In my tutorial PNG vs ABR files – Which should you use? we not only explored the different usages of PNG and ABR files but also how to experiment with blend modes, opacity levels, and color overlays to get a desired result.

Today let’s take a look at another way of coloring digital stamp outlines and also how to color the closed areas (or “inside” areas) of stamps. I am using one of my favorite doodles from My Heart Leafs 2 by SweetMade in this tutorial.

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 Let’s get started!

1. To recolor the black stamp outline:

  • Select the magic wand tool in the left tool bar. UNcheck the Contiguous checkbox in the top Options Bar. Click on any area of the stamp outline to select all of the black lines.

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  • Choose Edit > Fill from the top Menu Bar. You can make various Fill choices here.  I am going to choose Color. The Color Picker will open for me to make a color selection. I will also use Mode: Normal and Opacity 100%, but sometimes it’s fun to experiment with these options.

(Alternative in Photoshop:  Go to the top Menu Bar and choose Select > Color range. Click anywhere on the black outline, and set the Fuzziness to 200. This option is not available in Photoshop Elements.)

Click OK and the black stamp outlines will be filled with your new color choice.

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2. To color the inside of the leaves:

  • Select the magic wand tool in the left Tool Bar. Make sure that the Contiguous check box in the top options bar IS checked.

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  • Choose Edit > Fill from the top Menu Bar. You will make any Fill choices here.   I am going to choose Color again. This will bring up the Color Picker so that I can select my color choice. I will use Mode: Normal and Opacity 100%, but sometimes it’s fun to experiment with these options here too!

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Continue making your selections and filling as desired.

Alternative: Create a new blank layer for each area that you want to  select. (In this example, there are 4 leaves, so I created 4 blank layers and named the layers Leaf 1, 2, 3, and 4.) Making sure the Doodle layer is active, use the Magic Wand Tool to make your “inside” selection. Next, click on a new blank layer to make it active, and Fill as instructed above.  Now your “fill” color will be on its own layer, and will not be part of the entire doodle.  This will allow you flexibility – to change the colors quickly if you like (without having to make selections again), or to clip papers or images to your leaf selections. Continue in this manner, being sure that the Doodle layer is active each time you make a new “inside” selection, until you are finished.

In the example below, I have filled Leaf #1 with color, and have clipped a By Design paper to Leaf #2.

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That’s all there is to it!

We can take this pretty little Doodle even further…. Find out how next week!

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Credits:

(1.) The papers used in this tutorial are from By Design, a collaboration between SnickerdoodleDesigns and Vero – the French Touch.  Enjoy a 40-62% savings now!

(2.) The Doodle used is from My Heart Leafs 2 by SweetMadeExplore all of Sweet Made’s stamps and save 40%!

Right now you can save 40% during our Commercial Use Stamps and Brushes sale!  Take advantage of the savings to stock up so you will have plenty of images to practice these techniques with!

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Sweet Made has created this gorgeous butterfly sampler for you to experiment with! Just click on the image below to download!

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If you would like to keep this tutorial on your computer for easy reference, you may download a PDF here: Coloring Digital Stamps.

If you are a visual learner, you can view this tutorial on SnickerdoodleDesigns YouTube Channel and on theStudio’s YouTube Channel.

Please head over to YouTube and take a minute to Follow both channels.  Each Channel will have some exclusive videos, so by following both channels, you will be sure not to miss a thing!

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