Make a simple banner in PSE

tutorial on image size, layers, shapes, selection, effects, & type

Mission

• Make a personal banner for your blog– https://blog.associatie.kuleuven.be/

• The K.U.Leuven blog allows you to upload a custom “header image”

• Size: 780 pixels wide, 200 pixels high

Make a new image file

• File > New > Blank• Unit: pixels• Size it right:

950 wide, 200 high, • Resolution: 72 dpi• Name: banner

Collage: Add a picture

Put part of another picture in your image:

• open another picture• make a selection• copy that selection • paste into “banner”

Make a selection

Use the cookie cutter for a shape

• Cookie cutter tool:

Copy your selection to “banner”

• Layers Palette:You now have a second layer in “banner”

• Adjust the shape

Add more image

• we cut and paste another part of the same image

Adjust shape

• adjust the shape by pulling on the “bounding box”, press “commit”

Reshuffle the layers

• Grab the top layer and put it in second place

Apply an effect to the 2nd layer

Add type

• select font, size & style

• Put your cursor in place & type

Save your source document!

• keep the .psd file for later adjustments

File > Save for Web

Make a transparent gif

Transparent GIF

make a rough first selectionlasso tool

Select > Inverse

Edit > Delete

Remove detail using Eraser Tool

avoid anti-aliasing!

Save for Web

Optimize images

Improve lighting on a backlit img

• open backlit.jpg• make selection of

the underlit area• Enhance > Adjust

Lighting• Add Brightness

Crop image

• Use the crop tool to draw the rectangle you want to keep

• Press “commit”

Make width 450 px

• Image > Resize > Image Size

• “Resample image”• Resolution: 72 dpi• Constrain

proportions• Width: 450 pixels

Richer, stronger color

• Adjust saturation

• Whole picture– Enhance > Adjust

color > Adjust Hue/saturation

• Locally:– Sponge tool

• mode: saturate

Lighten shadow areas

• Enhance > Adjust Lighting > Shadows/highlights...