I just sat here for 2 hours, modifying 12 of my art images... to be BACKGROUND images for my 8 1/2 x 11 desk calendar... every year I set up a monthly calendar like this, very plain, with big squares to write notes, appointments, grocery deliveries, etc... and as I printed out a couple of sets I thought... Hey! Why not put my own art on as a faded background image for fun?
So I opened up each of my older art pieces, duplicated the image layer, filled the bottom one with white, then turned the opacity of the duplicate image layer down to 50%. Then I used various tools to turn darks, heavy reds, etc. to a paler shades... When I felt it would work behind my black lettering and squares, I flattened, saved and printed out at "normal" (ie: NOT "best") on nice white ink jet paper (NOT the glossy, just flat white paper).
Then once I had 12 images, I ran each image through the printer again, using each calendar month, keeping in mind, for example, my Halloween image needs October printed over it, Christmas image needs December, etc.
Then I staple the very top with two staples so I can turn each month over (or the pages can be torn off, I just happen to keep mine to look back at previous months events).
I'm so happy with the results (every bit as nice as, say a printed batch of checks for my checkbook), that next year I may offer them as a gift treat in December when I'm mailing gifts/cards out!
So I opened up each of my older art pieces, duplicated the image layer, filled the bottom one with white, then turned the opacity of the duplicate image layer down to 50%. Then I used various tools to turn darks, heavy reds, etc. to a paler shades... When I felt it would work behind my black lettering and squares, I flattened, saved and printed out at "normal" (ie: NOT "best") on nice white ink jet paper (NOT the glossy, just flat white paper).
Then once I had 12 images, I ran each image through the printer again, using each calendar month, keeping in mind, for example, my Halloween image needs October printed over it, Christmas image needs December, etc.
Then I staple the very top with two staples so I can turn each month over (or the pages can be torn off, I just happen to keep mine to look back at previous months events).
I'm so happy with the results (every bit as nice as, say a printed batch of checks for my checkbook), that next year I may offer them as a gift treat in December when I'm mailing gifts/cards out!