How to Use Templates in PSE Tutorial and a Free Template

We will be using the template that I used to make this layout for this tutorial. I used the kit "Love Birds" by Just so Scrappy in my layout.

 

Here is the template.

To download this template and a copy of this tutorial click Here.

Note: All my templates are 11.95 x 11.95 because this is the print size for the printer vendor that I use. If your print size varies, you can resize the canvas by going to: Image – Resize – Canvas Size.

Using templates in digital scrapbooking is a great time saver while preserving your creative freedom. Think of a template as a jump start. The template has shapes placed on the page as suggestions where to place photos, papers, and sometimes even elements. The key word is “suggestions”. You are not locked down to the current placements, and are free to move them around, resize, or delete any of the shapes at your smallest whim. Once these are all in place, you can then proceed to the fun part of “decorating” your page with all of your fun elements.

This tutorial will walk you through this simple process. If you have not already read my tutorial on Using Clipping Masks in PSE, I would do that now before you get started here.

Open your template file (the PSD file type) in PSE. You will notice in your Layer Box that each layer has a shape, and if the template creator is nice, each layer will have a label of its suggested purpose (ex. Photo, paper, etc).

Now, open the pictures and papers that you would like to use. Move them one at a time into your main working canvas by dragging and dropping (remember in some versions of PSE, you can’t drag from the “bin”, but must double click on the object in the “bin” to bring it up in the work area and then drag from one canvas to the other.

In this example, I picked the paper that will be the largest angled paper background. It will save you some time if you go ahead and click on the shape in the Layer Box that you will be clipping it to, so that when you bring your object, in this case paper, into the working canvas, it will automatically be immediately above the shape. Now position the paper where it is completely covering the shape in the window screen (working canvas). 

Make sure your paper is the active layer in the Layer box and press Ctrl G. (You can also press Alt, hover between the paper and shape in the layer box until your cursor turns into a little wing object and then click, but Ctrl G seems so much easier to me). I go for simple. You can adjust the position and size using the corner brackets (just like normal).

Now repeat this process for every layer. 

Once you have all layers clipped, I recommend linking each set (shape and linked object) so that if you want to move the around, then you can move them together. You can always unlink, if you want to modify just one.

Now, the fun part. Open any additional elements that you wish to use to decorate your page. You can move them between the layers depending on if you would like them “on top” or “below” particular layers. It is usually best to have some of both.

Hope you enjoy.