QUICK TIP #2
Tutorial #2: Essential Actions for Creating
Modern Digital Scrapbook Pages and Quick Pages

You're now ready to create your first Modern Digital Scrapbook Page. Please note that this page is only an example; your pages can look very, very different than this if you like. They should reflect your tastes and personality! Once you master the mechanics of page creation, you'll make the design choices. That's when the fun begins!

Note that as well as a video tutorial, you can download the folder with the files I use, so you can perform the same actions.

If you've printed the free e-book version of the 10 Quick Tips, it will be helpful to have the printed version by your side as you go through the tutorial. Good luck! You're on your way to creating your own beautiful pages and albums.

1. LAUNCH Photoshop Elements (PC users may be asked whether you want to Organize, Edit, or Create. Select Edit.) In the workspace, you'll see three tabs at the upper right. Select Edit.

2. OPEN TEMPLATE. Go to File>Open, browse to the folder titled "Tutorial 2 Project Folder." Find First Template.psd, and click Open. Because there is text on the template, and your computer might not have that exact font, you may be asked whether you want the text updated. Click "Yes."

Look at the Layers Palette. The layers are named with simple reminders.

Digital paper shape layers:
"Place Background Paper Above This Layer"
"Place Patterned Paper Above This Layer"

Photo shape layers:
"Place Photo 1 Above This Layer"
"Place Photo 2 Above This Layer"

Placeholders for page accessories:
"Replace with Accessory 1"
"Replace with Accessory 2"
"Replace with Accessory 3"

Text blocks:
"Type Descriptive Words"
"Type Journaling"
"Type Event, Date and Place"
"Type Captions"

Optional Photo Frames

3. SAVE FILES. Go to File>Save As> and name it First Scrapbook Page. It will automatically save in a .psd format, or Photoshop Document.

4. ADD PATTERN. This project will have a white background, but we will add color with Textured Digital Paper. Go to File>Open browse to "Tutorial 2 Project Folder." Choose "Dark Blue Linen.jpg." Open it, and use the Move Tool to drag it onto the template. Close the JPEG window.

Dark Blue Linen appears as Layer 1 in the Layers Palette. Within the Layers Palette, drag Layer 1 to just above "Place Patterned Paper Above this Layer." On your layout, use the Move Tool to place the digital paper so it covers the checked pattern, which is the shape of the patterned paper.

5. THE "MAGIC CLICK." On the Layers Palette, find the line between Layer 1 and "Place Patterned Paper Above This Layer." On your keyboard, hold down the Option key (PC users hold down ALT key). Now, hover the mouse over this line. An icon of linked circles appears. When it does, click your mouse, and Dark Blue Linen has been trimmed within the borders. You can move it within the borders.

6. PLACE PHOTOS. Go to File>Open and browse to Brooks and Mindy.jpg. Click Open. Select the Move Tool, and click and drag the photo to the project. It becomes "Layer 2" in the Layers Palette. Make sure "Layer 2" is directly above "Place Photo 1 Above this Layer." Close the photo window. Make sure in your project that the photo is over photo shape #1.

Use the Magic Click to place the photo. On the Layers Palette, find the line between Layer 2 and "Place Photo 1 Above This Layer." On your keyboard, hold down the Option key (PC users hold down ALT key). Now, hover the mouse over this line. An icon of linked circles appears. When it does, click your mouse, and Brooks and Mindy.jpeg has been trimmed perfectly within the photo shape. You can move it within the borders.

Resize your photo if you like. Click and drag the corners to resize, then click the green checkmark to confirm.

Place the other photo in your folder, "Engaged.jpg" the same way, so it becomes Photo #2.

7. ADD TEXT. Select the Type Tool and position the cursor over the word Description. Highlight the text to be replaced, and type "joyful day!" Highlight the new text to change the size, font and alignment in the Options Bar, similar to editing text in other programs. Replace your journaling, event information, and caption in the same way.

8. ADD PAGE ACCESSORY. Go to File>Open and browse to your Tutorial 2 Project Folder, find Snowflakes.png, and hit Open.

Select the Marquee Tool. On Snowflakes.png, click near the corner of one of the snowflakes, hold the button and drag to surround it. It will now be surrounded by a moving dashed line.

Select the Move Tool, and drag the snowflake onto the layout, placing it over one of the accessory placeholders. Repeat for the two other snowflakes, and size as you prefer.

When your snowflakes are placed, go to the Layers Palette and click the "eye" icon next to the "Replace with Accessory" layers. They will become invisible.

9. SAVE PROJECT. Go to File>Save to save it again as a .psd. Then, to print or share online, go to File>Save As and select JPEG. JPEGs are flat, so the layers become one. You can no longer move edit each layer separately. PC users may be asked whether to save the JPEG as a version of the PSD. Click Yes.

Great job creating your first Modern Digital Scrapbook Page!

Quick Pages

Quick Pages are the fastest possible way to make modern digital scrapbook pages! All you do is add your photos and text. You'll have a great looking page in minutes.

1. OPEN QUICK PAGE. Go to File>Open, browse to the folder titled "Quick Page Project Folder." Find Sample Quick Page.psd, and click Open. Because there is text on the template, and your computer might not have that exact font, you may be asked whether you want the text updated. Click "Yes."

Notice that there is just one layer of page elements, and one background layer called "Place Photos Above This Layer," and the text layers.

2. SAVE FILE. Go to File>Save As> and name it First Quick Page. It will automatically save in a .psd format, or Photoshop Document.

3. ADD PHOTOS. Go to File>Open and browse to your Quick Page Project Folder. Find Bubbles 1.jpg and click Open. Using your Move Tool, drag the photo onto the layout. It becomes "Layer 1." Close the photo window. In the Layers Palette, make sure Layer 1 is directly above "Place Photos Above This Layer." On your layout, use the Move Tool to move the photo under a photo frame. You can click and drag the corners to size the photos, if you like. Do the same with Bubbles 2.jpg and Bubbles 3.jpg.

4. ADD TEXT. Select the Type Tool and position the cursor over the text you want to replace. Highlight the text to be replaced and type your new verbiage. Replace your descriptive word, journaling, event information, and caption in the same way.

5. SAVE PROJECT. Go to File>Save to save it again as a .psd. Then, to print or share online, go to File>Save As and select JPEG. JPEGs are flat, so the layers become one. You can no longer move edit each layer separately. PC users may be asked whether to save the JPEG as a version of the PSD. Click Yes.

NOTE ABOUT TRIMMING PHOTOS: In the event the photos intrude into adjacent frames, it is easy to trim the excess. Your Marquee Tool becomes your "digital scissors." In the Layers Palette, make sure the layer of the photo you want to trim is highlighted. Take your Marquee Tool and surround the area you want to remove (don't worry if other elements are in the marquee; only the highlighted layer will be trimmed). Hit Backspace and you've made the trim.