Template Workshop 2025

[Sue Thomas]

7 hours ago, Cristina said:

Participating in the Workshops is always something I like very much.

Each and Every One created unique pages that taught me something or inspired me; thank you to all who shared their work. It's much better to participate with everybody than to do it by myself.

Carole, your comments are a plus, as they always highlight areas where we can improve. Thank you!

 

You took the words right out of my mouth. 

Edited April 27 by Sue Thomas

[Harmony Birch]

And here is my number 6, at the ripe age of 64 and disabled I qualified as a Yoga Teacher something I am very proud of. The yoga pose skeletons I wanted to look like someone had added ink stamps over the page which is why they go over the photo's. The yoga skeletons are from rachelM-yoga-skeletons from digitalscrapbook.com

[Ann Seeber]

Beautiful layout, Harmony. You deserve accolades for that accomplishment! 👏👏

[Julian Adams]

On 4/26/2025 at 1:55 PM, Ann Seeber said:

Here's my Day 6 concoction. I've been waiting for my cherry tree to bloom but all I was getting was leaves. And yesterday, the flowers started to appear! Curious, I looked it up and the tree people said it's a Royal Burgundy cherry and leaves always come before the flowers. I used the Difference layer style to get the texture on the background paper which was pale blue to start. I just used star pattern fills for the elements and added brads from my stash.

I 💖the way your shades of blue and pink work together

Edited April 27 by Julian Adams

[Julian Adams]

22 hours ago, Donna Sillia said:

Day 5 - I seem to be running a day behind. The background is my own created from a photo of my cement driveway. The lines were a bit harsh so I used a gaussian blur. I made the stitches into a vector using the selection to path script. I used vectorpaint to add the stars in the circle. The patterns were created using Adobe Elements styles.The balloon pattern is from my Build a Kit 2025. The stripes were created with the cass gradientstripes script, and the beads are from the cass Alphabead 3 script. The photos are mine. The heart was a vector preshape selected and converted to a raster. I then applied a FF effect called "Colored Squares with Photos." The striped #1 is a png number from CF.

Carole, I am really enjoying using all the scripts that I downloaded on your birthday.

Those letters on buttons are cool 😎

[Julian Adams]

15 hours ago, Jean Naumann said:

I've just had a play with Template 5 and made the 4 photos into portrait.  I am having fun with this workshop.

Really nice shading!

[Julian Adams]

12 hours ago, Sharla said:

Day 6: Japanese theme continues with images by Hiroshige downloaded from Wikipedia. The papers are from Janet Scott’s Fresh kit.

 

That inspires me! I went to an exhibit of Katsushika Hokusai's work, works of his mentors, students, contemporaries, and  modern works influenced by him. I took loads of photos I could use in a similar layout. 👍

Kind of off topic - when taking photos in an art gallery it is literally impossible to get a true image of framed artwork without keystone distortion. Then I discovered PSP's Perspective Correction tool which makes even the worst trapezoid into a perfect rectangle. When I'm snapping photos at a gallery I can just snap away without worrying if I have the correct perspective because I know I can fix it later. 

 

Edited April 27 by Julian Adams

[Jeni Simpson]

11 hours ago, Leslie Pugs said:

I use Font Expert, and I have thousands and thousands of fonts. It's a great program, altho it is one that you have to buy. I'm still using the 2018 version. You can just activate a font temporarily, and you can sort and search the fonts in all different ways. Including the link in case anyone is curious.

https://proximasoftware.com/fontexpert/

FontXplorer is the font manager I used and loved for years. I tried searching for it and couldn't find it when I changed computers years ago. Hence now using NexusFont. I must check out Font Expert, thank you.

[Donna Sillia]

Day 6 - I've never seen the Savannah Bananas live so I enjoy seeing them through my daughter's pictures. I also follow them on FB and laugh at their antics. I discovered the background paper by accident and don't know where I got it. It is called "banana bark." I used a blend mode for the color. I once again used the gradientstripe script from Carole. It is so versatile. I applied a FF effect to the stripes. The long stripes are a banana texture from Adobe Express. The font is "Night Scream" from CF. I used the Glitch script from Carole. The bananas are all from Canva.

