Sports Poster Collage for 3.0

[Soccermom]

I am new to Elements 3.0 and want to learn how to make a sports poster.
I want to design a poster size picture with one main picture and 3-4 smaller (different) pictures around the main one. Does anyone know of a template or a easy way to do this? I purchased one from a sports photographer at my sons soccer tournament and would like to design my own and have them printed at a photo lab. Thanks

[kayser]

Hi! Welcome to the forum.

There is a tutorial in the learning section that might help:

http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/tutorials/t_simplescrapbook.php

And here is a link to a tutorial someone posted recently:

http://www.ocdsb.ca/Teacher_Res/tech.../PSCollage.pdf (http://www.ocdsb.ca/Teacher_Res/techres/pdf/software/PSCollage.pdf)

Also, here are instructions for another way:

http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/forum/showthread.php?p=30423&highlight=collage+tutorial#post30423

As you can see, there are a lot of different things to try.

Please let us know how it goes and ask if you need help!

[Wendy]

Hi there ...

... and welcome to the forum :)

... hopefully all the information that Kay has given you should helps you start your poster but if you need any more help then just ask :) When you have finished do let us see it ..

Wendy

[Soccermom]

I have 4.o and just took alot of pictures at a St Patricks Day Parade. I would like to make a collage of them blending in together but I can not get the above suggestions to work
Thanks
Gail

[kayser]

Hi Gail- Can you tell us which one specifically you're trying?

[mom to 4]

Hi Gail:

I am actually doing the exact same thing only for basketball. I made a commitment to do a 12 x 18 collage for each of the 6 seniors and the three coaches for my daughters high school basketball team. I have been snapping pictures all season, even when my daughter isn't in the game. People at the games probably thought I was nuts, because I haven't told anyone what I was planning on doing. I got PSE4 at Christmas and this was actually the first project I started to play with. Nothing like jumping right in...... The ones I have worked on are very basic.......not like some you see here.....I start out with a background and then I have been layering the photo's (only cut outs) on top of the background and use the eraser with a feather to soften the edges. I will try to post one for you to look at and see if that is what you are thinking of. I also, for the background on several, used newspaper articles about the particular girl......several were named player of the week and I thought that was special to them.....those are not finished yet.......just when you look at what I have already done, remember they were done within a week or two of getting PSE4........

Colleen

[mom to 4]

OK, I put the collage up in my gallery if you are interested in looking at it. I think it is way too busy now that I look at it, but who knowns, the girls may like all the different pictures.......I am open for comments and suggestions too.....please keep in mind this was my very first project....I think I am evolving!!!!! Next one should be better......I need to do 9 of these (each different) by 4/1 banquet!!!!!

[kayser]

Colleen- I think it turned out great! What a keepsake the girls will have. Nice job!

[willpresley]

I think you've done very well with your first one. Overall I like it. Are you planning on doing 9 different ones, or just print this one 9 times? Seems to me one design used for all the participants would be suitable.

[mom to 4]

Oh, gosh, no ....I am doing nine DIFFERENT ones....just one 9 times would be way too easy.....It would give me nothing to agonize over :D

I will probably leave several main pictures.....but there are 6 seniors and 3 coaches, so I have several pictures of each of them to make theirs special and have it focus specifically on them. On this one I used a picture of the scoreboard as a backdrop, but for at least 2 of the girls I have newspaper articles I intend to scan and use as the backdrop.....

there is a part of me that says for teenage girls.....more is better.....I think they will like having lots of pictures of themselves, but I do wonder if ....less is more...for the coaches.....maybe do something a little more professional looking, like what I see on other galleries......what do you think??

[willpresley]

As for the coaches -- less would be better focusing on more team than individual photos might work well.

[mom to 4]

PS: Those pictures were all taken with my little point and shoot Olympus 550-D 3 megapixels........I wish I had my Rebel XT then!!!! I just priced a telephoto lens for the rebel 75-300 for $199 at Target of all places! That sound like a pretty good prices, doesn't it???

[willpresley]

Is it a Canon lens for that price :eek:?

It probably is a slow lens so sports photography may take some practice to get non-blurred pictures.

I am enjoying my rebel -- I bought the 28-135 IS USM and paid over $400 for it so you might have a good lens if you buy it. But I don't do sports or action shots so I'm not concerned with the speed of the lens. When I do get to visit my grandchildren I try to take enough photos to do me for a while as it can be a couple years before I see them again.

[jayegirl]

I have been attempting to do these types of posters/collages for a few years now.

I love to keep learning and creating!


http://jayegirl.smugmug.com/gallery/1045141


I actually printed the 20x30 collage poster at mpix.com on double weight matboard and gave it to the coaches. It is hanging in their office at school.

