage banners, which I use on Etsy and my Facebook page. I'd like to share this info. here for those in the group as well as for anyone looking to use this technique.

I was going to create a video on this, but my laptop broke. It's a PC, and I'm now using a MAC. I haven't quite figured all of this out. :/

So anyway. Screenshots will hopefully get the point across!

The first step is to download Picasa. It's free! Then you're gonna have to get your images into Picasa. Any pictures currently on your computer--i think--will automatically be added to the program once you use it the first time, or you may have to import them. It's been so long since I've done it, and I can't recall. However, I remember it being fairly simple to do. 

You may want to familiarize yourself with it some prior to taking the steps below, or go through the steps, see what I'm talking about, then use this info. to begin to learn Picasa.

So, here are two banners I've created with these methods:

(Click on images to view larger.)

On Etsy

On Facebook

Here's how it's doen using Picasa:

1.  Choose the images that you'd like to use in the banner. I recommend that you crop them so that they're square as opposed to rectangular, that way you're more likely to get the entire item/image you're trying to show to be in the collage. (From experience I know this is relevant when collaging garment pictures. I'm not sure about smaller items. Also, if you're using the Picture Pile collage feature, it may not matter. )

Above I've selected 10 images that I'll collage for the banner.  The chosen ones have a blue/highlight box around them.  Once you've chosen your images, click the collage button (circled in red at top left in the above image).

2.  In the Collage menu under Settings, you can choose how you'd like your images arranged.  I usually go with Grid or Mosaic, but there are others as well. (Picture Pile is good, too!)

This is what the Grid effect looks life for my chosen images:

And this is what happens when I choose Mosaic.

So it's really a matter or how you want the images arranged.

3.  Now the key to having the collage be the size suitable for Etsy or Facebook is to manually type in the relevant dimensions. Hit the drop down menu under Page Format, then scroll all the way down under that menu and select Add Custom Aspect Ratio.

4.  When the Add Custom Aspect Ratio box opens, type in the dimensions.   The dimensions for a cover photo on Facebook are 851 x 315.  Type that in and give the dimensions a name if you wish.  (The dimensions for an Etsy banner are 760 x 100.)

Once you've typed in the numbers, hit Ok and the banner will adjust accordingly.

5.  Next, hit Create Collage, and your collage will form instantly!

6.  At this point you can use the editing tools on the left to add text to your image and create other visual effects (add a border, make it lighter/darker, black and white, etc.)

 When you've got it looking the way you want, save the image and upload it to your site!

The main thing that I suggest is to play around with the different features of Picasa and familiarize yourself with what it offers.  It's pretty straightforward and user-friendly, and you can always undo something you've done if you decide you don't like it. 

Hopefully this tutorial is useful if this is something you'd like to do.  There's a lot more to be said for the different effects you have access to within this program, and a lot of the understanding of it all comes from just playing around with it.

Please let me know if you have any questions via the comment box!

~

Basquiat

Earlier today I watched a film about artist Jean-Michel Basquiat  (which I thought I'd already seen but apparently had not), and I was so moved by this particular clip:

I'm still working on adjusting to not having the space that I used to now that I'm in a new living situation. There's something about the wide open space in this clip and his freedom to create however he wanted--freely, uninhibited-- that reminds me of my vision of myself when I work. To me, being able to make art happen in this way may just be the most beautiful and crucial aspect of creation.  

More than or in addition to a clothing designer in the sense of whatever it is people usually take that to mean, I mostly envision myself as an artist, as I suppose many garment designers do.  It's really a process of adding, taking away, meditating, going to something else, then coming back to whatever it was I was working on in the first place. That's typically my process, so I really relate to this portrayal of how he painted.

Basquiat undoubtedly had a lot to contend with in his personal life.  However, every since I learned of  him several years ago, I've been inspired by his vision for his work and his willingness to approach it in his unique artistic way.

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Don't forget to shop and save 35% off of your total purchase now through December 31, at https://www.etsy.com/shop/flyTieClothing !!!!

Many items listed were already on sale, so with the discount you have access to some unbelievable deals on handmade, one-of-a-kind garments!

Don't Miss Out!!!

Foundations

One aspect of designing and making clothes that I sincerely appreciate is having the skill and eye for it--knowing what it takes to manifest a garment.  Essentially, this is about understanding what's involved in getting from concept to final product.  

When teaching design/garment making to those new to the field, I often encourage them to take a very basic approach if jumping right in and creating their own patterns is too overwhelming at first.  If there is a certain style or look that you'd like to make--perhaps using a different fabric or color or making the garment better customized to your size--look for commercially produced patterns that can serve as a foundation for the design you're trying to achieve.  A part of doing this is recognizing shapes.  

Here's a jacket.

Pretty neat, huh? 

Anyone wishing to make this outerwear piece specific to their tastes could seek out a pattern that has a similar flow as this one and make any desired alterations.

While searching for such a foundational pattern I came across this one from Vogue.

Although different fabrics are used in the two pieces above, the basic shape is the same.  The bottom of the Vogue pattern could be curved and elasticated bands could be added to the bottom of the sleeves to get a similar effect to the denim jacket. Other changes could be made to the pattern as well.

Anyone new to making clothing may even be intimidated by these minor changes to a pattern, but this example serves  to demonstrate that it's not always necessary to start completely from scratch when working to recreate a look.  Be resourceful and look for shortcuts and/or items--whether they be other garments or commercial patterns--where much of the work that designers typically are faced with has already been done for you.  Using this method will teach you a lot about designing completely from scratch.

Have a great week!

Regrouping

Happy Sunday!

As I begin to wrap up the final days of this month's sale (save 15% when you enter SAVE15 at checkout), I'm contemplating new concepts *and* a new collection/brand name that will showcase garments made exclusively from organic fabrics--hemp, cotton, perhaps soy, etc.  

This has been a long time coming, as I've always been fascinated by the idea of working only with organic materials.   In sourcing the fabrics, I'm really looking forward to securing connections with cloth producers in African nations and other places so that within the new line of garments I can incorporate organic--which is really just standard in many places when it comes to agricultural production-- Kente and other distinctive prints. 

flyTie Clothing Mini Dresses, $28-$46

I do intend to still operate the flyTIe Clothing brand, however garments promoted under this label will be offered primarily on a made-to-order basis...maybe with an occasional one-of-a-kind piece thrown in when I can't resist the urge to randomly create. :-)

Have a great week.~~