Carole, the Glitch script works differently when I add colors. It mainly gives an outline and a textured font.

Edited April 27 by Donna Sillia
additional information

[Jeni Simpson]

Template 2 extra
I used 2 photographs taken from the same place, taken for a panorama photograph.
The Remarkables are, according to Wikipedia, named for the serrated peaks.

I have used the Heartfelt Papers kit by Esperanza Mixto, and colourised the extra shapes.

 

 

 

[Jean Naumann]

And here is the last template.  I didn't put any embellishment on it because I didn't think flowers were appropriate and I couldn't find anything else that I thought was relevant. But no doubt I can always add to it later.

[Jeni Simpson]

 

Template 7 Diamond
Affinity 2.6
I used a mix of various pieces of art I own to create this one. The small A5 size paintings in here are mixed media, pen and ink, watercolour, graphite, pastels, coloured pencils, etc, so I thought to add some splashes, where the circles were, from Janet Kemp's Memories and Tradition Paint Kit behind the photographs, with Melo Vrijhof's Cosy Day Papers and small heart scatters from Esperanza Mixto.
Fonts are Drive Winter and Florida Palm from CreativeFabrica.

 

 

Edited April 28 by Jeni Simpson

[Linda Rexford]

11 hours ago, Susan Ewart said:

I agree.  People of those programs are really missing out on making unique pieces of art.  Being able to make your own supplies is such a bonus.  Sue T's work is a testament to that.  Making supplies fueled by your own imagiination makes for one-of-a-kind pieces.  And no need to worry about "personal use" issues should you want to sell any pieces.

Have you watched any videos for Affinity Designer?  That is what I started with when I switched to Affinity because I wanted to create things with vectors.  To me, AD is easier to work with vectors than PSP.  I was in a forum for Affinity and we had tutorials on how to create a lot of things and it was great.  Very much like this forum with Carole and PSP.  Unfortunately the Affinity forum is gone.  

[Cassel]

@Deana Davis That is interesting to have a photo as a background paper. You have a great photo to use for that purpose.

@Jean Naumann Isn't it interesting to see those "new" Blend modes that are available in Affinity and not in PSP? You might want to add your program version in your profile. For your last page, don't worry about using flowers. Sometimes we have some, sometimes we don't. You might find some that you will like, or find something else, or just love it the way it is without any additional embellishment.

@Euka to help in reading the text that is on top of a photo (on the Pinnacles page), you could add a faint layer of contrasting color under the text. There are other tricks in this article about text on photos.

@Carolyn Rye Did you resize separately or did you export directly at 600 pixels? That might help pinpoint the issue with the blurriness.

@Sue Thomas Those brushes instead of tags could definitely use a little bit of misses on the edge. I'll look how to create that effect in Affinity.

@SharlaThat is a very appropriate font for that Japanese theme.

@bina greene Here is one difference between PSP and Affinity: in Affinity, you have to have a vector shape to put your text inside while in PSP you can either use a vector shape OR a selection. I find that a selection is much more flexible and straightforward to create an area than a vector.

@CristinaThe Selection to Path script was featured in this article from last year.

@Leslie Pugs Thank you for the link to FontExpert. I'll have a look at it. For me TheFontThing still works but since it is quite old, who know what Windows update might break it!

@JacquesDid you use ready-made papers or did you create them yourself for the Day 6? I love those colors. By the way, do you have only grandsons?

@Lynda DiGregor Very interesting to see a monochromatic layout and it is not boring at all!

@MoniqueN.In Affinity, you can apply two separate shadows at once, by clicking the + sign on the first one you create. So you don't have to do one or the other, you can do the "regular" shadow and add a "reverse" shadow at the same time.

@fiona cookThe Merge Group would appear only if you have a group to merge. Were you trying to merge an actual group of layers, or just several selected layers?

@Harmony Birch Your layout made me smile because I remember seeing those skeleton images around Halloween time. I even showed them to a yoga teacher I know. Congratulations for that achievement!

