Illustrator files import easily into Photoshop or Elements.  Using blends created in Illustrator can make some interesting images if imported into Photoshop and applying layer styles to the lines.

If Illustrator is open, select the illustration you want to use in Photoshop, and copy it to the clipboard.

In Photoshop, File > New, and then Edit > Paste to paste the Illustrator image into the new Photoshop image. When asked, choose to paste as pixels and click the commit button (checkmark) on the options bar.

Alternately, if Illustrator is not open, you can open Photoshop and use File > Place to place the file.

The illustration will be in its own layer, and you can add layer styles. If you want a background, make a new layer and drag it below the illustrator file layer.

Before	After

Before

After

Before & After

Before	After

Before	After

Before Detail	After Detail: Click here to see larger image

A couple of the styles used can be downloaded here. One is by Liz Goldman, and the others I made. Right click and choose save as or save target as. Unzip the file. The styles files in the zip file is called metal_styles.asl. Save it to your presets/styles folder in Elements 2, or Photoshop 7 or CS. Experiment and have fun!

Want to see another way to use Illustrator to make patterns to use with styles? Go on to part 2 --->>>