Who here uses CM's SBC+ for digital scrapping?

[labdogs42]

Christy -- those LO's look awesome! The selective coloring thing is essentially done the same way in PSE. I have used the custom shape tool with pretty good success to do my extractions. I'll have to find the layout where I used that. i think it was an Epcot one.

There are only a couple of features that I wish they would add to SBC+ -- a stroke outline tool so I could make letters look like stickers and some kind of text on a path or Word Art type tool. I'll keep my fingers crossed for the next update!

 

[DisneyCruiser2008]

Christy -- those LO's look awesome! The selective coloring thing is essentially done the same way in PSE. I have used the custom shape tool with pretty good success to do my extractions. I'll have to find the layout where I used that. i think it was an Epcot one.

There are only a couple of features that I wish they would add to SBC+ -- a stroke outline tool so I could make letters look like stickers and some kind of text on a path or Word Art type tool. I'll keep my fingers crossed for the next update!

I think they need some kind of soft eraser tool too... isn't there one in PSE? I felt like I wanted to go around the edges of my extraction with an eraser and touch up a little.... The cutting tools make the edges look kind of harsh compared to some extractions I have seen done in PS....

 

[labdogs42]

I think they need some kind of soft eraser tool too... isn't there one in PSE? I felt like I wanted to go around the edges of my extraction with an eraser and touch up a little.... The cutting tools make the edges look kind of harsh compared to some extractions I have seen done in PS....

An eraser would be great, too. The custom shape tool can make a smoother edge than the shape tools. You just need to do a lot of clicks!

 

[DisneyCruiser2008]

An eraser would be great, too. The custom shape tool can make a smoother edge than the shape tools. You just need to do a lot of clicks!

I need to practice more with it.... I kept making all of these crazy zig zag lines and cutting into my pic..... I think maybe part of the problem is my touch pad on my laptop... it might be easier with mouse... maybe I could control myself more. HAHA!

 

[labdogs42]

I need to practice more with it.... I kept making all of these crazy zig zag lines and cutting into my pic..... I think maybe part of the problem is my touch pad on my laptop... it might be easier with mouse... maybe I could control myself more. HAHA!

You might need to change the sensitivity of the tool too. It took me a while, but I finally got the hang of the thing!

 

[DisneyCruiser2008]

You might need to change the sensitivity of the tool too. It took me a while, but I finally got the hang of the thing!

Can you change the sensitivity in SBC+? How do you do that?

 

[labdogs42]

Can you change the sensitivity in SBC+? How do you do that?

Whoops -- I was thinking of the wand tool. That's the one with the sensitivity sliders. I got them mixed up in my head -- sorry! That might help you with your wand issues! Sorry for the confusion!

 

[DisneyCruiser2008]

Whoops -- I was thinking of the wand tool. That's the one with the sensitivity sliders. I got them mixed up in my head -- sorry! That might help you with your wand issues! Sorry for the confusion!

That's ok -- I get them mixed up too.

 

[cheme]

Hi! I am brand new to this message board, but I have been interested in digital scrapbooking for awhile. I was researching SBC+ and came across this thread - and I think you all have me convinced to go for it! Your LO's look great! I have just a few questions....

First, I am currently planning to make LO's in SBC+ and then save as a jpg to upload to a different site (shutterfly?) to make a photobook - is there anything you have to do to make sure the edges of pages don't get cropped off when you make the book?

Second, I don't have SBC+ yet and I don't know a consultant. I know I can find a local one from CM's website, but is there any disadvantage to buying a copy off ebay? It seems like it would save a little...and every little bit helps! But I want to make sure I'd have a valid copy that I could call CS if I run into trouble or something.

Thanks for any help you can offer!

 

[labdogs42]

Hi! I am brand new to this message board, but I have been interested in digital scrapbooking for awhile. I was researching SBC+ and came across this thread - and I think you all have me convinced to go for it! Your LO's look great! I have just a few questions....

First, I am currently planning to make LO's in SBC+ and then save as a jpg to upload to a different site (shutterfly?) to make a photobook - is there anything you have to do to make sure the edges of pages don't get cropped off when you make the book?

