Layered Templates

[scrappinmomma2]

Hi, I was wondering if anyone knows how to make these layered templates or Quick Clicks? They are awesome to use and wanted to make them myself but haven't quite figured out how to do this. Are there any tutorials on this?

[dtsandy5]

Hi scrappinmomma2 - I learned how to make layered templates by reading Renee Pearson's book - Digital Designs (not exact title) - somebody else has mentioned her book in this forum as well. When I find a layout I like, in a scrapbook magazine, or posted in a gallery somewhere - I usually create a layered template to use first - then replace the layers with photos or paper/embellishments. Although I haven't tried it, I think the Quick Clicks are created by saving these individual layers as a separate file (.png format), rather than in the same file, so that you can use some of them or all of them and mix them with other elements.
Hope that helps!:)

[IreneO]

Layered templates are easy to make. Do you want to make the png style like the Quick CLicks or the layered psd type?

[scrappinmomma2]

Hi, Thank you for your responses! I would like the png type. I know you save them as individual files but what I can't figure out is when you copy the file and paste to new one is how to get it to go to the spot that the shape was created. When I go to copy and paste, it pastes it in the center of the page rather than the place it was created. I know you can hold the shift key and drag but the ones I have purchased I just select all and copy and paste into new file and they go right where they were created. That is how I would like them to go when I do mine. Don't know if this makes sense.

Thanks again. :)

[dtsandy5]

I tried a little experiment to see if I could get it to work (and learned a little something at the same time). I'm using 300 dpi and 8.5 x 11 page size in PSE4. I created a document and filled a selection with 50% grey color. I merged the layer to a transparent background, then saved it as a .png file type. I closed the file and created another blank document. I opened up the .png file, then moved it over to my blank document. It moved it to the correct place. I repeated these steps with another item (filling in another selection in a different location and saving as .png file) and it moved it to the correct spot again. I believe the difference is in using the move tool versus copy & paste. When I make a selection around the item and then copy/paste to the new document, it does paste it into the center. Try using the move tool and see if you get different results.:)

I also noticed with some of the quick clicks, they are at 200 dpi, so if you do move them onto a document that is 300 dpi, they will be smaller on your new document due to the difference in resolution. So if you want your own creations to appear in the same place at the same size, make sure you do your templates and layouts in the same resolution.

Let us know if that works:)

[scrappinmomma2]

Hi dtsandy5 - Thank you for doing your experiment. I did try your experiment and found that it does go to the correct spot as long as the shift key is held down while moving into the next document. I even tried to move it to the opposite side with the mouse while shift key held down and when I let up it was in the spot I wanted. Thank You. :) The same resolution makes a lot of sense and wonder if I've been doing that with my other layouts that I've used the quick clicks. Have to remember that. Again Thank you so much and I think I will have to break down and get Renee Pearson's book Digital Designs. :) Scrappinmomma2

[IreneO]

I saw scrappinmama's post last night, but I really needed to get to bed - lol. I thought the cut and paste was probably the problem, thanks for checking that out, dtsandy5.

I love layered templates. I have found that my better layouts are created when I make up a template first.

[croppincolburn]

I didn't know about holding the shift down while moving things. Thanks so much for discussing it.

Lisa in Lakewood (CO)

[sunnie2004]

This is awsum for this help ladies thanks so much i love templetes I got a creative mind but when i sit down to play it goes blank. i wanted to learn how to do this also


Thanks a bunch

Caren

[rhargus]

Hi scrappinmomma2 - I learned how to make layered templates by reading Renee Pearson's book - Digital Designs (not exact title) - somebody else has mentioned her book in this forum as well. When I find a layout I like, in a scrapbook magazine, or posted in a gallery somewhere - I usually create a layered template to use first - then replace the layers with photos or paper/embellishments. Although I haven't tried it, I think the Quick Clicks are created by saving these individual layers as a separate file (.png format), rather than in the same file, so that you can use some of them or all of them and mix them with other elements.
Hope that helps!:)
When I find a layout I like, in a scrapbook magazine, or posted in a gallery somewhere - I usually create a layered template to use first - then replace the layers with photos or paper/embellishments.

Thanks! Never thought about doing that. I'm loving this site. Kudos to Linda and all the others involved!

[dkc]

I've been reading this thread with interest, cause I wanted to ask just the same question! So I thank you, too, for your answers. I'm wondering, though, I'm still pretty new... so could someone tell me what would be the difference between doing the layers as png or .psd?

Is either one preferable for any reason or application?

Thanks,
Donna

[IreneO]

Well, with png each layer is a separate file so you would have to open up each file and drag it to your layout.

with psd it is all in one file, just like when you create your layouts. If you don't want to use all the layers included you can turn off the layers you don't want by clicking on the eye next to the layer in the layers palette.

Some programs can't use psd, so they would probably prefer the png format.

I'm not sure about file size though - whether the png files or psd files would be larger.

[dkc]

thanks for the info.

Sounds like I might prefer .psd. Are the directions different for that? More complicated?

Donna

[dtsandy5]

Hi DKC,
Actually, there's really not a difference, just a different file type to choose. I generally create a layout template before I do a page, and just change out the layers with elements/photos. And I save all of the layers in the same file. I have purchased several "Quick Click" and "Scrap Simple" templates and have only begun to use them - I seem to be spending more time reading and learning about this craft than making a lot of pages :)

Hope that helps!

[Janie]

I just found this thread and now you have me wanting to try my own templates. I like the idea of using an inspiration page you find to start the template process. Thanks.
Janie

[chris.orrell]

I love making up a templates from pages I like in magazines, the end result is usually nothing like what i start out with but sometimes they turn out really great and its a fun way to go, especially when I get a bit of scrappers block. I also save all the templates i make to their own folder to reuse again.

[sydneysnana]

Forgive me if I am missing this..... but how do you make a PSD templete? I have used some and for me at this time in space, they are the quickest, I can actually finish a page. Can someone give the steps???

Thanks
Michelle:o :D

[IreneO]

Create boxes the sizes of the photos and other elements you are going to use. Put each item on a separate layer just like you would if you were creating a layout.

I'll try to find some time to do up a proper tutorial on this.