I need help with templates

[kelley58]

I got a free sample of a christmas card template and I need to know how to put the picture on it. Also if I wanted to design my own christmas card, how do you make the background a solid color instead of having to use the preset backgrounds. Thanks

[Wendy]

Hi Kelly ...

... and welcome to the forum :)

Its pretty difficult to know as templates are done in all sorts of different ways ... where did you get the template from?

Wendy

[kelley58]

Thanks. I got it from portraitsbymelissastar.com. she sells them on ebay, and she will send a free sample to make sure it will work with your program. I just don't know how to add a picture to it. I appreciate any help you can give me. Thanks Kelley

[cats4jan]

My suggestion assumes you are talking about a finished product - which is commonly called a "quick page" - where the only thing you want to add is the photo

(When I use the word template, I usually mean a design - either flat or in layers - where I place each of the embellishments in the design.)

If your "template" is a quick page type template - you can just add the photo on the top of the template - approximately over the area where the photo is suggested you place it. Use the move tool to size and position your photo - covering the "photo" area.
________________

If the area is clearly defined - you can use "paste into"

First open your photo
select> all
edit> copy

Open your template
using the magic wand, select the area where the photo is supposed to go
you should see marching ants around the area

edit> paste into selection

Use the move tool to size the photo and to move it around until you are happy with placement and size - click enter and the photo and the photo "spot" on the template will be what I call "melded" because you can no longer edit at that point.

[Diana]

how do you make the background a solid color instead of having to use the preset backgrounds. Thanks

Hi Kelley,

To get a solid background color, from the menu, Edit > Fill Layer, then from the window that pops up, click the dropdown arrow under Contents -Use: select Color, then pick a color from the color picker, then OK.

My personal preference is not using perfectly solid colors, so after I fill my background with a color, I'll usually go to Filter > Noise > Add Noise (use a small amount) > OK - to give it a few more subtle colors. Then I usually add a texture of some kind, something like Filter > Brush Strokes > Crosshatch - or - Filter > Artistic > Sponge. Filter > Texture > Texturizer will also give you different texture options.

Diana