MDS Adding Text

I want to go a little deeper in to adding and/or changing Text. I am using Windows 7. You Mac or other Windows people may have some adjustments to make. This info plus more can be found by clicking HELP (across the top of the program) and My Digital Studio Help.

To add text to a page, click the Add Text icon on the toolbar of the program (looks like a capital T).

The text will initially display in the center of the page. Click and drag to move the text box. Click one of the gray handles (small boxes) around the edges of the text box to resize or rotate the text box.

Type your text in the text box. Using the Text section of the Design Center (right side of the MDS Program), any changes listed below can be applied.

Select Font - Change the set of text characters by choosing a font from the Select Font drop-down list. This list displays the available fonts installed on your computer.

Line Spacing - To change the vertical space between lines of text, click the up or down arrows next to the number in the Line Spacing value. Alternately, type a number between -10 and 10 directly into the Line Spacing field (press the Enter or Return key to apply).

Size- Change how large the text characters are by choosing a number from the Size drop-down list. You may also type a size directly into the box (press the Enter or Return key to apply).

Style - Click B (bold), U (underline), or I (italic) to apply the selected formatting style to the text.

Alignment - Click an alignment icon to set the text alignment. Left Alignment (the left icon) justifies the text to the left side of the text box. Center Alignment (the middle icon) centers the text in the middle of the text box. Right Alignment (the right icon) justifies the text to the right side of the text box.

Black Text - Click Black Text to change the color of the text in the selected text box to black.

White Text - Click White Text to change the color of the text in the selected text box to white.

Change Color - Click Change Color to change the text color. My Digital Studio features SU!’s exclusive colors, which you can select from the Palette Tab. For this or any other method of choosing colors, the Preview area will show the chosen color; the top color on the right is the original color and the bottom color is the newly selected color.

Match Color - Clicking Match Color opens the Picker tab of the Choose Color window. This tab allows you to pick a specific color that is on the current page. Move your mouse around in the page preview area at the top left of the tab. The zoom area at the top right of the tab will show a pixel by pixel view of your cursor’s position in the preview area. To select a color, move the mouse around in the page preview area and click (left mouse button) when the black crosshair is over the color you would like to select. The color will now display in the Preview area at the bottom of the window.  To select a different color, repeat the last step by clicking when the crosshair is over the desired color.  If the current page does not have the color you want, click Prev or Next to move to a different page.

Rotate (by Degrees) - To rotate the text; drag the slider to set the angle of rotation. The number in the box at the top right will show the angle in degrees. You may also type the angle of rotation directly into the box and press Enter (Return on the Mac) on the keyboard.

Opacity - This allows you to make text semi-transparent (the original state of the text is 100% opaque—not transparent at all). Drag the slider to the left to make the text more transparent. Drag the slider to the right to make the text more opaque (less transparent).

Edit Text - To change the contents of a text box, double-click the text box, or click the text box to select it and then click Edit Text in the Design Center. Click in the text box and type to add new text (or delete current text). Highlight text in the text box by holding the mouse button down as you drag over the text to select. Change style elements of the selected text using the available options.

Remove - Click Remove to delete the text box.

MDS 004 Winter Scrapbook Page

A winter scrap page for you today. Everything I used on this page comes with MDS.


This is an 8.5x11 portrait page.

I am using Windows 7. You Mac or other Windows people may have some adjustments to make. All this info plus more can be found by clicking HELP (across the top of the program) and My Digital Studio Help.
Open our Practice Album that we created. Choose Insert (from the toolbar across the top) > Add Page from the menu > Blank Page > OK. If you just stumbled on to my Blog, type 'MDS Scrap Page 001, 002' etc in the Search Box to see what we have done.
Under the Design Center (on the right) click on Background Papers > Cardstock > Bashful Blue > OK. You now have a blank, blue page.
Turn on your Bleed area. View > Guides > Photo Page Bleed Area. Anything you put past the gray areas could get cut off during printing. I keep my photos inside this area but I don’t worry too much about the embellishments. If the whole page does not show up on your screen, click on the – (minus) button in the lower, right corner (Zoom area) and reduce to 75%. Ok, now back to work!

