Monday, March 3, 2008

How to create a banner in PSE

Here it is, my tutorial for making a banner.  I use PSE4.0 so some things may vary in your own photo program - but most things should be the same.  And the way I am showing you is my way and by no means the only way.  I have learned through trial and error  - and what onces was a pain to do is actually pretty fun to create!  I hope you enjoy it and if you have any questions - please feel free to ask:)



Step1



  You first need to figure out the size of your banner typepad and blogger banners are a bit different - but you might just need to play to get it right.



*Open a new blank file and once you have decided on the size make sure that the resolution is 300 so that it is nice and clear when you post it on the internet.Tutorial1



*For this tutorial I will be using a kit I purchased from Shabby Miss Jen's it is the Egg Hunting time kit -- so pretty -- just like all her kits -- anyways...



The next step is to load all of the components of the kit into PSE - it takes a bit of time but I find it easier to choose my paper, embellies this way.



Tutorial2



After you have copied the pattern paper - you simply click back to the blank banner that we created at the beginning, thengo to file and paste -- your paper should pop right up.  It will be a lot larger than your banner so you will need to resize it -- you can use the little corners to adjust the background -- and make sure to press the shift key so your picture does not get distorted.



**And if you only want part of the pattern paper on the banner -- just fix it to where you want it and press the check mark at the top right and it will take the rest away. 



You have now finished one layer -- Tutorial3



I always make changes as I go so things are never permanent - you can go back and undo a layer -- and f.y.i. I am real lazy and don't always add new layers I just add them on top of eachother --- but you should:)



The techniques for adding more paper and designs is the same as above -- so I will now show you how I add my picture to my banner.



Tutorial5 In this screenshot I have pasted both the frame and the picture I want to use. And as you can see the frame needs to be resized.  The first step that needs to be completed it sending the picture layer behind the frame - to do that I  just drag the picture frame layer on top of the picture and they will switch placesTutorial6 



You can now resize the frame to fit onto the picture.  When you are satisfied with the size make sure to merge down the 2 layers -- this will "lock" them together and allow you to move them to another area on your banner --- if you merge visible you will "lock" all layers and not be able to move anything so be careful!



You can continue to do this with all the rest of the layers and mergeing them when you finish with something you know you want to keep - or you can wait and do it at the end.



I know that is the short version and if you have any specific questions -- please ask -- I might be better at doing that -- and if you think you would like me to adda step her so you can visually "see" then let me know too!



Hope this helps somewhat -- I will look it over and let you know when I update again!