New to PSP, need help please.

[Mom2Amy&Kaycie]

I have downloaded some pages, embellisments, word art etc. How do I use them in PSP?

[pixelpixie71]

You can create your own folders to save the items to, either within the PSP Program files, or your own PSP files - which is created for you when you install the program. Then, to use them, you can just browse the folders, or use the 'open file' option and go that route.

eg. here's my root directory:

"C:\Documents and Settings\Shawn\My Documents\Downloads\PSP Downloads" - this is where I initially put all .zip files until I can extract them.

then...

"C:\Documents and Settings\Shawn\My Documents\My PSP8 Files" - I have created a folder called 'Scrapping Stuff' and one called 'Fonts'.

Once I have quite a few items in each of those two folders, I then burn it all on a disk, to free up room on my computer. But I wait until I have at least 500 mb's, or it's a waste of a disk, imo.

Hope this helps without being too confusing. :)

[Pam]

Pixel pixie has done a great job of telling you how to save your kits. Now, check the top of the page for tutorials -- there are several on PSP (and the others can be of help, too -- the principle is the same).

Open PSP and create a new document (larger size so it can be printed) -- I create 6" albums so create at 1800 x 1800 pixels and 300 ppi (pixels per inch) so that I can also bump them up to an 8" size if I reduce the ppi to 200. You need a large size for printing -- your monitor will show only 72 to 96 pixels per inch, but to make a good print you will need at least 200 ppi. So for a 12' print, your size will be twice what I start with.

Then use PSP's browse feature and find the directory where your kit is. Open a background and copy it -- then paste it (CTRL-L) to your new document. Close your kit background & keep it safe for many more uses. Do the same for any of the elements you want to use in your layout (you may have to resize them for your page) -- and do the same with the photos you plan to use. Copy and paste a new layer to your document. Save often (save it as a psp image for now cuz it retains your layers and you can move things around til they're where you want them.)

Follow one of the tutorials, you'll soon be wanting to challenge yourself to more -- and there are tutorials for that also. You will also find tutorials for using PSP at Corel (http://www.corel.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=Corel3/Section/Display&sid=1047024315119&gid=1047024331836&cid=1047024353448), who purchased PSP recently from JASC. Check the tutorials here, and always ask here in the forums. There are many members willing to help you. There are also classes taught, check the university link above.

[Mom2Amy&Kaycie]

Thank you both for the help. I am off to try it out. Wish me luck!

Robin

[Mom2Amy&Kaycie]

Ok so I managed to fumble my way through a very simple and plain page. :) but I am still way confused about changing the image size(The pics I want to add) I suck at that stuff.
Also If I wanted to make a page to print out, what size would I set it at? would it be 11.5 x10( that is a normal page size right?) I am not scrapping in 12x12 yet. what about the ppi? anyhelp is much apreciated. :D

[pixelpixie71]

With regards to picture sizing, the easiest way I've found to do it is to open the picture, crop in the area you want to use using a preset for 4x6 or larger, then copy that, paste as new layer on your layout. Then, using the 'deform' tool (located under or next to the magnifying glass on your 'tools' toolbar), if you hold down the right mouse button, and 'drag' on a corner, it will resize it while keeping the size aspect even.

The 'deform' tool has become my best friend ;)

If you don't want to do 12 x 12 lo's, you can resize them to 8.5 x 11 (standard paper size) or even 8 x 8, but then you'd have to crop the sheet. Just go to 'image' --> 'resize' --> then type in: 1275 and 1650 with 'pixels' selected.

[Mom2Amy&Kaycie]

deform


OHHHHH this sounds like a tool I will really like! Thanks so much you have been extremely helpful.
Last night i checked out some of the tutorials for PSP. I am so excitied to get a chance to try them out! :D

[Emma]

glad you're having fun!

My biggest advice to newbies is

don't stress about making amazing and beautiful pages. We all say our first ones were pretty ugly, so focus on using your software and don't get discouraged about not being able to do "this" or "that." If you get some nice layouts, great, if not, you're learning and go easy on yourself.

