How To: Add text and watermarks to your photos

Per special request, I am going to show you how to add text and watermarks to your photos using Photoshop and Lightroom.

{FYI: You can now get both of these programs from the Adobe website for only $9.99 per month, but it's only for a limited time!!}

What the heck is a watermark? It's your own special seal that lets everyone know it's your photo! It could be as fancy as a personal logo or as simple as a text copyright with your name. The most important thing to remember when using watermarks is to keep it simple and discreet. You don't want a huge watermark taking the viewer's attention away from the awesomeness of your photo.

Other than marking your photography territory, knowing how to add text to your photos could come in handy. Like those delectable recipe pics on Pinterest that have the name of the recipe scrolled across it in some fancy font.

Adding a watermark in Photoshop...

{And yes, I am using this tutorial as an opportunity to show off my handsome little man!}

{Step 1} Open the photo you would like to watermark. Select File from the menu across the top, then select Place.

{Step 2} Select the file for the watermark you want to add,

then select Place.

{Step 3} Adjust the size of your watermark using the multiple points on the frame around it. You can move its location on the photo by clicking inside the frame and dragging it. Once you are satisfied with your watermark's size and location, press the Enter key on your keyboard.

Pressing the Enter key places the watermark and removes the frame preventing any further edit.

{Step 4} Going back to the menu at the top, select Layer,

then Flatten Image.

{Step 5} Select File, then Save As. Always save your edited photos as an additional photo rather than saving over the original.

Adding text in Photoshop...

{Step 1} Open the photo that you want to add text to. Select the Text Tool from your toolbar on the left side of the screen. Click and drag the mouse in your desired location on the photo to create the textbox. If need be you can always resize and move the location of the box.

{Step 2} Type your text in the box. Use the various options at the top {the red box in the above photo} to edit your text. You can change the font, size, orientation and color. If you need to move your text after editing, select the Move Tool from your toolbar on the left.

{Step 3} Select Layer at the top, then Flatten Image.

{Step 4} Select File, then Save As.

Adding a watermark in Lightroom...

{Step 1} Once you have imported your photo into your Library, move to the next tab, Develop. At the top of the screen select Lightroom, then Edit Watermarks.

{Step 2} Under Image Options, click on Choose and select the file for your watermark.

{Step 3} Under Watermark Effects, use the Proportional control to adjust the size of your watermark. Select the general location of your watermark in your photo by clicking the corresponding circle in the Anchor control. Use the Horizontal and Vertical controls to fine tune the location of your watermark.

When you are satisfied with your watermark's size and location, select Save. A separate window will appear asking you to name the Preset. 

{Step 4} Select File at the top of the screen, then Export.

{Step 5} Scroll down to the Watermarking section and check the box. Select your watermark Preset from the drop down box. Select Export.

{Before selecting Export in this step, be sure you have named your new photo file and have selected your desired save location.}

The final photo with watermark.

Adding text in Lightroom...

Repeat Step 1 from Adding a watermark in Lightroom.

{Step 2} Type your desired text in the box below the photo preview. Edit your text using the controls in the Text Options section.

Repeat Step 3 from Adding a watermark in Lightroom to adjust text size and location.

Repeat Step 4 from Adding a watermark in Lightroom.

Repeat Step 5 from Adding a watermark in Lightroom.

The final photo with text.

Feel free to ask me any questions regarding these tutorials!

Are there any other tutorials you would like to see for Photoshop or Lightroom? Let me know so I can create a tutorial just for you!

Budget Friendly Dresser Revival

So you have a plain, boring dresser sitting in your house that you've been dying to makeover and you have no idea what to do to it. Sure, you can paint it, but primer, paint and sealer add up! Not to mention, would take a lot of time. The alternative?

MOD PODGE!!

Get ready to become completely obsessed with it. In fact, if you plan on doing this project, splurge for the big bottle, you'll be glad that you did! This Saturday DIY only took 1 day to complete and even better, it cost under $10!! I already had the dresser on hand and the knobs went with the new style perfectly so, I did save cost there. Mod Podge is usually around $8, download the Joann's app and you are bound to find a 40-50% off coupon! The sponge applicator, less than $1 at all craft stores and JoAnn's almost always has scrapbook paper on sale. I got mine 3 sheets for .99 cents.

