Computer Art can be very exciting. It is a new medium for me and I was a little intimidated at first. I needed to find a creative outlet that didn't require a lot of room or a lot of time getting organized. I have always been a Stampscapes fan. It is the only company that I feel really understands scenery stamping. I was excited to discover that they're also the perfect choice for Computer Scenery.

IMAGES FOR PICTURES:

Always get permission from the stamp company before you use their designs on the computer.

The program I use for most of my computer art is Microsoft Picture It!99. There are other versions of Picture It! that do not have the same features. Version 99 is the one that I use. There are a lot of photo editing programs that will do the same thing. I think the most important feature to have is making a cutout by color selection.

In Microsoft Picture It!99:

1. Go to GET PICTURE/SCAN PICTURE follow the directions

2. Go to PICTURES AND CUTOUTS/Cut Out Of Picture/ By COLOR SELECTION

3. Place a dot before REMOVE FROM CUTOUT/ ALL SIMILAR AREAS/move the slider to about 50% /left click on the color in the picture that you want to remove/NEXT/on this screen be sure that you have a check mark in the box next to PLACE YOUR CUTOUT IN IT'S OWN PICTURE/DONE

4. This step is important!

Go to PICTURES AND CUTOUTS/Fill Picture Or Cutout/choose the color you want your "stamped" image to be.

5. Go to PAINT AND COLOR EFFECTS/Creative Painting Color your image if desired.

6. prepare all the images you want to use in your picture following Steps 1 thru 5

BACKGROUNDS:

Get creative and have fun. Gradients will give you a look that is similar to the tonal applicator. All kinds of different textures and effects will give your art work special qualities. Don't be afraid to experiment. Wonderful things are just a click away.

Follow your program instructions and assemble your prepared images on your background.

These instructions are for Microsoft Picture It!99

1.After you have created your background SAVE it.OPEN a BLANK Collage or a blank sheet of paper that is the size you want your finished picture to be.

2. Drag your background unto the blank page and resize it the way you want.

3. Drag all your images from the filmstrip at the bottom. Arrange them the way you like.

FINISHING YOUR PICTURE:

Matting and Framing are just as important in Computer Art as they are on paper. They are just a lot easier. Experiment with your program and find out about the amazing things it will do. Every program has hidden tools and surprises if you just look for them. It might be tools that you have seen and just not played with. Computer Art lets you make use of a lot of fun effects that you don't use for photographs. Don't be afraid to experiment.

These instructions are only meant to get you started. Always rely on the manual that comes with your program. This is a new medium for a lot of us so please let us see what you do. We can all learn from each other.