Understanding & Using Layers in Flexi & Adobe Photoshop
Both Flexi, a software used in the sign and print market and Adobe Photoshop as well as other design programs use something called “layers” to manage design elements. Some us this technique for arranging the objects while other add additional design options.
Since Photoshop and Flexi are quire common in any sign or print shop, I thought I would make a short video ( 20 minutes) showing the layering properties of each program and how a user can manage to use them in some form in each program.
Enjoy the video below and be sure to leave me your comments and experiences with layering.
Watch even more videos like this one at The MUTOH Learning Experience, an online course driven, self-paced way to learn about all topics related to wide format printing. http://mutoh.thinkific.com
Over 40 courses and more to be added:
- FlexiSIGN & Print
- Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign
- CorelDraw
- Vehicle Wraps
- ADA Braille
- Wallpaper Installation
- Color Management
…to name just a few topics.
1 More Opportunity to Join The Awesome Color Journey Webinar
Here’s a video summary of what you will learn in the vital webinar about The Color Journey. We will show you practical ways to control color from the image source all the way through to the install location! This is a must-see and it will be recorded so if you register you will get to see the replay forever!
The Webinar is Tuesday Nov 16th so this is the last opportunity to watch it live!
SECRET: We will be announcing something very special during this webinar!
Don’t worry it hasn’t happened yet but after tomorrow it will be a recording!
Nov 16th 2021
Cost $25/Person
Full access to the live webinar and watch the replay forever!
HIDDEN BUTTON TO INSTANTLY FIX COLOR OF PHOTO IN PHOTOSHOP
Colin Smith
I’m going to show you a button that most people don’t even know exists, and this will fix the color in just about any photo in one click. Let me show you on a couple of examples. We’re going to do a basic photo, then I’m going to show you how I would use it on a composite.
HOW EASY IT IS TO FIX THE COLOR OF A PHOTO
So here’s a photo with an obvious color cast. I Shot this in Chicago. You might recognize the scene from the beginning of a movie if you know what it is. Let me know win the comments.
All right. So let’s do this. We’re just going to choose image. Then we’re going to go under adjustments and then we’re going to go down to match color. And this amazing button, it’s very simple. It’s right here. It’s neutralize. If I turn on the neutralize button, boom gets rid of the colorcast just like that.
SOME REALLY USEFUL OPTIONS FOR A BETTER RESULT
All right. I’ve got a couple more things I want to show you now. I would use this as an adjustment layer or as a Smart object, but it doesn’t support those options, so we will dupliacte the layer instead.
Ctrl/Cmd+J duplicates the layer
As above, choose image adjustments>match color.
Once again, we’re going to choose the neutralize option and click, OK, now we’ve applied this on a separate layer, but it gets better in the next step.
Right now the filter is affecting both the color and the luminosity. We only want to change the color.
Where it says normal in the Layer blending mode in the Layers panel, change it to Color. Notice now it’s brighter. The adjustment is only changing the color now, and not the lightness (Luminance).
And notice it doesn’t look as dark and muddy as it did before in normal mode.
MATCHING COLOR IN MULTI LAYERED COMPOSITES
Let’s use it on a composite. This pegasus is what I did during an Adobe live stream. There are lots of layers. Let’s apply it to the entire image. Now, here’s a little trick.
What you want to do is just choose the top layer, then hold down shift+option+command. That would be shift+Control+Alt on windows. While holding down these three modifiers, tap the E key, and this will create a layer on top. It’s literally creating a flattened layer of all the layers underneath.
Image adjustments>Match color> neutralize, click, OK
You can see it’s subtle on this images (every image is different), but it’s bringing everything together. And once again, we’re going to change this from normal to color blending mode.
This week was just a quick tip on that little button. I’m curious, did you guys know about that before? Let me know in the comments underneath and also let me know what you’d like to learn next.
And by the way, if you’re your new, welcome to photoshopCAFE.com. Great to have you with us. Consider joining our mailing list, and you won’t miss any tutorials from me.
And until next time, I’ll see you at the cafe.
(Ive been posting some fun Instagram and Facebook Stories lately)
Colin
PS, you can grab free goodies here, including Photoshop brushes, actions, presets, sky images, ebooks and a whole bunch more.
OLE – Object Linking and Embedding in Flexi 21
Object Linking and Embedding is like a Bridge
OLE or Object Linking and Embedding is like a bridge that links one program to another. It has been around in Windows for a while but is rarely used properly.
In this blog, I’ll show you why and how to use it in Flexi 21.
What is OLE? Object Linking and Embedding?
The Geek Stuff
A compound document technology from Microsoft based on its Component Object Model (COM). OLE allows an object such as a graphic, video clip, spreadsheet, etc. to be embedded into a document, called the “container application.” If the object is playable such as a video, when it is double clicked by the user, a media player is launched. If the object is allowed to be edited, the application associated with it (the “server application”) is launched.
An object can be linked instead of embedded, in which case the container application does not physically hold the object, but provides a pointer to it. If a change is made to a linked object, all the documents that contain that same link are automatically updated the next time you open them.
All of the above simply means that you can place a FRAME with the embedded program inside another program and when you double-click that frame, the other program will start so you can edit what’s inside that frame. In the meantime, in Flexi 21, you can actually print the image you see in the frame.
Flexi 21 and many of the previous versions, allow OLE and it can be a great tool once you understand it and practice using it.
