Tut Your Horn #1

[tenessaa]

Ok for our first tutorial we are going to start at the beginning and work our way onward. So for this tutorial we are going to learn how to make a basic layout in Photoshop. I have provided a bonus kit that I will use in this tutorial so you can follow along.

http://www.gottapixel.net/forum/local_links.php?catid=27&linkid=862


First you need to choose the picture(s) that you wish to work with. I will use this one of my daughter Kaitlyn.
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i258/tenessaa/tut1/July968.jpg
To open you picture Click File > Open > and select your photo from the location you have it saved.

OK Now That you have selected your Subject matter You can start looking a kits to match your photos. I am going to use the bonus kit that I provided for this tutorial. I am going to start with a paper for my background. Go to File > Open > and select your background paper from where you have it saved on your computer.

This is what your screen should look like at this point. Your paper is on top and your photo behind it. I may be a good idea at this point to save your image as a different name so you don't accidently overwrite your original paper. Click on File > Save As... > And save your file under a name you choose.

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i258/tenessaa/tut1/1.jpg

Now to get that photo into your Layout. Click on Your photo to bring it to the front.

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i258/tenessaa/tut1/2.jpg

To select your photo for copying you can either click Select > All or press Ctrl and A on your keyboard at the same time. You should see "marching ants" (moving dotted line) around your photo. You can then click Edit > Copy or Click Ctrl and C on your keyboard to copy your image to the computers clipboard (you will not see any difference in your screen or image). You can now Click on your paper in the background to bring it to the front.

To get your image to show on your paper you can click Edit > Paste or hit Ctrl and V on your keyboard. Your screen should look like this:

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i258/tenessaa/tut1/3.jpg

You can now click on your photo that is open in the background and close it. Notice on the right hand side of your screen a stack of tool boxes. The one we will focus on is the "Layers" Box. You should see your photo and paper in that box.

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i258/tenessaa/tut1/4.jpg

Now this looks a little plain so we will jazz it up a bit by adding a few elements. I'm going to add a piece of ric rac and a button to my layout. You do this by repeating the steps you used to insert the photo into your layout only choosing your elements instead of a picture. I decided to add two pieces of ric rac and a button to my layout. Here is what your screen should look like at this point

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i258/tenessaa/tut1/5.jpg


Oh no everything is in the wrong place! Don't worry we will fix that.You need to select your move tool in your tool window on the left side of your screen.

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i258/tenessaa/tut1/6.jpg

This automatically selects your top layer so you can move it around, You may want to turn off Auto Select Layer at the top of your screen to make it easier to grab small objects. You can also move your photo using this method.

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i258/tenessaa/tut1/7.jpg

You can now click in your layout and drag your piece any where you want. To move another object click on it's layer in the layers toolboox. And click in your layout and drag repeat until you are satisfied with your placement. This is where I wanted my pieces to be.

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i258/tenessaa/tut1/8.jpg

The button is under the ricrac and I really would like it to be on top. I can accomplish this by clicking on the layer containing my button. And dragging it to the top of the list in the layers toolbox.

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i258/tenessaa/tut1/9.jpg

Here's the result

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i258/tenessaa/tut1/10.jpg

Now I would like to ad a title to my layout. So I will select the text tool in my toolbox on the left side of the screen.

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i258/tenessaa/tut1/11.jpg

Set your Font, Size, and Color at the top of the screen.

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i258/tenessaa/tut1/12.jpg

Click in your layout and type the title or text you would like. Then click the little check in the top right corner to accept your type. You can then move your text around by following the same steps that you used to place your elements.

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i258/tenessaa/tut1/13.jpg

This is my finished Layout for this month. I am going to save my image as a jpg.

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i258/tenessaa/tut1/14.jpg

And also as a photoshop file so I can use it again next month in the next Tut your horn challenge. If you would like to follow along please be sure to save your image as a phothop image or you won't be able to make changes to individual elements.

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i258/tenessaa/tut1/15.jpg

Join me next month and learn how to rotate, scale, and add dropshadows for depth. I will be adding on to this layout. Be sure to post your layouts in the gallery so everyone can admire them. Please be sure to use at least 1 photo, 1 title or text, and three elements in this challenge.

