Last week we talked about Using the Liquify Filter in Photoshop. Many of you wrote to say that you have not used Photoshop Filters before. So today let’s look at another filter that can be helpful to you in your scrapbook layouts: the Shear Filter.
The use of paper strips is very popular in layouts. Here is a beautiful example of this technique:
This layout was created by Cathy (forum name; britnkaysmemaw2), using Tell Me Again, a collaboration between ADB Designs and myself, SnickerdoodleDesigns.
I think Cathy’s layout is perfect as it is, but what if she wanted to put a slight curve to the green paper strip under her photograph, or wanted to add other paper strips with just a slight bend in them? The Shear Filter can help with that.
The Shear Filter can be found by going to the top Menu Bar and clicking on Filter > Distort > Shear. The path is the same in both Photoshop and Photoshop Elements.
In the image below I have opened a paper from Cool Beans. After placing a blank layer above the paper, I used the Rectangular Marque tool to create a rectangle of my desired width, then filled it with color.
I used the keyboard shortcut Control + D to deselect the rectangle. Alternatively, I could have gone to the top menu bar, and Select > Deselect.
Next, with the rectangle layer active, I followed the path: Filter > Distort > Shear to bring up this dialogue box:
Here is where the magic happens! In the grid in the upper left corner, there are 16 boxes, separated by dotted lines. In the middle is a darker line. Adjusting the positioning of this line, will adjust the curvature of the rectangular strip that you created. I want just a very slight bend in my strip, so moved the top part of the line only slightly to the left and the bottom part of the line only slightly to the right. We can see the adjustment that I am making reflected in the view box. (Be sure that “Wrap Around” is checked, for this technique.)
Once I was satisfied with the curvature on the strip, I clicked OK to commit the change.
Now I have a pretty shape that I can use however I like. I elected to rotate the shape and clip a paper to it. I then placed a pre-made Cool Beans Cluster on the shape, and my page was finished in mere minutes.
It’s as simple as that! I hope you enjoy exploring the Shear Filter this week!
The beautiful cluster in the image above was created by Renee, a member of my Creative Team. You will find it on our Facebook Page for you to download and enjoy. If you have “liked” our Page, just click on the FREEBIE tab underneath the Facebook Cover to access the download link. And if you haven’t “liked” our page yet, just click on the “Like” tab in order to gain access to this and other freebies in the future.
You got me on this one lol … I’ve never used it although every time I see it I think … ‘I should take a look at that’ … Thank You 🙂
WOW!!! This old dog just learned a new trick …
I love learning new things, and the filters, while I use many, I have definitely not explored enough. Thank you for the tutorial!
Thanks for another awesome tip Karen. I knew there had to be a simple way to make those awesome curves I see in lots of layouts!
I look forward to seeing what more of the filters do!
Oh…..and thank you for showcasing my lo in this tutorial. 🙂
Karen – this is AWESOME. Such a cool filter hiding in my program waiting to be discovered. I know I will use this one a lot more now 🙂 Thank you for sharing your knowledge 🙂
Great tip!
Terrific (and wow! easy!) tool. Thank you Karen, for this teeeeerific tutorial.
Thanks for the feedback, ladies! I really appreciate knowing what you find helpful!
Awesome! I am going to try this trick to make a page border!
Your tutorials are written with such clarity and the example pictures drive the point in as well. Thank you. You are a natural at this …
[…] Using the Shear Filter in Photoshop – 1 freebie(s)? […]
Another brilliant tutorial! Clear, concise, easy to follow in PSE too! Thank you for sharing!
[…] THE rest of this tutorial HERE, on theStudio’s […]
Thank you for your tutorials. I know so much more about PS thanks to you.
I’m really not too bad with Photoshop, but that one has always eluded me! Thanks for the tutorial! I think that shear tool can come in mighty handy!
Wow! Once again, another feature I had never taken the time to investigate. Thanks so much. While trying this out, unless I was doing something wrong, I found that this could not be done with a patterned ribbon from a kit. The pattern inside sheared, but not the ribbon itself. Have to use that liquify filter that I just learned about (once again, thanks so much) for that application?
So THAT is what the Shear filter does! LOL I never knew, but, have attempted to curve items before. I don’t recall how I did it, but, it wasn’t with the Shear filter! LOL Thank you so much!!