I NEED HELP !! (elements 6)

[thehittman23@aol.com]

I recently downloaded a trial version of elements 6. I am trying to add a photo to a template I've also downloaded (in ps format). I have NO IDEA how to go about this..Could someone PLEASE give me STEP-BY-Step instructions. (I need to know everything--how to get the photo side by side with the template--how to crop the photo, add it to the template, adjust it etc)
THANK-YOU TO ALL WHO REPLY !! I HOPE I CAN RETURN THE FAVOR ONE DAY--
Doug

[Diana]

Hi Doug,

There are many different kinds of templates. It would help to know what kind of template you are using. Is it a layered template, a sketch-type template with defined areas to add photos and elements. Could you describe it?

One general way to add a photo to another image (such as a template) is to copy and paste. Open both your photo and your template in Elements Editor. You should see a thumbnail of both documents in the photo bin at the bottom of the workspace.

Make your photo active in the workspace by clicking on it in the photo bin. From the menu Select > All. Then Edit > Copy.

Next make your template active in the workspace, and Edit > Paste. This will add the photo on top of the template in its own layer. If you have your layers palette open (on the right side of the workspace) you should see the two layers.

You can then use the Move tool (the first tool at the top of the toolbar) to resize and reposition the pasted photo on the template. When you click on the Move tool and then the photo layer, you should see the bounding boxes, or sometimes called "handles," around the image. By dragging in or out on one of the corner boxes, you can resize the photo. By clicking on the middle of the photo and dragging around you can reposition it. If you point to a corner of the photo and see a curved line with arrows on each end, then drag, you can tilt the photo, if you need to.

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1pIK8N5eEusQFCSfHI8wBkvCwDr4_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1pIK8N5eEusQFCSfHI8wBkvCwDr4)

This is just general information. As not knowing the type of template you are using, that's all I can give. Hope it helps.

Diana

[thehittman23@aol.com]

Hi Doug,

There are many different kinds of templates. It would help to know what kind of template you are using. Is it a layered template, a sketch-type template with defined areas to add photos and elements. Could you describe it?

One general way to add a photo to another image (such as a template) is to copy and paste. Open both your photo and your template in Elements Editor. You should see a thumbnail of both documents in the photo bin at the bottom of the workspace.

Make your photo active in the workspace by clicking on it in the photo bin. From the menu Select > All. Then Edit > Copy.

Next make your template active in the workspace, and Edit > Paste. This will add the photo on top of the template in its own layer. If you have your layers palette open (on the right side of the workspace) you should see the two layers.

You can then use the Move tool (the first tool at the top of the toolbar) to resize and reposition the pasted photo on the template. When you click on the Move tool and then the photo layer, you should see the bounding boxes, or sometimes called "handles," around the image. By dragging in or out on one of the corner boxes, you can resize the photo. By clicking on the middle of the photo and dragging around you can reposition it. If you point to a corner of the photo and see a curved line with arrows on each end, then drag, you can tilt the photo, if you need to.

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1pIK8N5eEusQFCSfHI8wBkvCwDr4_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1pIK8N5eEusQFCSfHI8wBkvCwDr4)

This is just general information. As not knowing the type of template you are using, that's all I can give. Hope it helps.

Diana

Diana-Hi--
Thank-you for responding-----The template says "PSD File", and shows a camera icon--when I click on it, it brings me to Elements, and shows the template (a Wheaties box---I'll attempt to post it here)...I just don't know what to do from there--I'll try your suggestions--I do need to "cut-out" the subject from the background (I've played with the "magnetic lasso" a little).....
Again THANK-YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP !
Doug

PS I couldn't post that file (feel very stupid right now !)

[Diana]

Okay, I have that template. Basically all you have to do is use my instructions to add your cropped or cutout photo. When you copy and paste the photo to the template, it will create its own layer, then you can resize and position with the Move tool.

I made one using this template and I used the Cookie Cutter tool and one of the Crop shapes to cut out the image.

You can double click on the Type layer (the big T) to select the text if you want to change it. It will probably substitute a different font if you don't have the font used on the template, which is what happened when I did it. But it still works out okay, or you can select your own font to use.

Here's mine:

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1UkWzW2PRoymSJoPTBT3Ts2UDgs65_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1UkWzW2PRoymSJoPTBT3Ts2UDgs65)

Good luck with yours.

