adding photos to templates

[mschall]

I am new to PSE and using version 6. I've created a couple templates following tutorials, but when it comes time to add pics it doesn't work. I've tried copy>paste into selection and layer>group with previous neither techn. has worked.

Does PSE 6 work well with Vista? Could I need a patch or something?

thanks

[SharLamb]

I assume you are making LAYERED templates???? (psd files???). If so, make sure, that in the layers section (right side of your screen), you have selected the layer with "hole" you want the picture to go into. Drag the picture onto the template. Click Ctrl+G to group it. I think you may not have selected the layer. Of course, I'm using PSE 5, and I think there may be a slight difference. You may have to open the photo, select the layer, drag the photo onto the thumbnail of the template in your photo bin, THEN click Ctrl+G. -----There will probably be someone better with PSE 6 than I am responding too. I was quick on the draw because I have just learned how to make templates (embarrassing how easy it is, huh!). -----Hope this helps, Shar

[mschall]

Yes, they are layered .psd templates. I click ctl on the thumb of the layer "hole". It gets marching ants around it, but then when I drag the photo up it's not in the hole. I tried holding ctl G while dragging it onto the template, but still it just sits on top. ugh

[SharLamb]

Don't click Ctrl while you are selecting the layer (hole) you want. You don't want marching ants around it. Just make sure that layer is blue by clicking once on it, not the thumbnail. Shar

[Jeff Perry]

Mschall, in most templates I have used the image you are adding needs to go above the template layer(the one with the "hole" you want your image to show thru, if I understand correctly), then with the top layer selected, Ctrl G to group it with the layer below. It seems counter intuitive, like the image should be on the layer below the frame.

Make sure you activate the image you want to drop, and then select the move tool and drag your image that you are trying to add to the template down onto the template in the Photo Bin. Don't drag up from the Photo Bin.

Jeff

[CarolLHB]

And the nice thing about clipping them is that you can move them around within the shape to get exactly what you want showing:)

[mschall]

Thanks Shar, OK no marching ants.

Jeff, when I drag the photo up above the "hole" layer over on the right then click ctl G, the photo disappears behind all the layers.

When I activate the photo (by activate do you mean have it open in the main window?) then use move tool to drag down to template it again goes behind all the layers. In either case, if I bring it forward it still is not in the hole.

I appreciate your patience. This program is driving me nuts. I can see tons of potential, but so far it doesn't seem very friendly. I have a lot of experience with Digital Image Pro, but it doesn't seem to be helping me much here.

My dh thinks I should re-install the program, but I think I'm just not getting it.

thanks, Mary Ellen

[Jeff Perry]

Mary Ellen, I have tried but can not duplicate the results you are getting. It is very difficult not being able to see your layers pallet to see what your template looks like, i.e., I'm not sure how many layers you have, etc.

In it's simplest form, you start with an image (one layer) and add a blank layer on top and fill it with a color, etc. Then punch a hole it using a selection tool of chice, e.g., elipitical marquee tool, and use the delete key to erase. You can also use the eraser brush to reveal the image underneath.

Templates can be tricky, if there are Frame Layers (little plus sign in the corner) they can be a real headache. If the layers are linked (little chains connecting between the layers, that can also be a problem sometimes.

Can you do a screen capture (of the layers pallet) and post it, perhaps we can see what's going on.

Sorry I can't be more help.

Jeff

[SharLamb]

Mary Ellen, I can FEEL your frustration. I'm sure you do not have to reinstall the program. There is something simple to fix this, I'm betting. I have been where you are right now. I would try to talk you through it, but I'm almost certain that there is a slight difference between V 5 and V6, so I'm hoping Wendy or Trish will pop in with a solution for you. -------You are right. PSE is not intuitive, but after a few months, you will feel at home with it, or at least begin to recognize the same mistakes! LOL Not much consolation right now, I know, but I think it is worth the hassle. I ADORE PSE5 now, and 6 or 7 months ago there were times when it brought me to tears. -------------Shar

[PattyD]

I'm wondering if your problem is that you are dragging your photo (thumbnail) up from the photo/project bin to your template which is the active image (big image)?