@Julian Adams Yes, that perspective correction tool can save quite a few headaches because in some cases, even if you were able to take a picture perfectly straight, you could have issues with reflection on a glass or lighting bouncing the wrong way.

@Donna SilliaYes, the Glitches script, when you choose the color shift will use a Blend mode and the result will differ depending on the colors used. The effect will also depend on the size of the element to be "glitched".

@Jeni Simpson That FB header looks like you have a panoramic photo. Great effect. And these pages are great to showcase your artwork!!

@Linda Rexford Yes, Affinity Designer is better at vector and can do some things that are harder in PSP however, I do find it annoying to have to alternate from AP to AD if I want to complete one project because one command is missing in one app, but available only in the other. But that is just me.

Today, the last lesson link was sent. Those who registered late might still get the last lessons in the next few days. All the lessons are still going to stay available for another 7 days for all the non-members. If you want to keep access longer, or if you want the extra templates and the written handouts, you can always join our membership! DIAMOND members have some interesting perks when we host workshops!

Remember to fill out the survey when you get the link!

[Jacques]

55 minutes ago, Cassel said:

@JacquesDid you use ready-made papers or did you create them yourself for the Day 6? I love those colors. By the way, do you have only grandsons?

 

@Cassel

I used the following papers:

• cpjess-soups-on-mini-paper-dots-mint-green
• cpjess-soups-on-mini-paper-diamond-peach
• cpjess-soups-on-mini-paper-floral
• ps_esperanza-mixto_401667_unicorn-color-stamp-damask-3_pu
• sahindesigns-summerday-paper07

Thank you for your script 'OpenAsLayer' which renames the layer according to the name of the selected object.

Indeed, I only have grandsons (not yet any granddaughters).

Moreover, one of my daughters' partners has 2 other boys.

They might form a hockey team LOL.

[Julian Adams]

4 hours ago, Jeni Simpson said:

Template 2 extra
I used 2 photographs taken from the same place, taken for a panorama photograph.
The Remarkables are, according to Wikipedia, named for the serrated peaks.

I have used the Heartfelt Papers kit by Esperanza Mixto, and colourised the extra shapes.

 

 

 

I 💖this Jeni

[fiona cook]

Lesson 7

I've noticed when using the ClipTo It script, if the placeholder is in grey it is automatically turned to black and white mask layers. No need to change the grey to solid black beforehand. The papers I have used are from Digital Scrapbooking (pussy cat paper from elif sahin, sand by jessica dunn).

Thank you Carole for the workshop and your comments throughout. Although I have been on the Template Workshop before, some more techniques have sunk in better.

[Sue Thomas]

3 hours ago, Cassel said:

@Deana Davis That is interesting to have a photo as a background paper. You have a great photo to use for that purpose.

@Jean Naumann Isn't it interesting to see those "new" Blend modes that are available in Affinity and not in PSP? You might want to add your program version in your profile. For your last page, don't worry about using flowers. Sometimes we have some, sometimes we don't. You might find some that you will like, or find something else, or just love it the way it is without any additional embellishment.

@Euka to help in reading the text that is on top of a photo (on the Pinnacles page), you could add a faint layer of contrasting color under the text. There are other tricks in this article about text on photos.

@Carolyn Rye Did you resize separately or did you export directly at 600 pixels? That might help pinpoint the issue with the blurriness.

@Sue Thomas Those brushes instead of tags could definitely use a little bit of misses on the edge. I'll look how to create that effect in Affinity.

@SharlaThat is a very appropriate font for that Japanese theme.

@bina greene Here is one difference between PSP and Affinity: in Affinity, you have to have a vector shape to put your text inside while in PSP you can either use a vector shape OR a selection. I find that a selection is much more flexible and straightforward to create an area than a vector.

@CristinaThe Selection to Path script was featured in this article from last year.

@Leslie Pugs Thank you for the link to FontExpert. I'll have a look at it. For me TheFontThing still works but since it is quite old, who know what Windows update might break it!

@JacquesDid you use ready-made papers or did you create them yourself for the Day 6? I love those colors. By the way, do you have only grandsons?

@Lynda DiGregor Very interesting to see a monochromatic layout and it is not boring at all!

