thinking*through*design

a thought on MIXING Black&White Photos with Color Photos

Black & white and color photographs each have their own appeal.  Some photos will look better in one style than the other.  Combining the two on one layout can create a huge impact and have dramatic results.  Lets explore why you might choose color photos vs. black & white.

Black & white photos:

• considered more classic and timeless  
• often “hide” imperfections such as distracting backgrounds or mismatched clothing on your subjects
• minimize slightly blurry photos by creating a more dreamy effect
• create cohesion among photos that were taken at different times and/or places
• can be very effective in supporting a focal color photo
• calming

Color photos:

• considered more modern, hip or fresh
• show incredible detail  
• great for photos depicting action or movement
• energetic
• can effectively support a larger B&W portrait photo by showing the smaller details

Why might you want to combine them on one layout?  

• to contrast old & new or then & now by using the timeless vs. modern idea
• to contrast the mood in the different photos
• to give more detail or information to your layout
• to provide additional visual interest
• to draw your eyes to a focal photo
• Repetition of a single photo (see example below)

Here is very simple example using Color, Black & White and  Sepia photographs.  

 

By Joni Parker

What do you think?  Do you like the idea of combining both styles of photos on a layout?  We would love to hear what you think.  Below you will see what our Thoughtful Girls have created and what they have to say about working with black & white and color photos within a single project.  If you feel inspired to create a work of he{art} yourself based on this thought, please share it with us using the link below.

Happy Scrapping!

 

Let's Take a PEEK at what the TG's came up with!

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Layout by: Heather

Heather’s thought:  For this week's thought, I repeated the same picture four times on my layout, changing only one of the four to color. I thought the fall colors in the background of the picture would stand out more if there were only one color picture mixed in with the black and whites. I normally scrap one-photo pages, so this was a really cool technique for me to use because I still felt comfortable using my one photo when in actuality, I was using four! I had a whole different design planned for my page, but I ended up with this! I started out with a base paper from Amy Tan's "Ready Set Go" line. It already had a slight border printed on the page, along with the little pennants printed in the upper left hand corner. I then layered different papers (my favorite technique) and added photos and the title. I kept this page pretty well un-embellished so the viewer could focus on the patterns and colors of the layout.

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Layout by :Steffanie

Steffanie's thought:  I love the idea of having a focal photo in color and the supporting photos in b&w.  For this layout, I think it worked out perfectly.  The papers I selected are pretty bright, as is the large focal photo.  I could have probably told the story with just that photo, but all the bright colors may have been too overwhelming.  By including the two smaller b&w photos, it not only helped to tell a little more of the story but also toned down all that bold color and gave the eyes a place to rest.  I actually had three b&w photos to include but couldn't come up with a design that I was happy with.  My solution to this dilemma was to tuck it behind the large photo and give it a pull tab (see *happy*).  This also created a place for me to add an embellishment and draw the viewer again to my focal photo.  Win-win!!

 

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Layout by: Sally

Sally’s thought: This is the first time I have mixed color photos with black and white on the same layout.  I have to say it was fun!  As I was trying to pick out my photos I found that there were some that definitely needed to stay in color while others were great in the black and white.  So finding some that worked in both was a little more of a challenge.  Until I came across these.  I loved the main photo but one of the others was a little blurry and the 2nd was distracting due to the wall and curtains in the background. So I switched those to black and white and printed them in wallet size.  Seems like the perfect solution.  I then used the red and white on my layout to work off the Dr. Seuss hat and added some black for a third color.  I kept the design fairly simple as I wanted to keep the focus on the photo.  I thoroughly enjoyed this challenge and will definitely be using it again in the future to help incorporate those not so perfect photos.

 

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Layout by: Andrea

Andrea’s thought: It is not very often that I make a LO with one black and white photo and one color photo. I knew exactly what I wanted to do when I read what the current thought was. I thought these photos of the sunset of my recent trip to Cozumel would be perfect. The sunset in the color photo pops next to the black and white photo and they contrast perfectly next to each other. I think I may use this combination more often!

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Joni’s thought:  I do this technique from time to time so I was fairly comfortable with it.  I find that I usually use it with wallet sized photos.  For this layout, I had a really fun photo of my son that I already had printed in both black & white and color.  I kept the color scheme of my layout to black & whites/greys with pops of  red, yellow & teal.  I love how using black & white photos in this layout almost shows the motion of my son jumping and helps convey the feelings of joy from the photos too!  