If you do this with PSE 6 you'll end up with a frame layer which isn't what you want. I have some updates for PSE 6 here and there is a screenshot of what happens if you do that on page 7. Check it out here: http://thedigitalscrapbookteacher.com/PSE6%20Changes.pdf

To use a layered psd template:

Open the template.

File>Save so you don't save over it. Or make a new file File>New and drag your template DOWN onto the new blannk file.

Close the original template

Click on the template shape layer in the Layers Palette that you want to fill. It will be your active layer (highlighted) in the Layers Palette. I find it easiest to start from the bottom layer and work up but you don't need to.

Open your photos.

Drag your photo DOWN onto your template in the photo/project bin.Your photo should be the large image dragging down to the template thumbnail in the photo/project bin.

Your photo will be above the shape you wanted to fill in the Layers Palette (if you followed my directions above)

Move and size your photo above the shape you're going to fill, you can fine tune it after you group it.

Layer>Group with previous or Ctrl>G and the photo will be in the shape of the template shape.

Continue for all template shapes.

I hope this helps!

[mschall]

I just watched the paste into selection video in the killer tips area of this forum. That seems to be doing the trick so far. But, of course, another question!!

I'm practicing with the template Carol generously posted in the scrapbooking forum. (Just to be sure the templates I made aren't the real problem. :)) Anyway...how can I select all 4 of the center layers to paste into the entire circle? When I ctl click to select multiple layers, it says I can't use the magic wand (as suggested in the video) because more than one layer is chosen.

I'm sure glad I found this forum. Thanks for the sympathy. It helps to hear that others find it frustrating to learn. I was starting to feel like a real moron!

[SharLamb]

Well, speak of the Angel! Nice to have The Queen Herself pop over with advice. See! I told you Patty was the best, and I'll just bet your problem is now fixed! Nice to see you here, Patty.-----------Shar

[SharLamb]

Mary Ellen, I have considered myself a moron too, and voiced it here. I had the same question about that template when I first tried it, but instead of asking here, I fussed around with it and finally got the entire center filled with one picture and no lines. I still don't know how I did it! LOL Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good (my personal golf slogan). Actually, I think I may have just made a new layer the shape I wanted it and slapped the photo on it, then Ctrl+G. But I'm not sure. Hope someone who really knows will answer you. ------------------Now I'm outta here for awhile. I'm leaving for San Francisco tomorrow and need to do some serious laundry! ------------------Shar

[mschall]

Patty, you are correct I was at one time dragging up instead of down, but Jeff set me straight about that. I just followed your directions and it worked! I've tried that several times, but was confused because I thought it should pop right in. Your explanation that it would just be sitting on top and then I group made it all make sense.

Thank you everyone! I anticipate I'll have a lot more questions for you! I'm off to look at Patty's site.

[patkc2000]

Layer>Group with previous or Ctrl>G and the photo will be in the shape of the template shape.

I have PSE6 and my understanding from something I read somewhere (:o) was that PSE6 doesn't support "grouping" and the alternative is "linking". Bummer!

[PattyD]

I have PSE6 and my understanding from something I read somewhere (:o) was that PSE6 doesn't support "grouping" and the alternative is "linking". Bummer!



Sure PSE 6 supports grouping! It's the same as PSE 5. Go to Layer>Group with previous and it works exactly the same.

Good luck

[PattyD]

Well, speak of the Angel! Nice to have The Queen Herself pop over with advice. See! I told you Patty was the best, and I'll just bet your problem is now fixed! Nice to see you here, Patty.-----------Shar


I haven't been on the forum for a few months and I can see that I need to hire Shar as my marketing director!
Thanks Shar!

[patkc2000]

Sure PSE 6 supports grouping! It's the same as PSE 5. Go to Layer>Group with previous and it works exactly the same.

Thanks Patty! I tried Ctrl-G and when it didn't work I didn't think to check it out further. Pat