Diana

[Diana]

Doug,

Here are instructions to use Pixentral to post an image.

To resize your photo or image so it will properly display:


1. With the Image open in Elements Editor, from the Menu.... File > Save For Web

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1hYCJZYjqkcCWkSMW5RRstzfLHfPn0_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1hYCJZYjqkcCWkSMW5RRstzfLHfPn0)

2. When the Save For Web dialog comes up, in the right panel, make sure JPG & Medium is selected at the top.

3. Enter the size at the bottom section of the panel. If one of the pixel dimensions is larger than 850, change the largest dimension to 850, then click the Apply button. If both dimensions are smaller than 850, no need to change the size.

4. Click OK at the top of the window and the Save Optimized dialog will pop up. The easiest place to find your image when you go to upload it is on the Desktop, so click on the Desktop button, then enter a Filename at the bottom of the window... I usually just name mine Example.

5. Click Save.

To Upload to Pixentral:

1. Go to www.pixentral.com (http://www.pixentral.com/)

2. Put your cursor in the blank provided for the upload (where it says Your Image)

3. Click on the Browse button

4. When the "Choose File" box pops up, navigate to where your photo is stored [the Desktop], click on your photo file you saved above, then at the bottom of the box, click the Open button

5. It will come back to Pixentral with the path to your photo shown in the blank

6. Now on the Pixentral screen, click on the Send button

7. Once your photo is loaded (you'll see it on the Pixentral screen) scroll down to the bottom of the photo where you'll see two lines of text, one that says HTML and one that says Forum

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1jcniUkUmHPldQbiBERact0EZTYnS_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1jcniUkUmHPldQbiBERact0EZTYnS)

8. You need to copy all of the text in the box after "Forum"

9. An easy way to select the whole line of text it is to triple click on the text OR drag your mouse all the way from the first character to the last character of the text

10. Once it is selected, press Ctrl-C to copy it

11. Then go to your message on the forum here and paste your link by pressing Ctrl-V

12. You can preview your post with the image in it before you submit it by clicking the "Preview Post" button at the bottom of the message window

13. If it looks okay, be sure to then press the Submit Reply button to send it

Hope this works okay for you.

Diana

[rkmart]

Where one find different type of TEMPLATES? Thank you?

[Diana]

Hi Robert,

There are templates within Elements. I have version 5.0 and in that version you would click on the Create tab at the top of the Editor screen and follow the instructions step by step.

Also, if you become a subscriber at www.photoshopelementsuser.com (http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com) you'll find templates, as well as tutorials for making your own templates. Subscription includes Photoshop Elements Techniques magazine, sent to your address, and online access to over 200 video tutorials as well as numerous written tutorials.

There are also many templates available online for download. When forum members find good ones, they usually post a link to share. You may be able to find some of these posts using the Search function. In the blue menu bar at the top of the screen, click on Search. In the dropdown, Use the Advanced search box in the middle - it does a Google search of this forum site.

Here are a few:
http://www.elementsvillage.com/forums/showthread.php?t=37344
http://www.elementsvillage.com/forums/showthread.php?p=374963
http://www.elementsvillage.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23504

To search outside of the forum, do a regular Google search and enter keywords such as Photoshop Elements Template. Templates made for Photoshop are also generally usable in Elements. Some are free and some are not. Many of the hits you get may be for Scrapbooking templates or webpage templates.

I have a magazine template available here:
http://www.modempool.com/dday/dianas_webpage_000002.htm

Here's the one for the Wheaties Box:
http://www.photoshopcreativeelements.com/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=265&st=0&sk=t&sd=d&start=30

Some additional links to sites with templates:
http://www.heart2heartdesigns.com/SiteResources/Data/Templates/ContentPackageLayout007.asp?docid=629&DocName=Using%20Templates%20to%20Create%20Trading% 20Card%20Templates
http://easydigitals.com/blog/
http://www.e-junkie.com/shop/product/46868.php
http://gtempl.blogspot.com/
http://moriginals.blogspot.com/2007/11/free-template-no-11.html
http://www.calicodesigns.blogspot.com/
http://www.escrappers.com/magazine.html

Hope this helps.

Diana

[rkmart]

I am already a subscriber. Thank you. :):)