 

 

 

 

 

 

The TG's have done it again!  What great examples for our thoughts...we are interested in what you have been thinking!  Share your layout and your thoughts!  

Be Blessed!

a thought on PRE-EMBELLISHED PAPERS

We all have collections that came with those sheets of paper that are pre-embellished.  You know, they have the designs and embellishments already printed in place.  

Sometimes having these sheets can be a good thing; it’s very easy to make a quick layout with a lot of fun “embellishments” that you don’t have to worry about placing on the page.  Just add photos, some journaling, a title, and maybe a few extra embellishments, and call it done!

They can also be overwhelming; the “embellishments” are already placed on the page and you are not sure that’s where you would have placed them.  It can be hard to know where to place your photos and other element because the printed pieces limit the areas available for photos and embellishment and  often the paper is too cute to cover.  It can also find it hard to use many photos because then cool parts could be covered up and who wants to do that?

There are a few tricks for getting the most out of these papers.  First, making a single page layout or one that has two different papers for each side is best because the design works well if it stands alone. Some designs can be flipped for a mirror image double page.

Secondly, it helps to limit the number of photos so the design is not overwhelmed or covered up.

Third, try cutting into the paper along the edges of some of the images so you can slide one of your photos or journaling underneath to give more depth and dimension to the page.

   
         

Fourth, highlighting some of the printed pieces can really bring them to life.  For instance, try adding dimensional glaze to one of the pieces and it will look like it has been added, on top of the page.  Or, try doodling inside or around one of the designs.  Be sure to add matching or similar types of 3-D embellishments that work with the design of the printed page.

 

Lets see what the girls have been doing with Pre-Embellished Papers!

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Layout by: Colleen

Colleen’s thought: I was very frustrated when I started this layout. I can’t recall any pre-embellished paper I’d ever used before that didn’t come in a kit with layout ideas.  This was completely opposite of how I scrap. I usually start with pictures, not paper, and had trouble finding pictures that would work on the page.    Then I got a preview of the thought above and it all clicked.  I was trying to cram too many pictures onto the layout.  Once I narrowed it down to just two photos, it came together really fast with the addition of a few accents. I was done in about 10 minutes, until I reread the thought and realized I wanted to enhance the embellishments, so I hand-stitched the stems and added buttons to the flowers.  It went from a very frustrating layout to one I love. Now I might reconsider using the other pre-embellished papers that have sat in my stash for a lonnng time.

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Layout by: Devra

Devra’s thought: Pre-Embellished paper is not something that I use often, mostly because I don't know how to use it effectively.  I am always wondering, "Do I just slap the photos on? Do I overlap them over the design on the page?"  

I bought this paper specifically for these photos and this was the time to dive in. Using a technique I learned in a class, I used a craft knife to cut out some elements, and give them dimension with pop dots. I needed to matte the photos due to the blue in the paper and photos.  The rest of the page needed something, but not wanted to overdo it, I decided to journal around the page in a color similar to the green in the title.  

It is very simple. The photos reinforce the theme of the paper, but the paper also reinforces the photos.

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Layout by: Jennifer

Jennifer’s thought: I used a line, which seems to have layer upon layer of patterned paper on the background sheet. I added some layers--of patterned paper strips, ribbon, staples, and a tag--and when I added the photo, I trimmed it to fit the Polaroid frame on the page and added it on pop dots to create more of an illusion of actual dimension. One thing I learned about using embellished patterned paper: it works better with people photos than scenery photos! I originally had used a photo of my seat at taekwondo, surrounded by all my stuff, but the photo just blended in with the background. I took it off and replaced it with a photo of my boys instead, which looked just fine! So I would recommend using people photos with embellished patterned paper because the photo will stand out against the embellishments more.

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Layout by: Laura

Laura’s thought: I had always shied away from using pre-embellished paper because I just didn’t know what to do with it.  Now I love being able to quickly make a layout simply by cutting into some of the design, inserting my photos, and jazzing up some of the elements with glaze or coordinating embellishments.

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On a personal note, (from Erika)  Thanks for haning in there while we had a short break!  We are back on track and will bringing you many happy thoughts in the future!  Thanks for being understanding!  Be sure to add your thoughts and layouts here or on our facebook page

Be blessed

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