Page befor adding Photos

Under the Design Center (on the right) click on Background Papers > Cardstock > Whisper White > click on Add as Page Layer. Double click the box that opened. Drag across the whole page, about 3” wide > OK. Move it to the bottom of your page. Adjust to the depth of snow you want.
Under the Resource Pallet (on the left), click on the Punch icon > Drag the Square onto your page and stretch it across your entire page. Now you have a narrow rectangle. Put it on an angle by dragging the slider under Rotate (on right side) to -80 or whatever degree works for you. You can also just type -80 in the little box next to the word Rotate instead of dragging the slider. Place this on top of your white piece; you may have to adjust the length or width to fit across the whole page. Under the Design Center (on the right) click on Color Fill > Bashful Blue > OK. Let’s add some snow to our perfectly straight hill.
Under the Resource Pallet (on the left), click on the Stamp icon > Browse > Torn Edges > Open > Drag the Hand Torn stamp on to your page. While it is highlighted, click on Flip (right hand side). Type 10 in the Rotate box (on right side). Drag to the top of your hill. While it is highlighted, click on Change Color (on right side) > Whisper White > OK. Click on Drop Shadow (on the right). Move Opacity to 55% and the Blur to Medium > OK. Now we have a shadow above and below the Torn Edge. To get rid of the bottom shadow, click on the Punch icon > Drag the Square onto your page and stretch it across your entire page. Now you have a narrow rectangle. Type 10 in the Rotate box (on right side) to put it on an angle. Place this on top of your bottom shadow; you may have to adjust the length or width to fit across the whole page. Under the Design Center (on the right) click on Color Fill > Winter White > OK.
Under the Resource Pallet (on the left), click on the Stamp icon > Browse > A Holly Jolly Christmas > Open > Drag the Tree stamp on to your page. Enlarge it by grabbing a corner of one of the gray handles (small boxes) around the edges with your mouse. While it is highlighted, click on Change Color (on right side) > Wild Wasabi > click on Drop Shadow (on the right). Move Opacity to 55% and the Blur to Medium > OK.
Under the Resource Pallet (on the left), click on the Stamp icon > Browse > Best Wishes > Open > Drag the ready, set, snow stamp on to your page. Enlarge it by grabbing a corner of one of the gray handles (small boxes) around the edges with your mouse. While it is highlighted, click on Change Color (on right side) > Wild Wasabi > OK.
Once your photos are in place, add some snowflakes.
Under the Resource Pallet (on the left), click on the Stamp icon > Browse > Season of Cheer > Open > Drag the three snowflake stamps on to your page. Highlight one snowflake, click on Change Color (on right side) > Marina Mist > OK. Right click on this snowflake > Copy > right click Paste on a blank spot of your page about 4 times. Change another snowflake to Baja Breeze and the last one to Brocade Blue. Copy and paste each one about 4 times. Arrange on your page. Under Arrange > Order, you can Bring to Front or Send to Back, if you want some snowflakes in front or behind your photos.  Click on one snowflake – Drop Shadow - Move Opacity to 55% and the Blur to Medium > 0n this page - OK.  When I finish a page I am pleased with, I like to duplicate it. Insert > Insert Duplicate Page Mirrored. Sometimes I use it as a double page spread and sometimes I just bump it forward for another layout. I might just change the colors, stamps or something simple to make it look different.
My Digital Studio Catalog PDF catalog will be updated every month and is available to you on MyDigitalStudio.net (you will want to sign up to this site) under Resources.
Check back next Friday for another page!

MDS Opacity and Drop Shadow

I am using Windows 7. You Mac or other Windows people may have some adjustments to make. All this info plus more can be found by clicking HELP (across the top of the program) > My Digital Studio Help.

Opacity and Drop Shadow buttons can be found in the Design Center, shown on the right side of My Digital Studio.

