How do I make my own premade pages?

S

Scrapper007

New member
I am having trouble understanding how to make it so that photos can later be added behind frames I put on a page now. I do not use Photoshop; I tried learning and just could not get the hang of it. I have been using Memory Mixer 3 for my own digi pages, but I do not see any kind of option to be able to add photos later on (hope this makes sense).

I downloaded a free 30-day trial of Scrapbook Max because you can save files in PNG format (you can't with Memory Mixer).

I am really confused. All I want to be able to do is create a page and leave the photo openings blank so that pictures can be added later on. Also, if I am able to do this (with any program), as long as the file is PNG, can it be used in Photoshop?
 
you can use pngs in photoshop

if your program now doesn't let you save as pngs than you can't save the page with an opening for the picture. (it has to be transparent)
 
FlirtatiousBrat said:
you can use pngs in photoshop

if your program now doesn't let you save as pngs than you can't save the page with an opening for the picture. (it has to be transparent)
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply. :) I can save files in this program as PNG. That's not a problem. What I am trying to figure out is how to make frames on the page transparent so that photos can be added later. TIA for any more help!
 
I only use photoshop, so I'm not sure if this will help, but this is how I do it:

1. Create your page, and place a temporary photograph or block of colour where the photo should be.
2. Select all the layers BELOW the photo and merge them together.
3. Select all the layers ABOVE the photo and merge them together. (You should now have just 3 layers in your layers palette).
4. Create a new transparent layer under the bottom layer.
5. Ctrl select the photo layer so you have the marching ants around the photo edge.
6. Click on the layer below the photo (the one with the merged papers) and press delete. It will create a hole in that layer, the size of your photo.
7. Move the photo layer to the trash bin.
8. Merge all the remaining layers.
9. Save as a PNG file.
 
Misty has a tutorial on her blog that makes it soooo easy. Basically you're just making the photo layer (and everything underneath it) transparent - in one easy step. I used to do it the long way, too, until I figured out how to do it this way. It only works in PS (and maybe PSE?), though.
 
Jacinda, I tried what you said but it didn't work. :(

KateD, I looked at Misty's tutorial but couldn't figure it out that way either. Thank you both for trying to help. I'm really not stupid, lol...just fairly new to the digi world and trying to figure it all out.

What I am basically trying to do is make it so photos can be inserted between a frame and the background. The designer of the kits I would be using has said no layered files (which I understand) and that they must be flattened and saved as a PNG. How can photos be inserted if the layout has been flattened?

ETA: forgot to add that as long as I purchase a license from the above designer, I can use her kits to create premade pages. :)
 
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as long as you put a hole in the layout behind your frame (basically do as Jacinda said and merge yoru layers below the frame, and the layers from the frame and above

then click inside the frame and I usually expand by 2px or so and delete on the BOTTOM merged layer then merge your layers (don't flatten image)

If you save as a png file the hole in the frame will remain transparent
 
Quickpages are flat pages that have "holes" in them. When you open them up in your software, you'd put the photos on layers underneath the quickpage. So the photos appear to be between the background paper and the frame, but really aren't. That's why you have to be able to save images with transparent parts (PNG's usually) to be able to make a quickpage.

Also, you want to make sure you check the terms of use for the kits you are using to make sure the person who made the kit allows it to be used in this manner. It really depends upon what you plan to do with the page once you have it completed.
 
If you're trying to make a hole behind (under) a frame that is wide enough, you could try taking the eraser tool and erasing the parts of the layers under the frame where the photo would go. If the frame is wide enough, you wouldn't have to be super-accurate with the eraser because you won't see the edges of the layers under the frame. Then save as a PNG and you should have your quickpage.

If you can't do what you want in your software, you may want to download the trial version of Photoshop Elements. I think the interface in PSE is a bit more straightforward than the full version of Photoshop. Plus, it's a lot less expensive :)
 
I DID IT!!!!

Thank you Jacinda.. I worked through your steps again -- numerous times, lol..and I did it..I made a quick page. Thank you soooooo much!

Kate and the other ladies, thank you too so much!! I appreciate you taking the time to help me! :)
 
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