How to use a Layered Template in PS or PSE

[ginabee]

Wonderful! Just what I needed. Thank you.

[babyofmine]

Is there any way to use the templates in PSP? I haven't been able to figure it out....
thanks for the tut though!

[okblues]

These are the instructions I include with my templates in the store. Hope this helps.

Paintshop Pro Users

1. Open the layered psd file. Make a duplicate of the psd file or save it with a different name so you don’t save over the original file. You may want to use it again.

2. Open the papers and photos you would like to use in your layout.

3. Click on the layer you want to begin with to make it active. Move the paper you wish to use to the layered template. You can either drag & drop the paper or copy (CTRL+C) & paste (CTRL+L).

4. Make sure your paper layer is directly above the layer you want to work with. Select the active template layer (CTRL+A), then float the selection (CTRL+F) and then defloat the selection (CTRL+SHIFT+F). Invert the selection (CTRL+I). Click on the paper layer to make it active and press the delete key on the keyboard. This will delete the excess paper, cropping the paper layer to the shape of the template layer you selected. Deselect (CTRL+D) and hide or delete the template layer you used. Repeat these steps with the rest of the layers.

5. On most templates, the embellishments are a guide for placement. Once you have your elements in place you can hide or delete the unnecessary layers.

6. Add your title and/or journaling as desired. Unfortunately, the text paths included with some templates will not be usable in PSP, but you may use them as a guide for placement. You will need to hide or delete the title and journaling placement layers.

7. Have fun creating!

[logicgrandma]

Thanks, okblues. I was just wondering the same thing as babyofmine (hee-hee she's DD #6).

But now we even have the tut.

[babyofmine]

Thank you sooooo much! You rock!

[silverq21]

Thanks so much for the tutorial for PSE. I realized when I read this that I have been doing things the hard way. Using this new method will simplify everything!

[DiamondDesign]

I went thru this tutorial and couldn't get "Now type Ctrl-g" on page 6 to work for me. I went back to my old method of selections with the magic wand.

Originally Posted by HollyS

(in PSCS2 it's Ctrl+Alt+G)

Who knew it would be just different in PSCS3 (and 2). Using that one extra key made layered templates that much easier to use.

[himunsie]

I am new to using templates and frankly new to digital scrapbooking but have found I love using templates. My question is can I add drop shadows? How do I edit the drop shadows when I'm using a template?

[HollyS]

Hi, yes you sure can! Templates come in layers.... and when you add papers and clip them to a layer, it's still it's own layer. You need to add the drop shadow on the layer that was in the template, not the clipping layer. Hope that make sense!

[HollyS]

Originally Posted by HollyS

Hi, yes you sure can! Templates come in layers.... and when you add papers and clip them to a layer, it's still it's own layer. You need to add the drop shadow on the layer that was in the template, not the clipping layer. Hope that make sense!

Also, on our menus at the top of every page, under Resources > Tutorials, there are tutorials with screen shots that may be of even more use to you. Here's the on templates in Photoshop...

http://www.godigitalscrapbooking.com..._Templates.pdf