I just keep trying different things until I like it!

[Soccermom]

that is exactly what I am trying to do. I just bought PSE4 and this is also my first project. I cannot even find how to place several pictures over a background. I am sure this is very simple

[Soccermom]

Colleen
Can you tell me the basic steps you used?

Thanks
Gail

[mom to 4]

Gail:

I cannot tell you how good it makes me feel that you want to know how I did it!

I used NEW then decided my size mine is 18 wide by 12. I think I used 200 instead of 72.

Then I put the background of the scoreboard on by using new layer. I put the picture on the page and then while holding the shift key dragged it to fit the 18 x 12. clicked on the check mark. and dropped the opacity much lower....I will have to check....my 20 or 40%

I used the lasso tool to get the parts of the photos that I wanted and then put each one on a new layer. I used the eraser tool with a feathered edge to erase the edges of each of the pictures. I often turned off the visibility of the other layers by clicking on the eye on each of the other layers. I would turn on the visibility of each layer, except the scoreboard/background (a few at at time)when it came time to place each picture where I wanted. Just be careful that you keep the scoreboard/background layer right above the blank page layer. I made the mistake early on of having layers under that background and couldn't figure out why they looked funny.

The last thing I did was the text. I centered it and "warped" it in an arc at +50 for the Lancaster Catholic and then did another layer for the bottom warped it in and arc at -50.

I think that is it. If you don't follow me, or have ANY questions just drop me a PM. I am usually on her for a while every day.....I know I shouldn't be.......but......

Are you doing yours for soccer?

[mom to 4]

Jayegirl:

I looked at your gallery the other day.....I LOVE[/SIZE]. What you have done. The Prom cover is terrific too! I have one of them coming up in May for my daughter....I think I will try it!! You're down in Texas...football is king there, right?!

Don't all the kids just love what you are able to do????

[mom to 4]

WILL:

I probably should have combined my posts....Yes, it is a canon lens. The same one that my local camera shop is selling for $249. But.....what are you saying???? That may not be good for using during sports events???? See I am so dumb about this stuff I have no idea....I need your input. I don't mind spending more....I will just have to wait and save more....I just want something that will be good for what I am doing.

Let me know what you think....

Thanks!

[willpresley]

Well if you are doing shots at night or in a gymnasium you might have some problems with shutter speed stopping action. But getting a fast lens can be very expensive. The lens if used in daylight would probably work just fine, low light might be compensated by upping the ISO.

I took a couple of pictures in this room during the day with ISO 1600 and got some noise is the darker areas but then with NeatImage or some other plug in that helps reduce noise you could still get some good pictures. Also remember that not all photos have to be STOP ACTION to be good, movement adds to some shots if they are blurred.

I'm not expert on lenses but I just wanted you to think about what photo opportunities you can use the lens for.

[mom to 4]

I do a lot of photographing basketball. What lens would recommend. She will be a senior next year, and I don't know if she will play college ball...I wonder if even given the fact that she may not play beyond next year, would a different lens be better all together for vacations, etc?????

[OFD678]

go to KENROCKWELL.COM for an extremely good explanation of lens selections. It was very helpful for my lens selection. From what I understand a 50mm 2.8f prime lens is a good choice (about $100) for basketball.

[jayegirl]

Colleen,
Thanks, yes football is King in Texas but I grew up in Kentucky where Basketball is King!
Our basketball team here in Texas actually made it deep into the play-offs this year but I stink at taking gym basketball pictures! Not enough practice to top it off.
Jaye

[mom to 4]

I don't know about that you seem to do very well with the pictures you have in your gallery!!

My kids HS also made it deep into the PA football playoffs, but by December it is getting pretty cold in those stadiums up in the coal regions!! I prefer basketball....time control and climate control! My girls also play softball and my son runs cross country and track. He wanted to do football this year, but he had a sever head injury back in June and he is now limited.......almost more by parents than by drs!!!

I, like you, get a ton of pleasure out of taking pictues of what they love! I will be in touch with you in a month or so about how you did your mag. cover!

[vawitt]

Gail:

I cannot tell you how good it makes me feel that you want to know how I did it!

I used NEW then decided my size mine is 18 wide by 12. I think I used 200 instead of 72.

Then I put the background of the scoreboard on by using new layer. I put the picture on the page and then while holding the shift key dragged it to fit the 18 x 12. clicked on the check mark. and dropped the opacity much lower....I will have to check....my 20 or 40%

I used the lasso tool to get the parts of the photos that I wanted and then put each one on a new layer. I used the eraser tool with a feathered edge to erase the edges of each of the pictures. I often turned off the visibility of the other layers by clicking on the eye on each of the other layers. I would turn on the visibility of each layer, except the scoreboard/background (a few at at time)when it came time to place each picture where I wanted. Just be careful that you keep the scoreboard/background layer right above the blank page layer. I made the mistake early on of having layers under that background and couldn't figure out why they looked funny.

