Watercolor Technique #1

There have been a few inquiries as to how to create a realistic watercolor effect with the ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Artsy - Watercolor 1.

Over the next two days I'll show you 2 different methods on how you can use them, as well as how to use the watercolor styles. This tutorial was created using PSE 3.0 on a Windows / PC.


Open up your water color paper template. For this tutorial I used STI_SS_Paper_Artsy_Watercolor1_lines.

Create a new layer on top of your watercolor paper.


Select the gradient tool option. This can be found by right clicking on the paint bucket in your tools palette.

When the gradient tool is selected it will take the color in your foreground color box and blend it with the color in your background color box. Make sure you have the two colors in your color box you would like to apply to the paper.

You will see this blending in the top of your options bar. If you double click on the colored gradient another drop down list will appear to show you other various gradient options.

Double click on the gradient created from your colors in the very first box.

This will pull up the the Gradient editor where you can make specific changes to your gradient. you can add more colors or adjust how much of one color is shown in the gradient.

We want to add one more color to the middle of our gradient. To do this double click right below the gradient bar at the bottom. You will see a little prompt come up that says click here to add a stop.

It will then create a new little box with a color inside. To change the color simply double click on the new stop and it will pull up the color picker for you to select your new color. You now should see a gradient with 3 colors in it.

Make sure the new layer is selected in your layers palette.

To add the gradient to your new layer you simply drag your mouse in the direction you want the gradient to go across your layer while holding the mouse button down. You will see it draw a line showing you the direction the gradient will be placed.

You can also choose radial gradients, and other gradient options at the top of your screen.

Select the gradient layer in your layers palette and change the blending mode. This is found right below the layers tab in the drop down menu. I selected color burn. This is the option that I use the most with these watercolor templates. Look through all the options though and see what effects can be created.

Merge the two layers together.

Sometimes the option color burn leaves the watercolor looking really dark. To adjust this simply change the levels of your watercolor layer. To get to the levels go to enhance>adjust lighting> levels (for PSE users.) For Photoshop users go to Layer > Adjustments > Levels.

You now have a finished watercolor paper ready for you to scrap on.


Here is a layout I created using the watercolor paper.

There will be a specific tutorial in the ScrapGirls newsletter on Friday the 28th of Sept. that will teach you how to apply the watercolor papers to photos. You sign up for the newsletter here.

Supplies Used:

Live Merry Collection

Grunge Brush Set

ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Edgy - Thin

ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Artsy - Watercolor 1