Paint strokes, splatters and other painty elements are great for adding depth and texture to a layout.  However, depending on the design of the element, sometimes simply dropping the element on your layout obstructs  some of the layering effects.  Take a look at the close up below.

I want the page to look as if I’ve ‘painted’ over the corrugated background, scrollwork matting and one other paper layer.  If I had actually run a paint brush over this page, the paint would be slightly textured by the corrugated background and you’d still be able to see some of the layering.  Here is a quick tip for getting some the layering effects back, while keeping the paint stroke.

Begin by duplicating your paint element once for each layer the paint will cover.  In my case, I need three paint strokes.  To copy your paint layer, click on the paint layer in the Layers Palette, and go to Layer>Duplicate Layer or drag the layer to the New Layer Icon at the bottom of the Layers Palette.

Now click and drag your paint layers in the Layers Palette and move them around so the one sits directly above each layers to be ‘painted’.

Clip the paint strokes to the layers directly below.

To do this in Photoshop, click on the paint stroke in the Layers Palette and keystroke, Alt+Ctrl+G.

To do this PSE, click on the paint stroke in the Layers Palette and keystroke, Ctrl+G.

Repeat for each paint stroke.

Click on one of the paint strokes in the Layers Palette and use the opacity slider to lower the opacity so some of the layer below shows through.  Repeat for each paint stroke layer.

Here is my completed layout.

Credits: Friends by Choice by Misty Cato and Meredith Cardall, SSD, Date Bits 33, Timeless Frames and Painted Backdrops by Misty Cato, Fonts – Lullaby and Birch Std