Learn More
Want to know even more about the features of Flexi 21 and other wide format printing topics? Visit our online courses at www.mutoh.thinkific.com
If you want to know more about MUTOH and the wide range of wide-format printers, eco-solovent, UV-LED, and Dye Sublimation, just visit www.mutoh.com
APA Webinar: Solutions for Fixing Terrible Customer Artwork
Solutions for fixing terrible customer artwork.
Read More
Why is Printing Color So Hard! Here’s 1 Reason and an Awesome Solution!
You did the research. You saw the samples. You picked a printer. Then after the installer left, it won’t do what you want! What the %$#&!
Don’t Let Your Wide Format Printer Take Control!
It’s time to take control of your wide format printer! How? You just need to attend our week-long MUTOH webinar. Every day, for one hour for five days we will tackle the topic of wide-format color printing. We’ll look at all the issues, bitmaps, vectors, profiles, and then we’ll show you how to take back control of your printer. This is not a technical class, it a solution-driven class with real-world solutions.
MUTOH wants EVERY wide format printer owner to attend. This is not about MUTOH printers, it’s about taking back control of ANY wide format printer! Look, HP, MIMAKI, EPSON, CANON, And other users, let us make your life easier by showing you a practical way to print from design to printer and manage colors the entire way!
No more orange-red. Get Red REDS! No more Pantones that almost match get an exact match No more bitmaps or photos that just won’t pop! Print photos and images that will make your customer coming back for more and more!
Color Management Made Easy
What’s it going to take for you to attend?
How about $10? Attend each day for just $10 and even if you can’t attend one or more days or even not at all, I’ll send you all the recorded links so you can watch the webinars anytime you want!
Just use the link below to get further details! I expect you there!
PLEASE! Get the help you long for from the expert in color management with real-world solutions, not theory! Click the article below to find out more!!!! SEATING IS LIMITED so we can make this personal!
Take Control of Your Wide Format Printing! Awesome 5-Day Webinar!
Visit MUTOH.com for great printer deals!
Read More
Watch the Awesome MUTOH FlexiSIGN Marathon 5-Day Webinar Series Replay
DID YOU MISS OUR MUTOH 5-DAY FLEXISIGN WEBINAR SERIES?
If, so don’t worry because you can still take the 5-day course through replays of the actual webinar. Everyone who signed up received a replay link as part of registration, but if you saw our invitation too late for the live event, you can still watch those replays!
Yep, you’ll still get all the handouts and the BONUS materials! To get the learning online RIGHT NOW, just purchase your webinar replay seat below. You’ll get access to the replays as well as all the handouts and the BONUS materials!
Find Out More about MUTOH Printers
Info about the FIRST Webinar series in August
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Understanding Blending Modes in FlexiSIGN & Print for Awesome Designs
What are FlexiSIGN & Print Blending Modes?
Why understanding them will enhance your creative powers!
Find out about the blending modes in FlexiSIGN & Print for some great design effects. Understanding these will greatly increase your creativity with Flexi.
And if you want to learn even more attend our up coming FlexiSIGN 5-Day Webinar Nov2-6 2020!
You can also learn a lot with the SAi blogs. You’ll find those here
Finally, if you are considering a wide format printer, consider MUTOH printers, the widest range of inks and application, MUTOH Makes It Possible.
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MUTOH America is the leader in training & education for the wide format print market. They are also the leader in wide format printer types and offer the widest range of inks for the widest range of applications.
Read MoreGraphics Download the Beautiful Bundle of 1000+ High-Resolution Graphics!
1000+ High-Resolution Background Graphics Bundle
Instructions to Get Your Graphics
You MUST USE this Link, in the README FILE will be another link that then takes you to the download page. These images are about 36×56 inches and 72ppi. Good quality free graphics to use for any purpose. Just keep in mind, you can only download today August 20, 2020
https://www.giveawayoftheday.com/1000-high-resolution-backgrounds-bundle/
System Requirements:
Compatible with Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Elements, Corel PaintShopPro or free programs like Gimp, Pixlr, Paint.net, Seashore, SumoPaint, Krita, CinePaint, Serif PhotoPlus, PaintShop Pro, and Pixelmator
Publisher:
Homepage:
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File Size:
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Licence details:
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Price:
The program is available for $14.50,
but it will be free for our visitors
as a time-limited offer.
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visit our mother ship: www.mutoh.com
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MUTOH Announces It’s “Imagine It” Webinar Series
MUTOH America “Imagine It” Webinar Series
On April 1, 2020 MUTOH began its “Imagine It” webinar series for users of FlexiSIGN, Adobe, Corel and other design software users who print to wide format printers.
Our theme says it all “Imagine it”.
Imagine your images printing perfectly, image being better and faster in designing your work, imagine being able to match colors with ease, imagine the business you will have when we get past this pause in business!
In this series of webinars to be held weekly, MUTOH’s professional staff will discuss dozens of topics that will assist attendees in the design and printing market.
Want to be notified of future webinars? email: kthompson@mutoh.com
We’ll put your contact info on our notification list and send you an email with all the right information to sign up for the ones you want to attend. For now you can use the links below.
April 1, 2020 1 PM How to Setup & Use Soft Proofing for Better Printing (Replay Here)
April 8, 2020 1 PM Are You Testing Your Printer Each Month for Performance & Quality? (Replay Here)
April 15, 2020 1 PM Is a UV-LED Printer in Your Future? MUTOH Has Something Special! Register Here
April 22, 2020 1 PM How to Match a Solid Color (Spot Color, Pantone, Logo Branding) Registration Pending
Let’s use our pause in business to get better professionally.