Do the First Page tutorial a few times with different photos. Keep it simple.

Once you can get through the basic mechanics you can focus more on color choice, design/composition, and some new tricks.

We all still make some very simple pages: just a photo with words on it, or simple bright colors, so those are great newbie projects.

ASK ask questions! Check out the Intro to PSP class, DSU 130. You'll learn a ton in just a month!

welcome to DSP!!!

[livincolor]

I use PSP9 and constanly struggle with learning new things about the program and scrapping at the same time. There are tons and tons of free lessons on the web, search out the ones you might use in scrapping like text, picture resizing etc. This is what I do:

Open the pics I think I want to scrap, search my favorites folder for a theme I'd like to use and open the paper, I resize the paper to 8X8 inches and 200dpi, you can do 8X8 or 8.5X11 with the usual printer. I then go to my pics and do whatever changes I want to them and then copy/paste onto the LO, I close the original picture as I have not altered it. Once you get your pics on the paper, they will all be in a different layer, when you choose the layer you can use the deform tool to resize and move around, you can bring in papers for backgrounds, etc and move them around until your happy with the LOs. Resize with the deform tools while holding down the right mouse button, this will change the size while keeping your picture the same.

Save often with the save as in the PSP format, when I'm finished I use the JPEG compression to save the picture I will print. If you want to post it to the gallery on the site, resize the pic to 72dpi and up to 550 pixels, the actual size of the picture doesnt matter, then go to JPEG compression and just make sure it is below 125,000 K. You will still always have your PSP original if you ever want to fix or change anything.

I hope this helps, I feel your pain, its a continual learning process but it's very very fun!

laurie

[Mom2Amy&Kaycie]

Thanks, I tend to be one for instant gratifaction!! LOL Not a good thing with PSP! Slowly but surely I will achive what I want.(I hope) :o
You ladies have been so helpful, tks for lending a hand!! :D

[Dalynnm]

I just wanted to jump in a offer a word of encouragement...
I was new to PSP just a few months ago and I'm AMAZED at far I've come.

(of course I have a live-in PSP expert...my 12 year old daughter!)

And she's been great, but she can't always explain things very well..."I can't explain why mom!...just do it this way...okaaaaay?! -Plus You'd think I was torturing her by having her watch me try to do things myself. (because I'm soooooo slow.)

So I decided, finally, to take Emma's DSU 130 class. Boy! That was a good decision! I've learned lots of new things and I can take as long as I need to without my 12 year old rolling her eyes at me. :)

Good luck. I think PSP is great! - And so are the classes here.

[Starling]

Take a class. Take a class. Take a class. Take a class.

I should have taken Emma's beginner's class but didn't. Dumb!

I have taken 3 classes so far, and intend to take more. They were worth every penny.

If you can't afford to take classes you have to do it the hard way, but it is still possible. Just do every tutorial you can get your hands on. Start with the ones here and then go to google and search.

For PSP tutorials, I'd try the following search term. The comma is a trick, but it works.

Paint Shop Pro, tutorials

[jstdawnee]

I keep telling myself that "one day I'll have the finances to take a class!"... and haven't reached that yet. LOL So... I'd have to encourage you as well to look up tutorials online as much as possible. There are a lot of great ones here at DSP, and you'll be suprised at how much is available on the internet as well. Google search is my best friend! LOL And as you can see, members at DSP are SOOOOOOOOO helpful. Have LOTS of fun! :)

[Stacey Jewell Stahl]

I'll echo Starling about "Take a class!" I got PSP for Christmas and nearly uninstalled it in January. I plodded through until I found this website and did a couple of tutorials. In April I received some money for my birthday and I took two DSU classes: 130 with Emma and 350 with Suzi Walker. In 130 I learned 100 little things I didn't know about PSP and in 350 I created my own home studio and learned how to use my camera.

I look for tutorials when I have a specific element I want to create, and I'm having a blast with PSP now.