How To's for Version 4.0 & Up
(screen shots are from Version 4.0 - newer versions will look slightly different)
 
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1. How do I create a marginless card in Version 4.0? (only for version 4.0, does not work in 5.0 & up)
2. How do I edit graphics from within Version 4.0 to create my own custom "look"? (works in 4.0 & up)
3. Can I make custom backgrounds or special watermarks with Version 4.0? (works in 4.0 & up)
4. How can I create a transparent text box - or make just part of a graphic (or all!) transparent? (works in 4.0 & up)
 
 
 
 
 
1. How do I create a marginless card in Version 4.0?
This option is now available in Version 4.0 in card format. No more creating your cards in sign to get this effect! Follow these simple steps to a perfectly marginess card:
You will notice that on a card off the card rack (not one you design in the creative workshop) it does not have the graphic extended all the way to the left, they left a space. This is to allow for a white margin the entire way around the graphic.
 
 
All you have to do is either manually enlarge the graphic and extend it all the way to the left, or right click and choose size - full page.
 
 
Now when you print the card and fold it in half the graphic will then be on the left fold seam, leaving no white margin. Trim off the top, right and bottom margin for a totally marginless card (like they show on the box!).
This also works this way when you create a card from within the Creative Workshop.
2. How do I edit graphics from within Version 4.0 to create my own "custom" look?
The photo editing tools are not just for photos. Use them to edit the graphics so you can add matching graphics to the inside the card, or to create a custom envelope or stickers.
After you have chosen or created your card, copy the graphic (you want to edit) to your clipboard and then paste it into the inside of the card (or back). Highlight the graphic to be edited, after you do so the Photo Workshop button will then become available.
Once in the Photo Workshop you can edit colors or add artistic effects to your graphic.
My favorite thing to do is use the crop shapes and select just a part of the graphic to add to the inside of the card, and make a matching envelope. Here I have chosen the arch to cut out just part of the graphic
I used the edited graphic to add custom backpage art to my card! I added a shadow to complete the custom look
3. Can I make custom backgrounds or special watermarks with Version 4.0?
Yes, CAC Friend Marilyn has found a way to make her own custom watermarks and papers using the webpage option.
Start in the Creative Workshop and choose to create a webpage - choose custom size and insert 8.5 X11 for a vertical page (for a vertical folded card) or 11 X 8.5 for a horizontal page print (for a horizontal folded card)
You will see that you have special tools for creating a webpage once you are in the Creative Workshop
Click "Web Page Tools" and choose "Page Properties" Here you will find the Background Properties.Choose to browse to select your graphic that you want for the background.
Choose a graphic or background you would like to serve as a "watermark", or to print your own custom paper to use as insert paper when creating your cards. I like to print a design like this on the inside of the card, then use a sheer vellum paper for my insert sheet, you can then see a pretty pattern behind the vellum, Flower designs are always my favorite for this idea. I have always done this by hand in V3, since there were no options for this spacing technique.
Once you have choosen your graphic, chose to export. It will then be evenly spaced over your paper. You can choose to print on a lower print mode (like draft) for a very light watermark effect, or print darker to use as a layered card. Use your imagination on what effects you can create with this neat idea.
Thanks for sharing this idea Marilyn!!
4. How can I create a transparent text box - or make just part of a graphic (or all!) transparent?
I am so excited this can be done, this was one feature I was hoping could be done, but was not "obvious". One of the Friends on the mail list said if you want to lighten an entire graphic you could by just selecting the graphic, then choosing the fill color button , then by choosing one of the gray shades on the bottom row you could effectively make a graphic transparent - or appear faded out as I did below. This is nice if you have alot of text to place on the front of a card, or a poem.
But here is the trick I figured out if you want to make just part of the graphic transparent like for a text box.
1. Choose the graphic you want to work with - I will work with this cute Bunny graphic from the Holiday Design Art Collection I just recently ordered - lots of nice graphics on this CD.
 
2. If the image is not a full page graphic, right click it and choose "size" - "full page", so the graphic fills the entire page (this of course making it a marginless card if in half fold format). Now, select the graphic and choose copy, then paste it back in on top of the other one. Now you will have 2 of the same graphic in your work area. Take the graphic on top to the Photo Workshop and choose a shape to cut out of the graphic for a text box. I will choose the regular square cutout.
Now you will have just a piece of the graphic left.
Now select the graphic you just cut out and click the fill color button and choose a gray shade from the bottom row of colors. You can experiment with the different shades to see which works best for you. I chose one of the darker gray's as seen below. Move the transparent graphic into place!
You can do this with any graphic - be creative and use different shapes for different effects like these!