Creating textures for MTC from LD paper packs (revisited)

With all the cute paper packs at Lettering Delights (that match colors in the the graphics), I had been using this method to convert them to a usable file in MTC. But thanks to a comment by a reader (thank you cfine!) I have been doing it a different way on some of the papers. This does not produce a seamless texture. My method uses her idea but is a bit different.

This method does involve using PhotoShop Elements (PSE), but the other one did as well. You may be able to do this in other graphics programs (maybe Paint, or PSP).

Open the file in PSE. For this tutorial I am using the harlequin file from the Lettering Delights At Home Paper Pack.

Now go to Image-Resize-Image size. Change the numbers to get a usable result. I like to stay below 528x 528 pixels for MTC (even lower is better) but it is a compromise between your image quality and how much you will tax your system resource with the larger files. If I only have one texture, I will use close to 528. If I have more textures in a project, I tend to lower the pixel number. For this I chose 520 pixels, 4 inches and 130 dpi. Most of my projects are 4-5 inches or less, so this is the perfect compromise for me. You can alter to suit your needs.

I save it as a png and include the information (size and pixels).

For use in my project, I right click to bring up the menu for textures.

And navigate to where my texture is saved and open it.

Before applying the texture, I will re-size it using the scale option so that the texture is just a little bit larger than the shape. The mat that I am filling is 4.7559 x 3.6235. I enlarge the texture (using the slider and arrow keys) until it is 4.76" square.

Here is what my mat looks like after applying this texture.

I am now ready to cut! Do you notice more Lettering Delights sets in there? I totally mixed-and-matched this project. The Chinese Character is from DoodleBat DB KanjiWords A-G, the bamboo is from the Asia SVG (part of the new Cut Its Simple Shapes), and the paper is on sale! Stay tuned for a post of the card itself - I am getting ready to cut it now.

Speaking of sales, you did read my last post about all the 0.50 sale items at Lettering Delights? Try doing a search for Paper Packs, and start about halfway through - you will see gobs and gobs of sets on sale! Check them out - now you can easily use them within MTC! (image is linked)

Gift Bow file for MTC

Do a web search and you'll find several ways to make a gift bow, but I have designed one for MTC.  JeannetteC from the forum has allowed me to use her assembly directions and pictures here. Forum discussion is here.

Bow file: download here. This is for 8.5 x 11" paper and will make one bow.  This file can also be resized to 12x12.

To assemble:
Method 1: (Starting from the center and building down)
Take a small one and make a loop. Place brad inside it, poking out.
Working with the smallest strips to the longest,
Take a strip, place on the brad with the wrong side touching, bend around and put other end on the brad, again with the wrong side touching. Keep repeating, spacing the pieces out to form the bow.
Open the brad to hold bow in place. 

Method 2: (starting from the bottom and building up)
Working from the largest to the smallest,
Take a strip, place on the brad with the good side down, bend around and put other end on the brad, again with the good side down. Keep repeating, spacing the pieces out to form the bow until you have one piece left.
Put the one end on the brad as before, but loop this last one into a ring, then put the other end on the brad.
Open brad to hold bow in place. 

Both methods get tricky as the bow gets fuller.

Text in a circle using MTC 3.0.0

MTC Tutorial: Connecting a word that has parent and Child shapes (for FLRN)

This is for one of the MTC forum members who was having a problem with joining words that had parent and child shapes.

Using Make the Cut Software MTC 3.0.0 Beta with Textures and Layering