A Trio of Tips

Awesome Studio Time Savers



1. Use Trash to Save Searching
Swap something out and the replaced item goes into the trash. Click on the trashcan to open the window and you’ll see all papers, photos and elements trashed in this Studio session, including the template’s original photos. To use a new photo in one spot and the original in another without having to go back and search your photo albums, simply open the trash window and find the replaced photo. Drag it into any “drop here to swap” target. Use the same technique for papers, alphabets or embellishments.




2. COPY and PASTE Simplifies Design
Want to add a photo to the layout? Sure, you could drag up your photo from the “my photos” tab and then resize, rotate and apply all the appropriate effects to it. Or you could simply copy and paste one of the photos from the layout, position it, then lock it and swap in your photo from albums. It saves time and simplifies your efforts.



Try “Copy” and “Paste in Place” to create several interesting effects. Make the new photo in front slightly smaller, then blur the back one to make a fuzzy outer edge. On text, “Copy” and “Paste in Place” to create a thicker “bold” effect, which is handy if you’re using a font that doesn’t have a built-in “bold.” Just be sure you are completely done editing before you do this, otherwise it will get confusing with two layers of the same text box!

“Copy” and “Paste Format” is another serious time-saver in the “Paste Special” menu. Once you have the effects you want on a photo, embellishment, alphabet or text box, simply select it, click “Copy.” Then select another item that you want to have the same effects on it. Click on the “Edit” menu, “Paste Special,” and “Paste Format” to have those same effects applied instantly. You can even SHIFT-select multiple items on the page to apply desired effects automatically.




3. The “C” Page is a Free Page
Other than the back cover, the last inside page of any storybook is labeled in the Page Manager as the “C” page. That “C” stands for COPYRIGHT. We overprint a ¾-inch white stripe with the HM logo, your consultant’s website and a unique code that allows us to identify your project. Design whatever else you want to fill the other 99% of the page! And if, by chance, you find a template in the gallery that leaves it blank, fill it however you see fit. It’s yours to use.

Click here to start a project now. http://studio.heritagemakers.com/getStarted/

Go to my web site at http://www.OurPhotoStories.com or contact me via email at Rebecca@OurPhotoStories.com to learn more about Heritage Makers products.

How to Be a Fabulous Photographer and a Studio Speed Diva

Ever wondered why some Heritage Makers finish their Studio projects so quickly or receive constant compliments about their photography? The fact is the fastest, most efficient and celebrated users of Studio are the ones who take their tips from professional photographers. Let’s look at the work flow of these professionals and see what tricks we can use for making our photos look fabulous while speeding up our Studio process.

Take MORE Photos

Professional photographers have always taken many more shots than the average home photographer, even when they were still using expensive film. The medium does not matter. And what professionals do with the shots AFTERWARDS is radically different and very informative. Let’s start by looking at each group’s typical picture-taking process.

Amateur: Takes a few shots of each event, waits several weeks, downloads photos from many different events to same dated file on computer, then uploads all to Studio.

Professional: Takes many more photos of a single event, downloads to computer so that event or topic is in one dated file, edits photos down to best handful and then finishes by uploading and publishing only the very best photos.

What Are the Lessons Here?

The professional takes more photos but downloads them right away so each subject ends up in its own dated file. That already sounds more efficient. And, because the professional takes so many more photos, they have plenty to choose from and can delete anything blurry, too dark, poorly focused, or that does not show an individual at his or her best. Because a professional takes more photos to start with, they don't have to hang on to the blurry one of great grandma because “It’s the only one I’ve got of her” or go searching a hard drive to find three less-than-impressive photos of an event that are all junk.

Good Photographers Are Ruthless

And we do mean ruthless. Anything that reflects poorly on the photography studio goes in the Recycle Bin immediately. “Maybes” are considered carefully and pared down, until a few “stars” remain. Star photos are the only ones used to make finished products.

Bottom Line

To be a fabulous photographer and speed up your creative processes, TAKE lots more photos, but KEEP far fewer, just like the professionals do, uploading only your very best, print-worthy images to Studio. The benefits of the “Take More/Throw More Away” approach are amazing. You will have the important photos you need. You will find your photos faster. The photos you do find will be exceptional ones. And you’ll be so much happier with your finished projects. So commit to this photography method today. You won’t just like this approach, you’ll LOVE it.