Opacity (near the bottom, right side) - This allows you to make photos/embellishments/stamps/ text/punches semi-transparent (the original state of the photo is 100% opaque – not transparent at all). Drag the slider to the left to make a photo etc more transparent or drag the slider to the right to make a photo more opaque (less transparent). You may also type the opacity level into the box by clicking the box, entering the number, and pressing Enter (Return on the Mac) on the keyboard.

Drop Shadow - Click Drop Shadow to add a shadow to a photo/embellishments/stamps/ text/punches, or to edit a photo’s existing shadow. A shadow makes the photo stand out and gives it a sense of depth on the page.

In the Shadow Properties dialog:

-Ensure that the Enable Shadow box is checked. Clear the check box to remove the shadow.

-Use the Opacity slider to affect how dark or light the shadow is.

-Use the Blur slider to increase or decrease the sharpness of the shadow’s edge.

-Click Change to choose the shadow’s color.

-Click the shadow in the area to the top right and hold the mouse button while dragging to adjust the shadow’s placement. You may also use the arrow keys on the keyboard to nudge the shadow.

-Click the Apply to all photos on this page box to add a shadow with the same settings to each of the photos on the current page.

-Click the Apply to all photos in this project box to add a shadow with the same settings to all photos on every page in the project.

-Click Reset to Default to clear the current settings.

-Click Save as Default to save your current settings as the default settings for drop shadows.

-Remove is another method for removing the shadow. This method allows you to remove shadows from all photos in the project, all photos on the page, or the selected photo. After clicking Remove, select your choice in the new window that displays.

-Click OK to place the shadow.

MDS 003 St Patty Scrapbook Page

Here is page a St Patty’s page. If you just stumbled on my Blog, type ‘MDS Scrap Page 001 or 002’ in the Search Box (top left corner) to see what we have done.

This is a 12x12 page.

I am using Windows 7. You Mac or other Windows people may have some adjustments to make. All this info plus more can be found by clicking HELP (across the top of the program) > My Digital Studio Help.
Choose Insert (from the toolbar) > Add Page from the menu > Blank Page > OK OR you can click on the blank page with the + (plus) sign on it from the toolbar. I’m not giving you detailed instructions on this page – I’m pretty sure you can figure it out by now. Just don’t forget to use the Arrange – Order button throughout this page process as you need it.


Page before adding Photo boxes.

Background paper – Wild Wasabi.
Background paper - Designer Series Paper – Small Polka Dots – Garden Green – Add as a Page Layer.
Cardstock – Chocolate Chip - Add as a Page Layer. Copy and Paste to make a second strip.
Punch – Pinking Hearts – color filled to Garden Green – rotate to fit the left side - Copy and Paste to make a second border.
Stamps – Baroque Motifs – flourish image – color with Very Vanilla – resize – Mirror to fit left side of page.
Stamps – Torn Edges – Swirl Leaves – change color to Chocolate Chip – rotate to fit the right side of the right chocolate strip.
Ribbon – Very Vanilla – rotate 90* Right and apply to the right side of the polka dot strip.
Punch – Medium Heart – color fill with Garden Green – mat – Very Vanilla. Copy and Paste to make a total of three hearts. Rotate one left and one right. Join them to make a shamrock. Hold your shift button down and click on all three hearts in the shamrock position. Arrange – Group. Copy and Paste to make another shamrock. You can now move them around without them coming apart. You cannot rotate the shamrock once it is Grouped – do another one on an angle then Group it.
Punch – Full Heart in Garden Green. I did the same as above then placed three Medium Hearts in Wild Wasabi on top.
Embellishment – Hodgepodge Hardware – Vanilla holder – two Vanilla brads
Punch – Oval – change color to Garden Green. Set on top of the opening in the Hardware – send to back. You may have to resize the oval punch to fit behind. Hold your shift button down and click on all the parts - Arrange – Group. Now you can move it around without coming apart.
Text – St Pattys Fun – Bradley Hand size 48 in Very Vanilla; 2011 – Arial size 48 in Chocolate Chip.
I Shadowed everything – Opacity to 50%, Blur to Medium. You will have to Ungroup everything you have Grouped in order for it to Shadow. Click on the item – Arrange – Ungroup.
Insert > Insert Duplicate Page Mirrored to make a double page spread.
Watch for NEW Scrap Pages posted every Friday.

