So many of you have been asking for tutorials on Photoshop, especially for digital techniques for photos, so today’s episode is one version of a technique I use all the time.

This one is for Premium Subscribers. You can learn more about the Premium Subscription by visiting the Membership Information Page.

Would you like to save money by making your own embellishments? Today’s episode for Premium Subscribers should give you some ideas.

If you want to learn more about the premium membership so you can have access to all of the videos, click here.

Today we have an awesome video for the Premium Subscribers. In this tutorial I take inspiration from a very old layout, but make key changes on my new one using my understanding of design.

Make sure you stick around for the outtakes at the end of the video!

If you want to learn more about the premium membership so you can have access to all of the videos, click here.

Alvin Ailey Dancer
Originally uploaded by Omega418.

Modern Dance Proved There Are No Rules

Mia Michaels, a choreographer and judge on So You Think You Can Dance, has been introducing the non-dancing world to the unique beauty of Modern Dance (or Contemporary, as they call it on the show). It’s usually a very interpretive, story-telling type of dance where you “read” the language of the body movement and shape.

It all started about 100 years ago when a few women like, Isadora Duncan, decided break away from the strict authority of ballet. You often hear from people that Modern Dance “broke the rules.” It broke the rules of ballet but it didn’t break any fundamental general or universal rules. It’s still a very technically rigorous dance form. It uses principles of music, design, movement, human nature, and visual communication to tell stories.

There Are No Design Rules. Just Principles.

Some people get uncomfortable when scrapbookers talk about design because they think the principles are rules. Scrapbooking is a hobby. Who wants to get bogged down with rules?

Fortunately, there are no rules. Just principles.

Design Principles Are Like Recipes

If you mix certain ingredients when baking, you get a specific effect, whether you wanted it or not. The same holds true of design principles. For example, if you gather a group of photos together and place them opposite of an over-sized photo with lines directing toward it (like on the layout above), people will notice the solo photo first, whether or not that was your intention.

There is no rule that says you have to place your photos this way. It’s just a recipe: if you do A+B, you get C.

There is also no rule that says there must be a focal point at all. But the general principle is that your layout will be easier for people to digest if there is one. What if you have a story about chaos and you want your layout to exemplify that reality? The principles that help you to avoid chaos can also help you attain it.

A Principle You Might Think Of As A Rule

Here is a perfect example of using a principle that people often think of as a rule: In general, people are most attracted to photos where the subject is one-third in from a side with a little space above their head and at the edge of the photo. Some of my favorite photos, though are like the ones below, where the subjects are about to fall out of the frame because they’re laughing.

The photographer didn’t break a rule. She used a principle (even if it is sometimes accidental). Placing a laughing subject at the very side, or slightly out, of the frame shows movement and energy and realness. It’s unposed.

We see the laughter on the subjects face, but we feel the joy because of the cropping.

Whether in dance, music, scrapbooking, or other types of art, design principles are a language for communicating. A clear understanding that they are options, not rules, will help you see how they fit in with your role as a visual story-teller.

* * *

This article is part of a series: All I Really Need to Know I Learned From Performing.
If you enjoyed this, you’ll probably like the others, as well:

Skill Before Style: Why Scooping Can Wait

Advanced Design: Visual Dynamics

Alvin Ailey Dancers

Originally uploaded by Omega418.

All I Really Need To Know I Learned From Performing

When I began learning about design I had no idea how often I would revert to things I learned during my performing arts days from middle school to college. A lot of the principles carry over.

If you’ve never been a dancer or singer, you may only appreciate this week for the heavy emphasis on design. But if you also have a love for performing arts, it will be a double-delight as we focus on some of the cross-over principles.

Huge Apologies

I posted an announcement last Monday that I would be taking a “summer break” from blogging that week so I could take care of some pressing commitments. Perhaps it is because of the server upgrade that my post vanished and left no sign of ever existing. I’m sorry if some of you were checking the blog daily with no luck.

We do know that it is because of a server upgrade that is incompatible with our subscription service that is making the video tutorials inaccessible right now. Again, we apologize that we are experiencing a technical glitch. And while the server is trying to do its part to fix the problem, the people at the subscription service must leave the office for the weekend because we haven’t been able to reach them. So, while we had a great video that I was excited to post for our premium subscribers today, it will have to wait, probably until next weekend. Huge apologies. Thank you for your patience.

Paperclipping Live

A kit club called, The Treasure Box Club, asked me to review their product. I just received two of their kits in the mail and on Tuesday night (6:30 pm PST), during Paperclipping Live, I’ll pull out the contents and we can see together how their kits “perform.”

This will be a high-audience participation show because I’d like to hear what you look for in a kit. Why do you buy kits? Why don’t you buy them? What makes a kit good? If we can get Skype and UStream to work together, you can call into the show and share your opinion via Skype. If not, we’ll have to use the chat function.

Either way, please register for the Paperclipping Live chat and with Skype so that you can share your opinion about scrapbook kits.

I’m looking forward to a high-performance week on Paperclipping!

Paperclipping 50 - Puffy Paint from izzyvideo on Vimeo.
I hope you enjoy today’s free episode of Paperclipping where I demonstrate a fun product with a few tips.

As usual, there is a high-quality version available, which is worth the little bit of download time. I also included show notes for this episode.

Are you a flower lover? Do you need something new to do with your flowers? Try these two ideas I share in this episode for our Premium Subscribers.

If you’d like to learn more about the premium membership so you can have access to all of the videos, click here.

Paperclipping 48 - Summer Elements from izzyvideo on Vimeo.
Today’s episode is short and sweet, perfect for what we’re enjoying right now–summer time! If you’re already taking photos at the pool or beach, you might get a few ideas for your next layout.

As always, we have a higher-quality version for you to enjoy, as well as show notes for this episode.

Are you interested in using more acrylic and transparent products? Have you been curious to try an entire transparent mini-book but felt intimidated? This video for Premium Subscribers will give you some tips and tricks for dealing with all of those transparent issues.

If you’d like to learn more about the premium membership so you can have access to all of the videos, click here.

Paperclipping 46 - Invisible Grids from izzyvideo on Vimeo.

I think you’re going to love today’s episode. In it I share a layout idea with a tip on how to make it easy to put together, as well as design concepts so you can make it your own.

Click here for the high-quality version. Show notes are also available.