TEMPLATES
There are two kinds of templates you will encounter, UNLAYERED and LAYERED. Unlayered templates usually come in .png or .jpg files. Layered templates usually come in .psd files. If you are unsure whether your template is layered or not, open it in PS or PSE and look at your LAYERS PALETTE. If there is more than one layer, you have a layered template!! UNLAYERED TEMPLATE:
USING AN UNLAYERED TEMPLATE: 1. Using your Magic Wand tool, click on the star. You will see selection lines (marching ants) around
what you have selected. (If it selects MORE than one area, check the toolbar at the top to see that you have “contiguous” selected – look at this illustration for setup).
2. Now you need to FILL that selection: go to Edit, Fill… and you will get this dialog box.
Choose Color, and you will get a color picker window to choose your color. OR you can simply select the Foreground Color or Background Color options.
I chose yellow. When you click ok on this, and ok on the Fill dialog box, it will fill in your selection with that color! 3. Repeat this selection and fill process (steps one and two) for each separate area on the template. BUT WAIT, there’s MORE!!! You will notice the Fill dialog box (see above) has several other choices! While the black and white and gray are useful, the one we want to use the most is the PATTERN choice. But first, we have to make a pattern.
MAKING/SAVING a pattern:
In order to fill your selection with a paper, you first need to turn it into a pattern – 4. Open up the paper you’d like to use, then go to Edit> Define Pattern
5. Click OK and you have saved that paper as a pattern. If you know you will want to use several papers,
you can save them all as patterns at this time.
6. Now, when you go to fill your selection (Edit> Fill), choose Pattern –
And you will get this:
Click on the down arrow next to the custom pattern, and your pattern will be at the end of the list. Select it, then click OK, and your selection will be filled with that paper!! TADA!!
NOW on to LAYERED Templates!
USING LAYERED TEMPLATES:
Layered templates are just as much fun, or more! There are a few advantages to layered templates, such as the ability to move them around, or delete an element you don’t wish to use.
Filling With Color and Patterns
This works pretty much as with unlayered templates (see instructions above), except you need to have the layer you wish to use selected. (The STAR layer is selected in the layer palette just above). Once your layer is selected, use your Magic Wand to select the element, and EDIT>FILL to fill with a color. See the instructions above for filling with patterns, and making patterns out of papers.
Cutting Pieces out of Paper 1. First, open your template and any papers you think you would like to use in the layout. 2. Select a layer that you would like to put the paper on. Choose your Magic Wand tool, and click on the
object that is on that layer. You will get marching ants around the object.
3. Drag the paper you desire onto the layout. It will be placed on its own layer just above the layer you selected.
With the paper layer selected, go to the top of the screen, and click SELECT>INVERSE to select everything except your shape. Then click CNTRL+X to delete. You now have your paper cut in the shape of your element! To minimize the number of layers in your document, you can either drag the template layer you are done using to the trashcan at the bottom of the layers palette, or you can hit CNTRL+E to merge the paper layer with the template layer below. (Using the menus, go to LAYERS>Merge downward Repeat this for every element in the template you want to use. You can then delete any unused layers, and move or resize the elements on any layer. These are the most versatile templates, because you have the ease of a pre-made design, with the personality of your own touches!! ***SHORTCUT*** Use a clipping mask to make this fast and easy – and more flexible!
There is NO NEED TO SELECT THE ELEMENT IN THE LAYER. Drag your paper onto the template – check your layers palette to be sure it’s directly over the template layer you wish to use. Keep the paper layer selected. Hit CNTRL+G (CS2 users, ALT+CNTRL+G or hold the ALT key androll your cursor over the line between the layers until you get two little circles, and click) AND THE PAPER IS CUT IN THE SHAPE BELOW IT!!
Now you can use your move tool to drag the paper around inside the object until you get the pattern set the way you like it! This is GREAT for putting photos inside shapes – use a photo instead of paper – all the same steps apply. Once you have it the way you like it, you need to merge the two layers – Select the top layer (the paper) and press CNTRL+E or Layers>Merge Downward
ENJOY your templates! Post your layouts in the gallery, and show us your wonderful work!