MDS Resource Palette

Know your options under the Resource Palette (shown on the left side of My Digital Studio) and the Design Center (shown on the right side of My Digital Studio). Here is a brief summary of the Resource Palette. I am using Windows 7. You Mac or other Windows people may have some adjustments to make. This info plus more can be found by clicking HELP (across the top of the program) > My Digital Studio Help.

The Resource Palette, shown on the left side of My Digital Studio, allows you to add photos, embellishments, stamps, punches, photo layouts, and background papers to your projects quickly. The palette shows the thumbnails of all the available images.
Photos Palette - loads in available photos for you in your projects.
Embellishments Palette - loads in available embellishments such as brads or ribbon for use in your projects.
Stamps Palette - you’ll find all the available stamps that you can load into your project.
Punches Palette - houses all the punch images that you can use in your project.
Photo Layouts Palette - If you are looking for a pre-designed layout for your photos, look no further than the Photo Layouts Palette.
Background Papers Palette - loads in all the available background papers for your projects.


To select a palette, click the category’s icon. The palette will open, displaying the available images. If no images display, or if you would like to select a different set of images, use the Browse button to open a new set. Select a file (for photos) or a category (for embellishments, stamps, punches, and background papers) and click Open.
To add an image to a page, click the thumbnail, hold down the mouse button, and drag the image to the page canvas. The photo will display in the middle of the page. You can also double click the thumbnail; the image will transfer to the center of the page canvas.
When adding a background paper, you can select to add the paper to the page as a photo. Doing so treats the paper as if it were a photo, making all the photo options (cropping, rotation, etc.) available.
If the page has an unfilled photo box, you can fill the box by dragging one of the photo thumbnails over the box. The box will highlight in yellow to indicate that it will be filled. When you release the mouse, the photo will be placed in the box.
New scrap page will be displayed next Friday.

MDS 002 Scrap Page



This ia an 8.5x11, portrait page

Here is another simple scrap page that you can put together in minutes. The paper I used for this page is Elegant Soiree that I purchased from SU! but you can choose any Designer Kit that you have.

It seems to me that there is about 3 ways to do everything in MDS. This is the way I do it so this is how I will show you. I am using Windows 7. You Mac or other Windows people may have some adjustments to make. All this info plus more can be found by clicking HELP (across the top of the program) > My Digital Studio Help.

Open our Practice Album that we created last time (or type 'MDS Scrap Page 1' in the Search Box, top left corner). Choose Insert (from the toolbar across the top) > Add Page from the menu > Blank Page > OK.

Click on Background Papers (on the right) > Designer Series Paper > Designer Kits > Elegant Soiree > Pattern 4 > OK.

Turn on your Bleed area. View > Guides > Photo Page Bleed Area. Anything you put past the gray areas could get cut off during printing. I keep my photos inside this area but I don’t worry too much about the embellishments. Also, change your margins. File > Print set up > change all margins to 0. It will adjust automatically to the minimum size. If the whole page does not show up on your screen, click on the – (minus) button in the lower, right corner (Zoom area) and reduce to 75%. Ok, now back to work!

