Montage problem

[Storm1]

Hi have took a screen shot hope it works
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1nlzkAOa1tAviPv3IGE0Zevoqr7VwR0_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1nlzkAOa1tAviPv3IGE0Zevoqr7VwR0)

Started to make a Montage Did a Blank White,then the Whole Beach Photo which I intended for my Background,putting small photos on there .Notice they are showing on the Beach Background in the Photo Bin ,but are not showing on the Beach Scene in my Layers Palette.
Should I have made the Background from the Beach Scene,? .Not make a Blank White? And make a copy/duplicate of the Background .
Help please . At least I have managed to get up a Screen shot :)
Every time I screw things up. Sorry
Storm

[GaryK]

Hi Storm

Everythng looks right to me.:)

The blank/white background is not needed unless you are going to do something (erase??) part of the beach background, and plunk the whole thing on top of the white.

The only other thing I MIGHT do is, make a copy of your beach background layer (I always make a copy of my background layer... paranoia:D ) but it is not necessary if you are going to save the file with a different name.

The layers pallet looks as it should.. each photo on its own layer.

Great job :) :)

[Bayla]

Storm,

I don't think you've screwed up at all.

All your little pictures are showing up in the layers palette on separate layers which is how it's meant to be. They won't look like the image in the photo bin unless you merge or flatten them which you wouldn't want to do until you've finished editing (if at all).

I think you've got the beginnings of a great montage there.:)

Bayla

[Storm1]

Thanks Bayla & Gary . If I want to put Layer A over the corner of LayerB, then I have to have LayerB below Layer A in the Stack ?
How do you get those little Photos all the same size in inches when you are using the move tool ? Do you get them into the Photo Bin First & then crop them?
Any suggestions how to make this look nicer/better.
Thanks Storm

[Rusty]

Storm, I think it looks fine. Now you want to move some of the individual pictures around. I am attempting to do the same thing so I'll be watching the subsequent posts to your thread.

We are both going to learn something ;-)

Rusty

[kevq]

Storm,
looks pretty good to me. Would suggest that, using the move tool, that you make the small photos a little larger. As for getting the images the same size - use the move tool - drag a photo over the top of the one that is the size you want, lower its opacity so that you can see the one underneath, and then resize it. Take the opacity back up and drag it to its new position. If the photos are the same basic shape this should work.
Kev.:) :)

[Bayla]

Storm,

Another way for accurate resizing is to have the grid turned on. Then you can easily resize your pictures using the gridlines as your guide.

Once you're happy with the size and positioning of your photos you can apply layer styles. For instance, select a photo (by Ctrl clicking the thumbnail in the layers palette), make a new layer above it & apply an outline (Edit>Stroke(Outline)Selection). Then you could add a low drop shadow to make the smaller pictures pop out some more. Or how about doing something with the background picture - you could use Hue/Saturation to change the colour or turn it into B&W or lighten it. Just a few ideas. Experiment and see what looks good.

Bayla

[mom to 4]

Storm:

Looks great to me. I will say that I always make a white background. then my first layer is always my picture that I want the backgroung to be. That way if I lower the opacity of the that picture, it has the white behind it. I don't know if it matters, but I have just always done it that way. Works well for me. My added photos always look just the way yours do.

Bayla: I like your idea of using the grid, but I think I need to change the size of mine.....It just bothers my eyes when it is on the screen.....too much or too small...something, I don't know!:rolleyes:

By the way, Storm, I love that background photo of the beach! Love it!

[kimh]

Storm, Good luck on your montages. All have given good advice. I think Colleen is the queen of montages (:D :D my opinion) but there are a lot of great ones. Check out some of the gallery's for some great ideas.
Kimh

[Storm1]

Thanks everybody for your advice. Have printed it out.
Are you following all this good advice Rusty ?;)
How do you like your little namesake? Every time I see your name come up it brings a little smile to my face. Now you know why :D
Thanks everyone. Storm

[Bayla]

Colleen,

I always have my grid as percentages with markings at every 25%. Far easier on the eyes.

Bayla

[Rusty]

Storm, I think my namesake looks like a pretty cool little dude.

Kev's technique on how to resize to the same size(s) was a real "Ah Hah" moment for me. Such an elegant solution. Now, I'm off to practice that :)

Rusty

[Storm1]

I have followed Bayla's suggestion for Frames & Drop Shadow. Bayla you figured the Shadow problem correctly. Layer 1,started to get a bit muddled with all these Layer 1's,got a brilliant idea & it will save time as well :D
Use the same Layer 1 just move it up & down where ever I want to do a Stroke Selection. Looks real nice but now I find I cannot move the little photos :D :D I only just want to nudge them over.
Any ideas ? I think I should not have been so lazy with Layer 1 :)
Have saved it. Back later in the day . The sick room calls.
Thanks . Storm