The last thing I did was the text. I centered it and "warped" it in an arc at +50 for the Lancaster Catholic and then did another layer for the bottom warped it in and arc at -50.

I think that is it. If you don't follow me, or have ANY questions just drop me a PM. I am usually on her for a while every day.....I know I shouldn't be.......but......

Are you doing yours for soccer?

Hi, Colleen. Pardon me for jumping in, but I've been following this thread...
How do you put a feathered edge on your eraser tool? I don't seem to have that as an option...unless I'm missing a step someplace?

Thanks for cluing me in!

~Val in sunny IL

[kayser]

Val- glad to see you're back, I was wondering where you were!

[GaryK]

Hey Val

The eraser is just a brush that erases. So go to your brush menu/pulldown in the options bar and pick a soft edge brush.

Hope this helps. :)

[mom to 4]

Thanks Gary......That is exactly what I did.....experiment with different sizes....I liked the somewhat larger ones....

[GaryK]

Colleen

Sorry for jumping in. I usually check the "online light" to see if the person is still around.

At least it was the same answer.:D :D

[mom to 4]

Gary:

Don't ever worry about jumping in.......it is more important that people looking for the info get it asap ..... doesn't matter who gives the info....

I know when I am looking for answers, I keep checking the forum every couple of minutes......(I am so impatient...:D )

[Tom K]

Colleen ... If that picture was your first effort I can hardly wait to see more..
Looks really good. Tom

[mom to 4]

Tom:

Thanks for the VERY kind words. I really appreciate it. Every time I see the work others do on this site I think my stuff looks like 1st grade stuff. So much to aspire to!! PSE4 is my new toy and when I have a new toy I really like to play with it. I guess I am still a little kid! I love your avatar! My husbands family is from CT (Fairfield). Love it there!

Val:

I just looked at your gallery....had not seen it before. What lovely pictures!!!!! There is one in there that when I first saw it, I BRIEFLY thought it was New Hampshires Man in the Mountain before it fell. It didn't take more than a second to realize that oh, no, that is not New Hampshire in the background!!!! I love the marker for the Appliachian Trail. My husband and son are currently hiking parts of the trail in PA as they prepare for the Boy Scout camp Philmont in New Mexico this summer. The Appliachian trail goes right past our summer place in Maine. We has hiked small (very small) sections up there.

[vawitt]

Tom:

Thanks for the VERY kind words. I really appreciate it. Every time I see the work others do on this site I think my stuff looks like 1st grade stuff. So much to aspire to!! PSE4 is my new toy and when I have a new toy I really like to play with it. I guess I am still a little kid! I love your avatar! My husbands family is from CT (Fairfield). Love it there!

Val:

I just looked at your gallery....had not seen it before. What lovely pictures!!!!! There is one in there that when I first saw it, I BRIEFLY thought it was New Hampshires Man in the Mountain before it fell. It didn't take more than a second to realize that oh, no, that is not New Hampshire in the background!!!! I love the marker for the Appliachian Trail. My husband and son are currently hiking parts of the trail in PA as they prepare for the Boy Scout camp Philmont in New Mexico this summer. The Appliachian trail goes right past our summer place in Maine. We has hiked small (very small) sections up there.

Hi, Colleen. Thanks for the nice comments about my gallery. We saw the "missing" Man in the Mountain this summer while driving through New Hampshire after summiting Mt. Washington (yeah!). We hiked several stretches of the AT last summer, but failed to get up on top of Katahdin :( . We were closer than we thought, turns out. Need to go back next summer and try again!

~Val in (flat flat flat) IL

[vawitt]

Val- glad to see you're back, I was wondering where you were!

Hi, Kay. Nice to know I was missed! I am just back from my spring-break skiing trip to beautiful, snowy Colorado! I had only sporadic internet connection out there so didn't check in at all...missed it!

Here's a scenery picture from my trip.

http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=11YYirlYMtSDHGHJ4KMJthYsZFf5K2

~Val in cloudy IL

[vawitt]

Hey Val

The eraser is just a brush that erases. So go to your brush menu/pulldown in the options bar and pick a soft edge brush.

Hope this helps. :)

That's what I did, Gary and Colleen. I thought there was also a "Feather" Option like there is on the Select menu.

Live and learn! Thanks for the info...

~Val in cloudy IL

[kayser]

Wow- what beautiful scenery, Val! Very picturesque.