Tutorial: Creating a Basic Graphic Page in Photoshop

Start by looking at this layout... what you see is:

- a picture used as a background with the color changed
- the original picture inserted and resized smaller
- another complementary picture is also added and resized
- black lines are drawn to create a decorative framing effect
- The text "art" is inserted a few times and a few different ways
- more words are inserted using the same fonts as before, with one in a vertical direction
- a quote is added as a journaling component at the bottom

Refer to this top picture to get the idea of what you will be making...

The pictures are different than the ones you will use use this example as the idea for your project...

Your words are what you choose...

 

When you open PSE each time and create from scratch you will need to refer to this as the initial settings for photoshop when making a new project.

  1. • Open a new file , 8x10.5 with transparent background. (PSE File – New from scratch)
  2. SAVE your file...Use as a file name "(your TechLab number) Your Last Name Activity 7 BasicPage" [ex. 1945MaguireActivity 7 BasicPage]
    SAVE this file in the [Module# digital scrapbooking folder] located inside your Module desktop Shortcuts Folder (ex. 14 Digital Scrapbooking)
  3. • Drag a background image into the new file window using the move tool (Use Activity 7 Ireland Cliff - from the Activity /Tutorial files folder)
  4. • Enlarge the image to fill the screen – Image - Free Transform-( Pull on a corner to enlarge the image ) You can let it go off the edges of your canvas
  5. • To adjust the colors of the background alter the hue/saturation- ( Enhance- adjust color- hue/saturation ).
  6. • Make sure the colorize button is checked and drag the hue slider till you have the right shade ( in this case an orangey shade)
  7. • Next put a new copy of the original (Activity 7 Ireland Cliff) into your working document on a new layer and using the transform tool - reduce the size and place as you desire (refer to example at the top).
  8. • Do the same with the other image(Use: Activity 7 Ireland Rock- from the Activity /Tutorial files folder)- Each will automatically place itself on a new layer
  9. • Using the text tool select an appropriate font and type in your text – Use the free transform tool to enlarge or reduce your text and to move it to your desired position.
  10. • To reduce the opacity of your text go to the layers palette and use the opacity slider to reduce till you get the desired result.
  11. • Create a new layer for text which you want in a different place – in this case we would like our text to be white so we need to change the foreground color as well
  12. • To cast a shadow to the text click on the Styles and Effects Window at the right near the layers palette and Effects & Text Effects - Then select Cast Shadow- drag and drop it on top of the work surface while your text layer is selected.
  13. • To produce vertical text click on the text orientation button on the right side of the text tool bar
  14. Drawing Lines - You will draw lines (as seen in the example) to add an artistic quality and/or to draw your attention to your pictures or text
    • To draw straight lines create a new layer and choose Line Tool and adjust the settings (weight= how thick) the desired size and color of the lines at the line tool settings at the top.
    • Click where you wish the line to start and hold the shift key down and click where you want the line to end.
    • Its best to create each line on a new layer so you can move them around independently.
  15. Save Your File as both a PSD and a JPG
  16. Use as a file name "(your TechLab number) Your LastName Activity 7 BasicPage" [ex. 1945MaguireActivity 7 BasicPage]

RUBRIC:
* Background picture has color changed
* 2 original pictures added to layout and resized to smaller
* Text added and modified
* Text added and white
* Lines drawn in as accent