Here is the page before I added my Photo boxes. I will likely use one of the boxes for my Text. You can add as many Photo boxes as you want. I’m all about lots of pictures on a page.
Under the Design Center (on the right) click on Background Papers > Designer Series Paper > Designer Kits > Elegant Soiree > Pattern 5 > click on Add as Page Layer. Double click the box that opened. Drag across the whole page, about 2” wide > OK. Move it to about 1” from the bottom of your page.
Under the Resource Pallet (on the left), click on the Embellishment icon > Browse > Staple and Stitching > Open.
Drag the Chocolate Chip zigzag to the bottom of your stripe piece.
Under the Design Center (on the right) click on Background Papers > Designer Series Paper > Designer Kits > Elegant Soiree > Pattern 6 > click on Add as Page Layer. Double click the box that opened. Drag across the whole page, about 4” wide > OK. Move it to fit above the stripes.
Under the Resource Pallet (on the left), click on the Embellishment icon > Browse > Grosgrain Ribbon > Open > Drag the Baja Breeze ribbon on to your page two times. Arrange at the top and bottom of pattern 6.
Under the Resource Pallet (on the left), click on the Embellishment icon > Browse > Staple and Stitching > Open.
Drag the Chocolate Chip zigzag on to the top ribbon.
Under the Resource Pallet (on the left), click on the Stamp icon > Browse > Baroque Motif > Open > Drag the Flourish stamp on to the bottom, right side of your page. Enlarge it a bit by grabbing one of the gray handles (small boxes) with your mouse. While it is highlighted, click on Change Color (on right side) > Chocolate Chip > OK.
Under the Resource Pallet (on the left), click on the Embellishment icon > Browse > Button Latte > Open > Drag three buttons on to your page and place to your liking under the Flourish stamp.

When I finish a page I am pleased with, I like to duplicate it. Insert > Insert Duplicate Page Mirrored. Sometimes I use it as a double page spread and sometimes I just bump it forward for another layout.

Leave me Feedback if you enjoyed this. If you create this page, send me the link and I’d be happy to post it here.

Don't miss the BIGGEST PROMOTION of the YEAR - Sale a Bration!  For every $60 you spend, you get one gift from the Sale a Bration catalogue!  You can combine download orders with anything else from the catalogue. 

Just click on the On Line Ordering button in my left sidebar and your order will be mailed directly to you!   Downloads will go to your computer automatically.  Offer expires 3/31/2011.
 

MDS (My Digital Studio) PDF Catalog

An exceptional new resource for us - a My Digital Studio PDF Catalog!  It includes all of the MDS software artwork (contained on the DVD) and downloads from the October 2009 launch through January 2011!  The catalog gives a snapshot of the entire product line with artwork thumbnails followed by product details. Because MDS is regularly coming out with new artwork, the catalog will be updated every month and available to you on MyDigitalStudio.net (you will want to sign up to this site) under Resources .

Use the catalog as a resource to manage the downloads you have ordered and which ones you still want to purchase. The catalog includes a box next to each download so you can manage your current inventory of downloads. Print it out and place in a binder. If you have not ordered your copy of My Digital Studio yet, just click on the On Line Ordering button in my left sidebar and it will be mailed directly to you! You may add other SU! items to your order if you wish and they will all be mailed directly to you!

 

Don't miss the BIGGEST PROMOTION of the YEAR - Sale a Bration!  For every $60 you order, you get one gift from the Sale a Bration catalogue.  Offer expires 3/31/2011.

 

MDS 001 Scrap Page

Welcome to my 1st digital scrapbook page.  I think I could really get hooked scrapbooking this way!  I would like to show you some very simple scrap pages that you can put together in minutes. Well, maybe not if this is your first time using MDS but it really won’t take you long … promise! For this page, everything I used comes with MDS (My Digital Studio).

It seems to me that there is about 3 ways to do everything in MDS. This is the way I do it so this is how I will show you. I am using Windows 7. You Mac or other Windows people may have some adjustments to make. All this info plus more can be found by clicking HELP (across the top of the program) > My Digital Studio Help.

If you are starting a new project, your first step will be to choose what type of project you wish to work on. The welcome screen will ask you to select a project type from the available options. To make your selection, click the corresponding project. Because I choose to do 8-1/2x11 pages, I will click on Photo Album and choose the 8-1/2” X 11” (portrait) size. If you prefer to do a 12x12 album, click on it instead.

You have the option of choosing between creating a project from Designer templates, using a Photo Only template, or Create Your Own templates. We will choose the Create Your Own option – this one gives us complete control over all design decisions, one element at a time.

Name your project by typing a name in the Project Name box. When My Digital Studio creates your project, this will be the name of the project folder. We will call it Practice Album. Click OK. Choose Insert (across the top) > Add Page from the menu > Blank Page > OK.

Click on Background Papers (on the right) > Designer Series Paper > Blooms > Bermuda Bay > OK.