Second, I don't have SBC+ yet and I don't know a consultant. I know I can find a local one from CM's website, but is there any disadvantage to buying a copy off ebay? It seems like it would save a little...and every little bit helps! But I want to make sure I'd have a valid copy that I could call CS if I run into trouble or something.

Thanks for any help you can offer!

Welcome to the DIS! and welcome to our little SBC+ thread! I have made one photobook for shutterfly in SBC+ and I used the page views in SBC+ to help me size the pages right. I think I still should have stayed a little further in from the edges, but that was my learning curve. As long as the page looks the way you want it to using the right, left or trimmed veiws, it should be OK. I haven't found any other tricks for doing them right, maybe someone else has a tip!

I don't think there would be any issue buying the software from eBay, as long as it is an unopened copy. If you want to buy any of the CM kits, you'll need a consultant, so you can order from their website. They can't sell those on ebay, because they are just downloads.

 

[Disney Baby]

Hi! I am brand new to this message board, but I have been interested in digital scrapbooking for awhile. I was researching SBC+ and came across this thread - and I think you all have me convinced to go for it! Your LO's look great! I have just a few questions....

First, I am currently planning to make LO's in SBC+ and then save as a jpg to upload to a different site (shutterfly?) to make a photobook - is there anything you have to do to make sure the edges of pages don't get cropped off when you make the book?

Second, I don't have SBC+ yet and I don't know a consultant. I know I can find a local one from CM's website, but is there any disadvantage to buying a copy off ebay? It seems like it would save a little...and every little bit helps! But I want to make sure I'd have a valid copy that I could call CS if I run into trouble or something.

Thanks for any help you can offer!

Hello and welcome! The only advice that I can give on shutterfly is to create or import your pages into the storybook format so that you can see the boundaries and then export to shutterfly. That may not make sense now - but once you get the program - one of us can walk you through.

As far as ebay is concerned - contact the seller and get it in writing that it has never been opened or activated.

 

[Disney Baby]

Ok -- so I have been practicing some of the "fancy" techniques that I have been afraid to try in SBC+.... Thought it would be fun to share some of the techniques here.... There's probably more than one way to do this stuff... I am just using trial and error to figure it out....

I tried an extraction... but I couldn't do it with the magic wand (it hates me -- I have said that before -- right??? ), so I just zoomed in to about 500% and did it with the rectangle and circle tools... Then to make the edges a little less harsh looking, I went into Tools-More- Edge Blue and blurred the edges just a little bit. I don't know if there is a better way??? I know Disneybaby has done some great extractions....

I also tried selective coloring... For that, I made two copies of the same photo and put them right on top of each other. I turned the top one b/w and then zoomed in and cut out the bow with the cutter tools so that the color bow underneath came through. Then I grouped the photos and flattened them so I could shadow it, etc.

Tonight for the speed scrap at SM, I tried to do photo tinting... for that I made two copies of the photo, put them on top of each other, made the top copy b/w and then changed the opacity down to like 50%ish so that some of the color would show through. Then, I actually went in with the circle cutter and cut out DDs eyes so that the "true" blue color from the color photo on the back would come through... Then I grouped the pics and flattened them so I could shadow, etc....

Any thoughts about better, more efficient ways to do this stuff? Or other techniques? I have seen some pretty blended LOs around... I haven't played with that much... I guess you just change up opacity on papers and pics to blend everything together.... I think its cool to demonstrate that you can do these kinds of fancy smancy techniques in little 'ol SBC+. When I first bought the program, I thought I would "outgrow" it, but there are very few things that I have found that I can't do in SBC+.

Christy,

How did I miss these? I checked the date and you posted on the first day of my 20th Reunion weekend - I must have been out of the loop!!! I am never going to be the Reunion Chair again!

THESE ARE AWESOME!!!!!!!! You have done such an incredible job with SBC+ - you should consider teaching classes for your consultant! You have a great grasp on the program and how to get what you want out of it!! I am soooooooooooooooooooo impressed!!

 

[noahsmom]

Hi! I am brand new to this message board, but I have been interested in digital scrapbooking for awhile. I was researching SBC+ and came across this thread - and I think you all have me convinced to go for it! Your LO's look great! I have just a few questions....

