Tips for making a kit preview

[fruitysuet]

For some reason in the past, I deleted out the folder and preview files when saving my kits. I did stop doing this, but I frequently do a search of either folder or preview files to get an overview of kits to select from, especially for challenges.

Are there any templates or actions or other pointers for how I can recreate a preview image for those kits I deleted these from, or do I have to just drag everything into a page and move all paper and elements individually to get a good look. Any tips from designers especially welcome!

 

[Angela Toucan]

you could find them in the store and copy the image from the store.

 

[littlekiwi]

If I've accidentally deleted any preview, I also go into the store and grab any previews there if possible

 

[fruitysuet]

Hmm good point. A lot of the kits involved are probably retired though.

 

[cfile]

Hmm good point. A lot of the kits involved are probably retired though.

I tried to look on google re an action for previews but didn't find one. a template for papers was all I could find. I was trying to think if you have Photoshop perhaps using File>Automate>Contact for contact sheet would work for you. It will just be all the elements on one sheet but individually noted. same with papers I would think.

@ninigoesdigi can you help Susanne how you do your previews? Thanks!!!

 

[keepscrappin]

You might be able to find preview images for retired kits to save from designer’s blogs, Pinterest, etc by doing a google search.

 

[Angela Toucan]

@fruitysuet as a retired designer I know that creating previews that look good is time consuming. It's an active part of the design process not just an after thought. Basically you will have to put everything on the page and arrange it so you can see it. Affinity has a setting to arrange items at even intervals across the width or height of a page. I'm assuming most software has something similar. Alternatively you could do as @cfile suggests and create contact sheets.

 

[Lynne-Marie]

@fruitysuet as a retired designer I know that creating previews that look good is time consuming. It's an active part of the design process not just an after thought. Basically you will have to put everything on the page and arrange it so you can see it. Affinity has a setting to arrange items at even intervals across the width or height of a page. I'm assuming most software has something similar. Alternatively you could do as @cfile suggests and create contact sheets.

Exactly! Previewing takes quite a while. I like to preview as I’m designing, laying out the pieces and filling in what looks like it’s missing.

For retired kits, an online google search would be your best bet.

 

[bellbird]

You might be able to find preview images for retired kits to save from designer’s blogs, Pinterest, etc by doing a google search.

This is what I've done in the past. Image search the kit name, designer, store, anything you remember b/c the internet tends to remember too, for the good & the bad

 

[Kiana]

Internet searches for retired things. Contact sheet would be the easiest thing if you wanted to "make" yourself.

 

[michelepixels]

A couple of times when I've needed a preview like that, I've taken a screenshot of a few of the elements and used that image.

 

[marijke]

Pinterest?

 

[umyesh]

Another idea would be to use a page you've made with the kit as the preview.

 

[ninigoesdigi]

Yep! Sorry to say too but it takes time. No magic action to do that.

As of lately, I use the bild-in script "load files into stack" to open all my elements in one file and start placing them one by one in my preview file. I don't move the whole thing into my preview template because I like to layer them (brush, overlays stamps in the back first, frames, paper things, stitches next, and then little by little more bulky elements. But oh my oh my how I hate doing previews. I am not good at it either. I just try to make things visible but because I am not good at layering/clustering things, sometimes it just doesn't look really good.

 

[Karen]

Another idea... if it's TLP previews, there are a LOT of people here that own a LOT of products, so maybe one of us would have the preview(s) to share? I don't think that would violate any copyright/sharing rules, since they were used publicly as advertisements.

 

[weaselwatchr]

I wouldn't mind sharing previews with you if I have the kit. Maybe list one's you need here? Also If you are on facebook, many designers share the previews to their facebook pages. If you go to the page and type in the name of the kit in the search bar for that page you should be able to download it

 

[fruitysuet]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I did spend some time Googling images which helped with a few and went to some designer blogs to get a few more. I tried creating my own preview for a kit and it was SO time consuming. I really thought there would be some 'cheat sheet' that designers had to create their previews. Now knowing there isn't and seeing how much work is involved, can I just say thanks for your continued effforts to provide good store previews!

I'm hoping once that the collabs make it into the store I can fill a few more gaps.

I use Windows Explorer to search for 'folder' or preview to quickly scroll through kits to get inspiration for scrapping, especially for challenges. This means that kits without a folder or preview image tend to get forgotten. It wouldn't be such a problem if I hadn't collected so many goodies over the years!