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Instructions for Photoshop Elements Users
(Screen shots and instructions here are given for PSE3 – other
versions may have slightly differing commands)
Step 1
Open a new file - 2400px x 2400 px
Step 2
Open the png template files included in the zip and minimise these
files till you need them
Step 3
Start with the bottom layer png -use the following command. Select
All ( your “marching ants will surround the entire image including
the transparent parts within it . Now go Edit - Copy.
Step 4
Move to your new layout and go Edit Paste.
The template piece will now paste into the correct position within
your empty layout.
Step 5
To fill your template piece with some background paper , choose
a background to use from your files and open it . Copy and paste
or drag it into your layout so it completely covers your template
piece.
You may want to turn down the opacity of this layer so you can
see the template layer underneath
Step 6
In the layers palette click on the template layer and using the
magic wand tool
Click anywhere on the coloured portion of the template layer to
select it . The marching ants will surround the template area.
(If your template layer has a rough edge - such as on a torn edged
layer - it may be better to cntrl- click on the layer to select
it.)
Move up to the paper layer and Select - Inverse - then hit the
delete button . The excess of the background will be deleted.
You can turn up the opacity on that layer again now.
Step 7
If you need to add a drop shadow you can do it now ( some template
layers will include small drop shadows but you may wish to add more)
Look in the Layer Styles palette and choose drop shadow
Use the LOW option
This may still be too much shadow – so click on the layer
styles button which is now showing on your layers palette
Adjust the shadow options till you get the look you require.
Now you can move on to the next piece of template and fill each
piece as you desire until your layout is complete.
Photo layer
The same concept applies when you reach the photo layer.
In the photo above I have copied and pasted the photo placement
layer - then dragged in the photo. I have reduced the opacity of
the photo so I can see the size and shape of the placement layer
below
Now I am going to resize the photo so it fits over the photo placement
template and is in the position I desire
Use the command Image transform - ( or cntrl-t) to show the bounding
box around the image and then holding the shift key down –
drag in one of the outer corner boxes till your photo is the correct
size
I then move to the template layer in the layers palette and use
the magic wand to select the white portion of the photo placement
layer.
Move to the photo layer - Select Inverse and hit delete to delete
the excess of the photo.
NOTES
Each template is slightly different in its concept. Some layers
do not require filling - such as torn edge layers.
Some layers you may wish to fill with color instead of background
paper. To do that simply use the magic wand to select and edit fill
You may wish to add a background layer first before adding the
template layers you can do this - it can be added at any stage in
your layout creation - just move the layer to the bottom of the
stack in the layers palette by clicking on it and dragging it to
the bottom of the stack.
For some Layers you may wish to fill differing portions with different
backgrounds.
The same concept will apply- You will paste in the template layer.
Drag in the background you wish to use as a fill.
Use the magic wand to select the portion of the template layer you
wish filled with that background.
If there are several pieces you wish filled with the same background
hold the shift key down while you click on the separate pieces to
add them to your selection.
Select - Inverse and on the background paper layer hit delete to
remove the excess .
Repeat for other portions of the template layer you may wish to
fill with differing backgrounds.
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