@MoniqueN.In Affinity, you can apply two separate shadows at once, by clicking the + sign on the first one you create. So you don't have to do one or the other, you can do the "regular" shadow and add a "reverse" shadow at the same time.

@fiona cookThe Merge Group would appear only if you have a group to merge. Were you trying to merge an actual group of layers, or just several selected layers?

@Harmony Birch Your layout made me smile because I remember seeing those skeleton images around Halloween time. I even showed them to a yoga teacher I know. Congratulations for that achievement!

@Julian Adams Yes, that perspective correction tool can save quite a few headaches because in some cases, even if you were able to take a picture perfectly straight, you could have issues with reflection on a glass or lighting bouncing the wrong way.

@Donna SilliaYes, the Glitches script, when you choose the color shift will use a Blend mode and the result will differ depending on the colors used. The effect will also depend on the size of the element to be "glitched".

@Jeni Simpson That FB header looks like you have a panoramic photo. Great effect. And these pages are great to showcase your artwork!!

@Linda Rexford Yes, Affinity Designer is better at vector and can do some things that are harder in PSP however, I do find it annoying to have to alternate from AP to AD if I want to complete one project because one command is missing in one app, but available only in the other. But that is just me.

Today, the last lesson link was sent. Those who registered late might still get the last lessons in the next few days. All the lessons are still going to stay available for another 7 days for all the non-members. If you want to keep access longer, or if you want the extra templates and the written handouts, you can always join our membership! DIAMOND members have some interesting perks when we host workshops!

Remember to fill out the survey when you get the link!

That would be great, thanks.  I'm sure your  list is growing of tutorials to do.  That particular effect, like so many does give a  look of realism.  In PSP it is ever so easy to do.

[Anja Pelzer]

here is my day 5 using  the Diamond template and a kit by Fayette Designs - Optimistic

pictures AI by Bing

and day 6 using a kit by AWhimsicalAdventure - Ostara  . I find in Affinity the GlyphsBrowser and used it to change the title with the glyphs. Font Anticed

Edited April 28 by Anja Pelzer

[MoniqueN.]

1 hour ago, Anja Pelzer said:

here is my day 5 using  the Diamond template and a kit by Fayette Designs - Optimistic

pictures AI by Bing

and day 6 using a kit by AWhimsicalAdventure - Ostara  . I find in Affinity the GlyphsBrowser and used it to change the title with the glyphs. Font Anticed

Lovely font! Which one is that? 🙂

[Ann Seeber]

2 hours ago, fiona cook said:

Lesson 7

I've noticed when using the ClipTo It script, if the placeholder is in grey it is automatically turned to black and white mask layers. No need to change the grey to solid black beforehand. The papers I have used are from Digital Scrapbooking (pussy cat paper from elif sahin, sand by jessica dunn).

Thank you Carole for the workshop and your comments throughout. Although I have been on the Template Workshop before, some more techniques have sunk in better.

Fiona, that layout is stunning! I'll see if I can get that sand paper from DS. Can you tell me the name of the font used for the text? I looked through my Nexusfont but don't see it. I'm just starting to consider a layout for Day 7 and yours is an inspiration!

[Sharla]

Day 7: Bonsai photos from Freepik. The papers are from Janet Scott’s Fresh kit. The font is ‘Night in Tokyo’. Project completed in Affinity.

 

[Carolyn Rye]

Day 6 using Affinity Photo 2. More photos of my friend's trip.  These are of South Australia seeing the Paddle Boat of the Murray River and a beautiful sunset at Burra.

[Jeni Simpson]

Template 4 Diamond
Back at Gethsemene Gardens, where we see the Ark, and some of the animals on the Ark.
I wasn't sure how to deal with the brush in this one, and knew I would probably use it as a mask, and using the blend mode of Pin Light.
The kit is Jessica Dunn's Autumn Bramble from Curio Pantry.
Fonts are Believe in Yourself and Beauty Sabila Script

[gwen jewitt]

Day 4 using affinity2.6 Photos are birthday cards I have made for Family Members over the years, paper pixabay, I changed the colour .