How to use Layered Templates

[kristenrice]

Using Layered Templates

I have seen many questions here and there on how to use layered templates. I think templates can be such a wonderful tool, and so much fun for scrappers from beginners to advanced! They are great for giving you a boost when you are feeling a little uninspired or less creative. so, anyway, this is my method on using templates. Not saying it's the best method or the quickest, but this is how I do it. And, I'm going to try to go in an orderly fashion, but sometimes I don't work that way, lol! Just as an FYI, I am using Adobe Photoshop CS3 on a Windows 7 platform.


Step 1. So, for starters...here is the template that I am using in this tutorial, and it is FREE in my After Five Designs shoppe! So, get downloading! You don't even have to go through the checkout procedure, you can just download right below the product description! Sweet, right?! I love that!

Download here!




Step 2. Here is my template when I open it up. Make sure that your "SHOW TRANSFORM CONTROLS" box is checked so you will always see a slight outline of what layer you are on and you can move things, resize, rotate, etc., as you need to. Also, make sure your LAYERS window is open (WINDOW >> LAYERS, or push F7 on your keyboard).




Step 3. Duplicate your template so you keep the original intact. Go to IMAGE >> DUPLICATE and rename the duplicated image whatever you wish.






Step 5. At this point, I like to open up all my elements and papers that I want to use in my layout. However, I know that many people probably like to start with the photo, so you are free to do whichever works best for you. That step is further down, so you can jump down there if you like, and come back up to read about the elements. I'm a bit of a layerer (is that even a word? lol) type of scrapper, so I tend to use more elements, but you can do whatever you wish for your layout that is suitable for your style. That's the really great thing about templates! They can easily be modified to suit a wide range of scrapping styles. Oh, and luck




Step 6. Now you can start putting your goodies into your template. A little tip that you will find very useful (if you don't already know), if you hold down the SHIFT button while you are dragging and dropping your elements and papers into your template, they will automatically center. Then, you can manipulate them, move them around, resize, etc. I have used my pre-shadowed elements, so that is all taken care of, but if you are doing your own shadowing, you can do all that manipulation as well.




Step 7. Now is time to drag and drop your photo into the layout. Now there are several different ways to clip your photo to the "photo" layer in the template. The most important thing that you have to do first is place your photo layer (the one you drug into your template) ABOVE the layer containing the photo mask that you are going to clip your photo to (called either "photo 1" or "photo 2"). So, you can do this most quickly (and my personal favorite) by pressing ALT+CTRL+G all at once. And, to duplicate your photo (to use for the 2nd mask if you do not want to open a different photo), you can do this by pressing CTRL+J. Another method to create a clipping mask is to right click on your photo layer and click "Create clipping mask". Lastly, you can go to LAYER >> CREATE CLIPPING MASK.








Step 8. If you would like to flip your photo for your second photo mask, you can do so by clicking EDIT >> TRANSFORM >> FLIP HORIZONTAL.




Step 9. And (as I sometimes do this), I ended up swapping out my papers and removing the top layer paper. So, there you have it!! Just save, flatten and save a JPG, and you're finished!

Here's my final layout! I hope you had fun and maybe learned something new in this tutorial. If you like it, pretty please let me know and I'd love to make some more tutorials, so feel free to let me know if there is anything else you would like to know how to do, and I'll try my best to accommodate!



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In case you are wondering, I have used my NEW kit which is coming out on Thursday, March, 18!

[nbeaudreau]

yay! Great tutorial, K and fabulous template! thank you!!!!!

[yossarian]

Great tut and I love that layout Kristen! xxx

[mum2amelie]

Great tutorial - and thank you for the lovely freebie!