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i258/tenessaa/tut1/example.jpg

Shortcuts We've learned this challenge:
Ctrl A >> Select All
Ctrl C >> Copy
Ctrl V >> Paste

Shortcuts we've learned in all challenges:
Ctrl A >> Select All
Ctrl C >> Copy
Ctrl V >> Paste

[sarahb]

Great tutorial Tenessa!

[KAPOH]

love the way you are putting the shortcuts at the bottom!

[Pups_r_paps]

Very easy to understand, nice basic tutorial. Love the screen shots and how you anticipate a first-time scrapper's reactions: "Oh, no, everything is in the wrong place."

[daisylane]

This is a GREAT tutorial. You made it very user friendly. Thanks!

[KAPOH]

Here's the link to my layout: http://www.gottapixel.net/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=584
This is a very basic tutorial, but I must say, I used shortcuts (CTL: A, C, V) which I usually don't do, and really liked that method instead of the click and drag. As you can see, my layout is very simple. I just followed your steps and made mine very much like the sample. I'm looking forward to "jazzing" it up next month!

[ScrappyGuy]

very nicely done, Tennessa

[hollyrm]

Thank you Thank you Thank you

[dundas]

Oh this is such a good idea!! I haven't used the keyboard shortcuts so am looking forward to that... I'm off to play with my PhotoShop..
Cheers,
Barb

[Pups_r_paps]

Here is my LO for this tutorial crop. When I saw the sample, I just KNEW I had to use a similar picture I had....

http://www.gottapixel.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/20845/cat/584

[ckbymommy]

Here's mine, hope it's simple enough.

http://www.gottapixel.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=20836&nocache=1

[ckbymommy]

Here's mine, hope it's simple enough.

http://www.gottapixel.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=20836&nocache=1

[red1701]

Thanks for the tutorial

[brenda633]

Here is my LO

http://www.gottapixel.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/21056/cat/584/limit/recent

I tried to change the ricrak color but could not figure that out.

Keep up this challenge.

[texasyoyo]

I'm so excited! I'm finally going to learn how to use Photoshop! Tenessa, thanks so much for making this so easy. My layout shows a grid on it. How do I turn this off? Thanks!

[C Magic]

Here is mine...

http://www.gottapixel.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/21714/cat/584/limit/recent

Have a nice day!!!

*Hugs* C.

[tenessaa]

I'm so excited! I'm finally going to learn how to use Photoshop! Tenessa, thanks so much for making this so easy. My layout shows a grid on it. How do I turn this off? Thanks!

Click on the View menu at the top and uncheck the Extra's option. This should remove that pesky grid!

[musicmarth]

I've just tried this tutorial and here's my layout...

http://www.gottapixel.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/22655/limit/recent

I'm ready for the next one!

[PatinParis]

Hey Tenessaa! Thanks so much for starting out with the basics! I know that some will benefit from this and I am saying thanks for all of them!

[KathrynMhire]

This is a great way to get new people off the ground! Bravo!

[janmary]

Hi there

Thanks for pointing me over here - just what I need. I am of to try now.

[suer54]

Thank You, Now Tomorrow I Need To Find Number 2.. This Has Been A Great Help To Me...

[MelindaH]

Great TUT, Tenessa! THANK YOU for pointing out the "Auto Select Layer" option. OMG, the time that would have saved me in the past, LOL!!!!

Thanks so much for this. Will have to get a LO started so I can play with it in the future. :)

[MelindaH]

suer54, this is a monthly challenge, so check back in the Tut Your Horn Challenge area next month for the next step. BUT, in the meantime, go ahead and check out the Tutorials for your program. There might be some things that can help you there. Also, there are some great mentors on Gotta Pixel. I can help with some very basic stuff in PSE, but as is obvious by my reply, I'm always learning new things! :)

[MelindaH]

Here are the tutorials (http://www.gottapixel.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=11) that Gotta Pixel has for you to peruse. I hope some of these help! :)

[hisrose4]

This looks like a great tut. I am going to try it. I can always use help!!

[illinimom]

I guess I'm a little late here, but I've decided my summer goal will be to work my way through my challenges. I've been using PSE since forever (well, back since AdobePhotoDeluxe anyway) and would have thought I'd know all the basics. Really happy to tell you I discovered something new even in this most basic of tutorials. Who knew there was an "auto select layer' option to disable...and hopefully do away with one of my biggest frustrations when trying to drag small elements around!

Anyway, here is my very simple layout for Tut1.
http://www.gottapixel.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/51456/cat/500/ppuser/6739