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Epson Computer Tip: Adding Photos & Journaling to a Quick Page
By Barbara Kotsos

For project ideas and more, visit www.epsoncreativezone.com

The quickest way to complete a digital page – or even a digital album – is to purchase a “quick page” from your favorite digital designer. There are even some free pages available on the internet! And they are so easy to use.

You’ll find two types of “quick pages” – those you put your photos and journaling on top of, and those with “transparent” portions of the page where you put your photos underneath the page and your journaling on top. Let’s start with the first type:

Adding photos & journaling on top of a quick page

Step 1: Open the quick page in Photoshop Elements, and open the photo(s) you wish to add to the quick page by going to File | Open. Both files will show up in your photo bin.


Step 2: With your photo in the main work area of PSE, click on your Move Tool (keyboard shortcut V). Now click on your photo and drag it down to the quick page in the photo bin. This will add your photo in a separate layer on top of the quick page.


Step 3: You can now resize your photo and position it on the quick page by using the Move Tool (V). You’ll want to be sure to hold down your Shift key while you resize your photo in order to keep the aspect ratio the same. Repeat these steps for any additional photos you want to add.

 

Step 4: Not all quick pages will have this issue, but with this one you can see that part of the flower is hidden by our photo. In order to erase the part of the photo that is hiding the flower, we’ll first zoom in by using the Zoom Tool (Z) or by using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl +. Next we’ll click on the photo layer in the layers palette and lower the opacity of the layer so we can see the flower through the photo. Then we’ll simply use our Eraser Tool (E) to remove that portion of our photo! Once you’re done the flower will appear to be on top of your photo!


You might also want to add a drop shadow to your photo by choosing Layer Styles and Drop Shadows in the Styles & Effects palette.



Step 4: Add your journaling by clicking on the Text Tool (T). Select the color of your font by clicking on the color box. This will bring up the Color Picker, which will allow you to pick any color in the range shown. OR if you move your mouse outside the box, it automatically changes to the Eyedropper Tool (I), which will allow you to “pick up” any color from your layout or photo!

When you add journaling a new layer will automatically be created.

Adding photos & journaling to a quick page with transparent areas

Step 1: Open the quick page and the photo(s) you want to add.

Step 2: With your photo in the main work area of PSE and using the Move Tool (V) drag your photo down to the quick page in the photo bin. This will add your photo in a separate layer on top of the quick page.


Step 3: This is where the process differs from the first type of quick page. Because the quick page has a transparent area, you’ll want to change the order of your layers so your photo is underneath the quick page. Just click your mouse on the photo layer and drag it under the quick page layer – that’s all there is to it! You can still resize your photo and move it around on the page as before.

Step 4: Add your journaling just as you did in Step 4 above!

You can even find entire mini-albums created by designers who have done all of the work for you!


Credits:

Baby page created by Angela Moffatt using the Birthday Cake kit by Dani Mogstad www.designbydani.com.

Let Your Love Shine page Quick page from the "Shine" Kit by Michelle Underwood at www.scrapbookbytes.com.

Mini Album (Flea Market Chic – Piece-a-cake Album) from The Shabby Princess www.theshabbyshoppe.com. Finished page by Leigh Brown.

 
Sponsor: Epson America, Inc.



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