You now have a page with Bermuda Bay Blooms on it. Turn on your Bleed area. View > Guides > Photo Page Bleed Area. Anything you put past the gray areas could get cut off during printing. I keep my photos inside this area but I don’t worry too much about any embellishments. Also, change your margins. File > Print set up > change all margins to 0. It will adjust automatically to the minimum size. If the whole page does not show up on your screen, click on the – (minus) button in the lower, right corner (Zoom area) and reduce to 75%. Ok, now back to work!

This is what the page looks like befor I put the photo boxes in place:Under the Resource Pallet (on the left), click on the Punch icon > Drag the 1.25” circle punch on to your page. Enlarge it by grabbing one of the gray handles (small boxes) around the edges with your mouse. While it is highlighted, click on Paper Fill (bottom, left side) > Brocade > So Saffron > OK > Mat (on the right side) > move the Size to 6 > Change > Click on Whisper White > OK > OK.

Drag the Curly Label Punch on to your page. Enlarge it by grabbing one of the gray handles (small boxes) with your mouse. While it is highlighted, click on Paper Fill (bottom, left side) > Script > Regal Rose > OK > click on Arrange (at the top) > Order > Send to Back > Mat (on the right side) > move the Size to 6 > Change > Click on Whisper White > OK > OK.

Under the Resource Pallet (on the left), click on the Stamp icon > Browse > All Scallops > Open > Drag the scallop #4 on to your page. While it is highlighted, click on Change Color (on left side) > Regal Rose > OK. Right click on it > Copy. Click on a blank spot on your page and right click Paste. Match the two up to fit across your page.

Under the Resource Pallet (on the left), click on the Embellishment icon > Browse > Grosgrain Ribbon > Open > Drag the So Saffron ribbon on to the top of your scallop > Browse > Grosgrain Ribbon Knot > Open > Drag the So Saffron knot on to the top of your ribbon. While it is highlighted, click on Flip (right hand side).

Once I put my Photo boxes on my page, I noticed I had a blank area so I added a butterfly.

Under the Resource Pallet (on the left), click on the Stamp icon > Simple Friendship > Open. Drag the Butterfly on to your page. Resize it by grabbing one of the gray handles (small boxes) with your mouse. While it is highlighted, click on Change Color (on left side) > So Saffron > OK. To put the butterfly on an angle, drag the slider under Rotate (on right side) to -20.

To add text to a page, click on the Add Text icon (across the top). Type your text in the text box. To change your font and/or font color after typing the text, highlight the portion of the text to change and make the desired changes using the Text section of the Design Center (right side). Click and drag to move the text box to where you want it. Click one of the gray handles (small boxes) around the edges of the text box to resize the text box.

When I finish a page I am pleased with, I like to duplicate it. Insert, Insert Duplicate Page Mirrored. Sometimes I use it as a double page spread and sometimes I just bump it forward for another layout.  Leave me Feedback if you enjoyed this. If you create this page, send me the link and I’d be happy to post it here.

My Digital Studio Catalogue - Can be seen by clicking on MDS Catalogue in top right hand side in my sidebar. The first 25 pages are what come with MDS. The remaining pages are available downloads for purchasing and can be done by clicking on the On Line Ordering button in my left sidebar.

 

SU217 Joy

 

I had read that Sylvia’s Christmas Card Challenge theme for March was Monochromatic.  It was a couple days before I could get working on my cards due to life interruptions.  Finally got going and I sure must have been in my own little world as this is what I came up with (above).  After I finished four of them, I thought what the heck are you doing??!!  This isn’t very Monochromatic!  Anyways, just changed it a bit and still ended up stamping ‘Joy’ with burgundy!

 

Stamp Sets: Welcome Christmas, Small Script.

Cardstock: Always Artichoke, DSP from Costco.

 

Ink: Always Artichoke, Bravo Burgundy.

 

Accessories: sponge, coluzzle, Always Artichoke grosgrain ribbon.

Total Christmas Cards for 2011:

January = 1, February = 6, March = 5.

 

A total of 12 cards thus far!  Thanks Sylvia for keeping me going!