Go to my web site at http://www.OurPhotoStories.com or contact me via e-mail at Rebecca@OurPhotoStories.com to learn more about Studio and other Heritage Makers products.

Import Page Tutorial Video

Check this out!!! How to use "Import Page" in Heritage Makers Studio to convert a project to a different project type (for example, convert a canvas to a poster or convert a canvas to a scrapbook page).

The BEST Studio Enhancement of all is the IMPORT PAGES function that will allow you to convert projects into a new project type. For example, you can take a set of 12x12 scrap pages and convert them into an 8x8 storybook quickly and easily!

Import a Page Feature

Amy Dickerson shows how to import a page from an existing project into a new project. Click here to view the video tutorial.

Go to my web site at http://www.OurPhotoStories.com or contact me via e-mail at Rebecca@OurPhotoStories.com to learn more about Heritage Makers.

Getting Started

Maybe you attended a workshop, or met a Heritage Makers consultant. Perhaps you were online and you saw all the wonderful products and artwork that are available to you through Heritage Makers, and now you’re ready to start your own adventure in heritage making. Before diving in, here are a few helpful tips to get you going in the right direction.

When you first sign in to the Heritage Makers web site, you should see a picture of your consultant and her name in the lower left corner of the screen. You may also be prompted to enter your consultant’s name so that she can be made aware of your activity and can be available to help you. If you don’t remember her name, you’ll be able to search for it at the login page. If you don’t have a consultant, don’t worry. You’ll be able to continue anyway.

An important first step is to read the “Terms and Conditions” of your account with Heritage Makers. This document protects your rights and explains our responsibilities. While you may be tempted to click “I agree” and head straight for your first project, please read this information before you proceed.

After you accept the “Terms and Conditions” for your account, the first place you may want to look is the “My Studio Menu” page. Log into the Heritage Makers home page using your account number and password. Beneath the “My Studio Menu” is a link for the Studio tutorials page. This page provides a number of instructional videos for our clients. Here you can select from a variety of options including setting up your account, learning more about our powerful design tool Studio, starting a project with a template, uploading photos, and starting different types of projects.

After touring the tutorials, you’ll want to start on a new project. Select what you are interested in from the “Start New Project” tab, and choose either a blank project, or one of the predesigned templates from our collection.

If you have questions while you’re working, contact our excellent Service Solutions center at 1-866-694-3767, or through the online chat option located on the home page. We are excited to have you as a part of the Heritage Makers family, and we look forward to seeing all the many meaningful and creative projects you will create.

Rebecca Brooks
Heritage Makers
Personal Publishing Consultant

Rebecca@OurPhotoStories.com
http://www.OurPhotoStories.com

Tips and Tricks

Making the Perfect Circle
If making a photo into a perfect circle has always seemed a bit mysterious, follow our easy steps for creating a circle that’s not only perfect, it’s resizable!



1. To make a photo into a perfect circle, start with a perfect square. Easiest way? Pull up a paper from the paper bucket, lock it and then swap your photo in.



2. Turn your photo into a circle by going to the EFFECTS tab of the TOOLBOX and sliding the bar next to the ROUND CORNERS box all the way to the right. This works but only for this size!


3. If you’d like your circle to be resizable, or your circle ever looks slightly flat on one side, enter 1000 in the ROUND CORNERS numeric entry box and your circle will round perfectly.



4. With 1000 entered in the ROUND CORNERS numeric entry box, your circle will stay round as you increase or decrease the size.

5. Squares become circles. If you need an oval, start with a rectangular photo and use the 1000 technique. With 1000 entered you can also resize your oval over and over and it will stay the same shape.



6. The 1000 trick works with papers as well as photos.

You’ll love how easy it is to design with circles now you know the 1000 trick.

Rebecca Brooks
Heritage Makers
Personal Publishing Consultant

Rebecca@OurPhotoStories.com
http://www.OurPhotoStories.com