We’re so happy to announce yet another new feature on Paperclipping: Paperclipping Quick Tips. This tip is a follow-up of the episode on mixing and matching patterns.
While we’re talking about choosing patterned paper, I wanted to answer this question from Terri Bradford: “How do you use (or do you use) your photos in your own process for picking out colors/design with patterned papers? If so, when do they come into play? “
I do factor in my photos as I’m choosing the paper, especially the first paper, but the importance I place on the photo colors depends on what my story is. If the colors in my photo will help me communicate the tone of my story, then I use them. If not, then I decide whether it’s more important to me to use the colors in the photo or the colors that I associate with what was happening. In some cases I just make sure the colors don’t pull away from the photo. Sometimes it’s a compromise, but most often, if the paper I most want to use doesn’t look that great with the photo, I can find a paper to add that does.
The variety of colors that will work with a photo might surprise you. My biggest concern is not to match the colors of my papers to my photos, but to highlight skin tones or an important object in the image. You don’t necessarily need to use the predominant colors of the photos to do that–in fact, many times using the same color in the photo overemphasizes it and it doesn’t look right.
Enjoy today’s Quick Tip!