Here's what you'll need:

A dresser with hardware

{my original hardware fit the new look well,
but Hobby Lobby has a killer selection!}

Mod Podge

{the finish is your preference, I used gloss}

A sponge applicator

{you know, the black tapered sponge on a wooden stick}

Scrapbook paper

{the amount you need will depend on the amount of drawers and their size. my drawers were 27.5" long so I used 3 12x12 sheets per drawer}

A piece of sand paper

{I just used a random sand block that I found on my husband's workbench in the garage}

A scraper
{not a sharp one though, you'll be using this to
smooth out bubbles in the paper}

Here is my plain, white dresser....boring!

First things first, remove all the hardware.

Sand the front of each drawer. This doesn't have to be done any special way. You basically just want to rough up any coating so the mod podge sticks better. I also sanded around the edges of the front piece of the drawer, but that's the only part of the drawer you will be working with.

The next few steps will be the most tedious, but its smooth sailing from there! Lay out each drawer's paper. Here you want to match up the designs and trim away the overlapping excess so that when you put all the sheets side by side the pattern continuously flows. I used a metal ruler as a straight edge and a skinny box cutter. Through trial and error I found it was easiest to keep the middle sheet as is and match up/trim the 2 end sheets.

There's really no top secret way to do this next part, but I'll share the 3 ways I tried. Bottom line, you need to cover the entire front piece of the drawer with mod podge. I originally poured little bits straight from the bottle, directly onto the sponge. That took forever! Then, I poured some onto a paper plate and just dipped the sponge into it. That worked better, but still wasn't cuttin' it for me. From then on out, I just poured a strip lengthwise across the front of the drawer and used the sponge to spread it evenly all over. Now, you do want a fair amount evenly covering the entire surface. However, you don't want it puddled up and lumpy when you apply the paper. Which brings us to step #5...

It's very important that you keep your paper lined up in the order that you trimmed it so the pattern matches up. Apply the middle sheet first to the center of the drawer. Using your scraper begin to smooth out any bubbles. Don't press so hard that you end up ripping the paper. It's a delicate process because the paper does become wet from the mod podge. Now you can line up and apply both your side pieces following the same technique. If your drawer has decorative edges, focus on the main flat surface first. Then, carefully start to form the paper over the edges and around the corners. Use your scraper to crease the paper into any crevices. In order to get those corners good you may need to trim off excess paper. This part was tricky for me and I never really got a good system down for the corners. Just get them wrapped as best you can, but careful not to rip the wet paper.

{If you notice the paper bubbling back up at any time throughout the process after you already scraped it smooth, don't panic! It happened to me and I panicked, ready to give up the whole thing. But after it all dries completely it's just as flat and smooth as ever!}

Add more mod podge to the sides and back of the drawer as needed if you find the paper not staying put well. Once you have the paper completely wrapped around to the backside, set it aside to dry and move on to the next drawer.

Once all your drawers are covered and completely dried, you can trim away any excess paper with an exacto knife or small box cutter.

You're almost done!! For each drawer you just want to completely cover it with mod podge. This is going to act as your sealer. Do 3 coats per drawer letting each dry for about 5 minutes in between.

When the last coat has completely dried, you can add your hardware. To find the hole I just poked the screw through from the back to make an indention.

And wallah!!

A new and improved dresser!




Have you ever revived a boring piece of furniture?
Was it complete success or epic fail?
I would love to hear your story, good or bad,
and see your before and afters!

A New Year 2014!!

So, I started this blog 11 months ago, posted 3 posts and then life got
crazy busy!! Well, life is still pretty crazy but I really want to accomplish
this blog idea that's been nagging in my head all year. I won't lie,
it's going to be really hard and I have a slight problem with self
discipline, as in, I have none!!

My New Year's Resolution: Blog on a regular basis.

My Goal: At least one post/project per week.

Here's to 2014...and self discipline!!