First, I am currently planning to make LO's in SBC+ and then save as a jpg to upload to a different site (shutterfly?) to make a photobook - is there anything you have to do to make sure the edges of pages don't get cropped off when you make the book?

Second, I don't have SBC+ yet and I don't know a consultant. I know I can find a local one from CM's website, but is there any disadvantage to buying a copy off ebay? It seems like it would save a little...and every little bit helps! But I want to make sure I'd have a valid copy that I could call CS if I run into trouble or something.

Thanks for any help you can offer!

Be careful of buying products from Ebay, as a consultant it's in our contract that we can NOT sell products on ebay. I was just looking on ebay and some of the products are selling for what they would cost through a consultant. So before you place a bid or buy now, check a consultant's website and verify price - don't spend more then you have too.

 

[DisneyCruiser2008]

Christy,

How did I miss these? I checked the date and you posted on the first day of my 20th Reunion weekend - I must have been out of the loop!!! I am never going to be the Reunion Chair again!

THESE ARE AWESOME!!!!!!!! You have done such an incredible job with SBC+ - you should consider teaching classes for your consultant! You have a great grasp on the program and how to get what you want out of it!! I am soooooooooooooooooooo impressed!!

Thanks Jennifer... You're so sweet! I have really enjoyed figuring out the program... I really love it. This thread has been a huge help to me! BTW -- I don't think I ever took the time to tell you how sorry I was to hear about your friends who were killed in the car crash.... and, on a happier note, to congratulate you on baby number 3 to be. Are you feeling pretty well? When are you due?

 

[cheme]

Thanks so much to everyone for the advice - I really appreciate it! I'm sure I'll be coming back here for advice once I get set-up with the program. I can't wait to try it out - I am in awe of your LO's!

 

[RadioNate]

wow, I don't think I've ever seen this thread on page 2!

I just wanted to bump up for the Mac users that were part of the earlier discussion. I'm going to try SBC+ in Parallels. I'm still waiting on the software from CM but I should have results by the end of the month. Total cost was about $300. Had I not had an additional reason to use Windows it would have been cost prohibitive.

 

[kellig]

Quick question for all you SBC+ experts!

I know that I can recolor elements, but can it be done while also keeping the shadows built into the element? Does that make sense? Say I have an alpha from a kit that has various shades of red in each letter. When I change the color, it becomes a flat color. Is there another way that I haven't figured out yet?

Thanks!

 

[DisneyCruiser2008]

Quick question for all you SBC+ experts!

I know that I can recolor elements, but can it be done while also keeping the shadows built into the element? Does that make sense? Say I have an alpha from a kit that has various shades of red in each letter. When I change the color, it becomes a flat color. Is there another way that I haven't figured out yet?

Thanks!

Hi there! Yes you can. The easiest way to recolor elements is to click on the element, then go to Enhance - Hue - and then slide the little cross hatchy thingy on the hue bar around until you get the color you want... you can also change the saturation and intensity by sliding those around some, but I can usually get pretty close to what I want with just the hue bar. There is no real science to it... you kind of just have to play with it, and some things recolor much better than others.... a lot of Britt's brightly colored alphas recolor REALLY well......Does this help?

 

[kellig]

Hi there! Yes you can. The easiest way to recolor elements is to click on the element, then go to Enhance - Hue - and then slide the little cross hatchy thingy on the hue bar around until you get the color you want... you can also change the saturation and intensity by sliding those around some, but I can usually get pretty close to what I want with just the hue bar. There is no real science to it... you kind of just have to play with it, and some things recolor much better than others.... a lot of Britt's brightly colored alphas recolor REALLY well......Does this help?

Thanks so much Christy! I was simply going to color and trying to sample color match, etc. I'll be sure to try these steps out. I knew there had to be a way...I just didn't know it!

 

[DisneyCruiser2008]

Thanks so much Christy! I was simply going to color and trying to sample color match, etc. I'll be sure to try these steps out. I knew there had to be a way...I just didn't know it!

That's what I was doing too when I first started with the program... but like you said, that just basically refills the shape with the color -- you'll be much happier with the results with the hue bar.... I especially love recoloring ribbons and alphas, etc... being able to recolor is one of the best things about digi scrapping!