{"id":43163,"date":"2022-01-11T17:00:35","date_gmt":"2022-01-12T01:00:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gingerscraps.net\/gsblog\/?p=43163"},"modified":"2022-01-17T11:27:10","modified_gmt":"2022-01-17T19:27:10","slug":"tutorial-tuesday-photoshop-elements-166","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gingerscraps.net\/gsblog\/2022\/01\/tutorial-tuesday-photoshop-elements-166\/","title":{"rendered":"Tutorial Tuesday (Photoshop Elements)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Build-Your-Own-TEMPLATE!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

A few weeks back I asked for some tutorial topic suggestions and there were some really good ones! Steph<\/strong> brought up the idea of building templates from your favourite (unique!) layouts, and it was something I’d given some thought to already so it was a slam-dunk that I’d take it to the next step. The layout I created and based the save-a-cluster tutorial on last week was purposefully 100% designed in my own head with both the cluster tut and this template-creation tut too. W<\/strong>orking S<\/strong>mart, N<\/strong>ot H<\/strong>ard, I am.<\/p>\n

This is the layout I’m talking about. The kit I used is Aimee Harrison<\/strong><\/a><\/span>‘s Winter Blush<\/strong>. When I create a layout I always Save As<\/strong> a PSD<\/strong> file in case I need to make some adjustments. That’s also a necessary step for turning a layout into a template.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

I build layouts from the bottom up, just as I would if I was using paper and glue rather than digital supplies. That’s how I’m going to build the template too. I turned the layers’ Visibility<\/strong> off for clarity but if you choose not to do that, no problem!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

This background layer reads to Elements<\/strong> like it’s completely flat, so using the Paint Bucket<\/strong> to fill it with a solid gray worked out.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

To make it easier on the eye to distinguish between paper layers, I chose a lighter gray for the second paper layer.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Wait. What?? Oh, the grungy paper doesn’t Fill<\/strong> completely and cleanly with the Paint Bucket<\/strong>. That could be a big issue later when I go to use the template. Clipping<\/strong> a paper to this could look really awful!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

I’m going to take you on a little detour for a second. When I was experimenting with Filling<\/strong> layers and Merging<\/strong> them to simplify things, I discovered that once the layers are Merged<\/strong>, the Shadow Style<\/strong> on the base layer becomes embedded in the image but isn’t adjustable. Adding a Shadow Style<\/strong> to that makes for VERY dark and odd-looking shadows. So I experimented some more and came up with this. Before I Fill<\/strong> the layer to create a place-holder, I Right-click<\/strong> on the layer and choose Copy Layer Style<\/strong>. Then I Right-click<\/strong> on the layer again<\/strong> and choose Clear Layer Style<\/strong>. That removes the Style<\/strong> from the layer, but puts it in safe-keeping for later.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

To achieve a solid Fill<\/strong> on this paper, I’m going to use the Layer>New Fill Layer>Solid Color<\/strong> command. Each of the place-holder layers will be created the same way. (You’ll get lots of practice, and it’ll be almost automatic by the time you’re done!)<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

This command prompt opens up; make sure Use Previous Layer to Create Clipping Mask<\/strong> is ticked. That tells Elements<\/strong> to Fill<\/strong> ONLY<\/span> what’s on the layer under it. You can Name<\/strong> the layer with the type of object you’re creating a place-holder for right here. Just delete that Color Fill 1<\/strong> and type in your object. (Pardon the typo on the screenshot. Sleep is in short supply here at the moment.)<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Here’s what happens when you’ve clicked OK<\/strong>. The Color Picker<\/strong> opens and the image on the workspace shows a preview of the end result. See how it’s now a Clipped layer<\/strong> above the patterned paper?<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The utility of your template will be greatly enhanced by Selecting<\/strong> both the base layer<\/strong> and the Fill layer<\/strong> then Merging<\/strong> them. Click>SHIFT>Click<\/strong> on the layers then Right-click<\/strong> and choose Merge Layers<\/strong>. The keyboard shortcut is CTRL\/CMD>E<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Time to add back the Shadow Style<\/strong>. Right-click<\/strong> on the layer and choose Paste Layer Style<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Now let’s do some BRADS. The process for each layer will be the same: Copy Layer Style<\/strong>, Clear Layer Style<\/strong>, Layer>New Fill Layer>Solid Color<\/strong>, Merge Layers<\/strong>, Paste Layer Style<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Merge<\/strong> the layers and now you’ve got a BRAD place-holder. CTRL\/CMD>E<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Don’t forget to Paste<\/strong> the Layer Style<\/strong> back onto the place-holder.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Here’s where we get into the real Work Smart Not Hard<\/strong> groove. When you have multiple identical elements on your layout, don’t make extra work for yourself. You’ve already done the work, now just make Copies<\/strong>! Either Right-click<\/strong> on the layer and choose Duplicate Layer<\/strong> or CTRL\/CMD>J<\/strong>. When the Command<\/strong> prompt opens, remove the “copy<\/strong>” part of the name and click OK<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

For each of the identical elements, make a Copy<\/strong> and move it into place. Once you’ve got them into position you can Delete<\/strong> the original layers. Your place-holders are on the job.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

But wait! Don’t make more work for the second grouping of brads. Select all three BRAD layers and Duplicate<\/strong> them!!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Then move the place-holder versions into position.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

You can also Delete<\/strong> multiple layers in a single step. Select<\/strong> them all, then Right-click>Delete Layers<\/strong> or simply click the Delete<\/strong> key.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Here’s my finished template, with a recap of all the steps to create the place-holder layers.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Now to Save<\/strong> it! You can Save As<\/strong> either a PSD<\/strong> or a TIFF<\/strong>, whichever is your preference. Your Layers<\/strong> and Layer Styles<\/strong> will be preserved with either format for use again whenever you want.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Figure out where you’re going to keep it, give it a unique name and choose your format. All done!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

This is only one way of creating a template. To me it seems the easiest. Another way would be to use the Custom Shapes<\/strong> tool and replace each element on the layout with one that represents it. I may try that method and see if there are efficiencies. If I do, I’ll let you know!<\/p>\n

Next week I’ll be doing a Challenge Spotlight<\/strong>. Did you see the new ones? How accommodating that we’ve been given so many more options!!<\/p>\n

PDF Version: https:\/\/bit.ly\/3txC2Bx<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Build-Your-Own-TEMPLATE! A few weeks back I asked for some tutorial topic suggestions and there were some really good ones! Steph brought up the idea of building templates from your favourite (unique!) layouts, and it was something I’d given some thought to already so it was a slam-dunk that I’d take it to the next step. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":42,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[229,102,284,92,62],"tags":[373],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-04-15 11:46:47","action":"change-status","newStatus":"private","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category"},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gingerscraps.net\/gsblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43163"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gingerscraps.net\/gsblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gingerscraps.net\/gsblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gingerscraps.net\/gsblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/42"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gingerscraps.net\/gsblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=43163"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/gingerscraps.net\/gsblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43163\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":43249,"href":"https:\/\/gingerscraps.net\/gsblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43163\/revisions\/43249"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gingerscraps.net\/gsblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=43163"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gingerscraps.net\/gsblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=43163"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gingerscraps.net\/gsblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=43163"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}