Sketchy Leaves with the Wave Filter
by Syndee Rogers
Welcome fall by adding a sketchy hand-drawn border to a leaf shape using the Wave Filter.
©2019 Digital Scrapper
Terms of Use
For this tutorial you will need:
- Photoshop Elements or Adobe Photoshop
- A document containing a traceable shape (download mine below)
Download the PDF Manual and Layered Quick Page Below
Watch the Video
Step One: Prepare the Document
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Download the layered PSD layout I’m using for this tutorial, and then, unzip the folder.
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Open the qt-SketchyLeaves-DigitalScrapper.psd file (File > Open) located in the folder.
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In the Layers panel, click on the Leaf layer to activate it.

Step Two: Add a Stroke Outline
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In the Layers panel, Ctrl (Mac: Cmd) click on the thumbnail of the Leaf layer to make a selection of the leaf. In the Layers panel, hold down the Ctrl key (Mac: Cmd key) and click on the thumbnail of the Leaf layer to get a selection outline.
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In the Layers panel, click on the Create a New Layer icon.
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In the Menu Bar, choose Edit > Stoke (Outline) Selection. (PS: choose Edit > Stroke.)
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In the dialog box, set the Width to 7 px, the Location to Outside, the Blend Mode to Normal, and the Opacity to 100%. Click on the Color Chip and choose black. (PS: Click on the Color Chip, choose black, and click OK.) Click OK.
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In the Menu Bar, choose Select > Deselect.

Step Three: Add the Wave Filter
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In the Menu Bar, choose Filter > Distort > Wave.
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Photoshop Elements Only. Set the Number of Generators to 4, Wavelength Min. To 101, Max. to 164, Amplitude Min. to 16, Max. 75. Set the Horizontal Scale to 36% and Vertical to 37%, Type to Triangle, and Undefined Areas to Repeat Edge Pixels. Click Randomize and then click OK.
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Adobe Photoshop Only. Set the Number of Generators to 10, Wavelength Min. To 10, Max. To 252, Amplitude Min. to 9, Max. 102. Set the Horizontal Scale to 36% and Vertical to 37%, Type to Triangle, and Undefined Areas to Repeat Edge Pixels. Click Randomize and then click OK.

Step Four: Duplicate the Wave Filter
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Press Ctrl J (Mac: Cmd J) to duplicate the leaf outline.
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In the Menu Bar, choose Filter > Wave.

Step Five: Complete the Page (optional)
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In the Layers panel, click on the Visibility icons of the remaining layers to turn them on.
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Referring to the scrapbook page below, position the leaf and outline layers behind the photo mask and frame.
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In the Layers panel, click on the top wave layer to activate it, then holding down the Shift key, click on the leaf layer. Now three layers should be active.
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Press Ctrl T (Mac: Cmd T) to get the Transform options. Click and drag on the corner handles of the bounding box to resize. Click and drag inside the bounding box to reposition. Click OK to commit the changes.
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In the Layers panel, click on the top wave layer to activate it, then holding down the Shift key, click on bottom wave layer. Now two layers should be active.
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Press Ctrl J (Mac: Cmd J) to duplicate the layers
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Transform and reposition as needed.
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Save the completed page (File > Save As) in an easy-to-find location.

Click on the button above to download the PDF manual
and layered quick page.
Whether you’re just getting started in digital scrapbooking or are self taught and want to fill in the gaps in your education, the QwikLearn Photoshop and Photoshop Elements Class will help you get up to speed FAST and become the confident, competent digital scrapbooker you deserve to be.
This self-paced class will take you where you want to go and is available for Photoshop Elements 11 to 2018, and Photoshop CS6 through Creative Cloud.
Learn more about the QwikLearn Photoshop class or QwikLearn Photoshop Elements class!
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Author: Syndee Rogers | Contact Us
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18 Responses
Terri Miller
Thank you! I am still unsure of what I am doing on PSE, but I did this exercise over and over again to feel more comfortable. I wondered how it was done and this really helped.
Syndee Rogers
I’m so glad you enjoyed the video Terri!
Lisa McGuinness
So easy and such a great way to add that hand sketched look to a page – thank you !!
Syndee Rogers
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Maryanne Hyson
Thank you so much. I love it and have once again gotten a beautiful well done and easy to follow tutorial from you.
Syndee Rogers
I’m so glad it was easy to follow Maryanne!
Glori
Love the fun tutorial and your layout using it!! Thank you, Syndee!! <3
Syndee Rogers
Thank you Glori, so glad you like it!
Barbara
Well this will be fun to try thanks so much for the info.
Syndee Rogers
Thank you Barbara, I can’t wait to see what you come up with!
Margaret
Thank you!! You are so sweet to share.
Syndee Rogers
I’m glad you like it Margaret!
Jessie Trotter
Thanks, Syndee! This looks like great fun! Great tutorial!
Syndee Rogers
You are so welcome Jessie!
Carla
What a fun effect! Thanks for sharing with us!
Syndee Rogers
It is fun isn’t it! So glad you enjoyed it Carla!
noreen stack
Syndee Rogers, Thank you for this tutorial. It is the first one that I have been able to go all the way through without messing up! I have done a lot of tutorials over the years and have always got the point where I cannot continue. Your instructions were very easy to follow.
Syndee Rogers
I am so glad you liked it Noreen and found it easy to follow!!!