These templates can be used in such a variety of
ways. Here's a very easy but effective way to use the templates on a
photo.
1. Open your photo and the Straight Edge template
from Devotion Artistic Templates.
2. Photos with rough grungy edges are very popular
right now. Notice that the bottom edge of the template is rather grungy
and scratchy looking. This would make a great edge for any type of
photo. To use this as a photo edge use the Marquee tool to make a
rectangle shape over the part you would like to use for the grungy edge
(Picture 1) After making the marquee go to EDIT>COPY. Before I started
working on my photo I opened a new 12 x 12 inch, 300 resolution document
and placed my photo in the center of it. This will keep my original
photo intact and also gives me plenty of room to work around the edges
if need be.
3. To paste the grungy edge on the working
document of your photo go to EDIT>PASTE. Place the edge of the black
grungy layer along the photo's edge using the move tool (click on the
"v" key to get the move tool). You can use the move tool to stretch the
grungy edge to fit your photo. Now duplicate the grungy edge layer by
dragging the layer down to the "Create a New Layer" option in the layers
palette. Turn the edge on its side using EDIT>TRANSFORM>ROTATE 90º CW.
Place against the edge of the photo and again, stretch to fit (Picture
2) Continue with the process until all sides have the grungy layer
around it.
4. Click on the layer with the Straight Edge
Template from Artistic Templates: Devotion. Remove the marquee if it is
still there by clicking Command D (PC - Control D). Use the Move Tool,
click on the "V" key to get the Move Tool, and drag the template onto
the working photo document. I resized the template to fit along the
bottom of the photo using the Move Tool. If resizing is new to you,
click on the corner of the template. The cursor will change to a
straight double arrow. Move the double arrow over to a corner of the
template so that it is a diagonal double arrow. To resize so that all of
the template changes evenly hold the SHIFT key down while dragging the
corner out. When done with the resizing, double click inside of the box
to accept the change.
5. I added a little bit of text using a favorite
grungy, but elegant font, Fashion. I decided to repeat a little bit of
the swirls from the template in the corner of the photo. Make sure the
template layer is active. Use the Marquee tool to drag over a small
section of the template (Picture 3). Go to EDIT>COPY then EDIT>PASTE.
You can remove bits and pieces of the template with the Eraser tool. I
resized mine a little bit bigger and then turned it to fit in the
corner. (Picture 4)
6. There are a couple of ways you can save this
photo depending on your use. I prefer to not have any white background
so I would go to LAYER>MERGE VISIBLE. You can save at this size but if
you want to make it smaller use the Crop tool, "C" key, and remove the
extra space around the photo. Drag diagonally across the photo. You can
resize the crop by dragging the lines, then when you are satisfied with
the size, double click inside the box and Photoshop will crop the photo.
Your photo is now ready for printing or using in a layout.
NOTE: To keep the background from turning to a
white background save as a png file.
Julie Mead, CottageArts.net, 2008, All Rights
Reserved