Hidden Tool Tutorial

Hello from New Jersey! This is Jenn, jk703, here today to bring you a fun tutorial, one that I consider a bit hidden! We are going to learn to use the Puppet Warp. There are so many tools, and features to Photoshop, but I found this one was surprisingly easy.

Puppet warp allows you to transform a layer and manipulate and distort images. With that in mind, you might be wondering how it will be useful in scrapbooking. This feature can be used on text, photos, flowers, and best of all, strings or ribbons. Even stitching. This is something you will use again and again. I originally was shown and then learned of this little feature when completing a challenge for the Month of Challenges at The Lilypad. I couldn't believe how easy it was, and how I never heard about it! Talk about underutilized!

Here is the layout that I am working on. I've used Liz's Just Photo Templates. I've used a mixture of items from Chelle's Creations - Master Builders, Master Builder Friendly, and Doctor's Orders. My fonts are Wanderlust and KG Something to Believe In.

See that string, I'm going to show you how to move it off of my journaling, and at the same time, make it look natural and not distorted.

Here is the string up close. Nice and curly. :) 

Choose your string layer in the Layers Palette. Next, choose Edit > Puppet Warp. 

Right after you click on the Puppet Warp, your chosen element will have almost a "covering" over it. Photoshop calls it Mesh, which is actually a perfect name. Here is what it looks like: 

Now, click on all the parts of the string that you want to stay in place. You are leaving anchors, aka the little yellow circles. I usually stick to the areas nearest to the part that I am moving. I play on grabbing the end of the string, so I will leave a little leeway for the movement and change that will occur. 

 One tiny note - see the last yellow anchor. It has a black dot inside. This is the "Active" anchor. That just means that is the one that will move if you click and drag using that anchor. 

I've decided I have enough anchor points and have clicked on the end of the string to add and anchor. Without letting go, drag the end where you would like it to go. I felt it might naturally curl in more, so I brought it lower than the other part of the string. 

Then, I continued... as the string was working with me. Sometimes, it creates drinks and funny bumps. I kept curling and this is what I came up with. I noticed a bit of a drink forming where I left off - where the black dotted anchor is. 

Here is the crink in the string. (I clicked the checkmark so I could show you.) :)

The great thing is, you can do as many Puppet Warps as you can. So, I followed the same steps again and decided to try to remove the crink. Here is my string, and I nudge it a little. Then I click the checkmark again. 

If at first, you don't succeed, undo and re-try, or just give the Puppet Warp a second go around. :) 

Here is a close-up of my un-crinked string. What do you think? Not too bad, right!?

My final layout/left side:

And my double: 

Now, I have an extra special treat, lol! I was scrapping with Liz's ever so versatile Recyclables 36, and Chelle's newest kit for tonight.... and it is gorgeous. I used this same technique on some lace. Here is the piece of lace that I wanted to straighten out... yes, I'm odd. It bothered me. :)

So, I used the Puppet Warp to straighten it out! Perfecto! Just a little thing can make me happy, and I did it so fast too! 

Thanks for visiting and I hope you love this little hidden gem too! Have fun! 

Jenn/jk703