TIPS & TRICKS ON HOW TO USE THE TEMPLATES FOR TRIFOLD INVITATIONSBy Venus Fortuna, MDDesigner, INKpressive Invitations

For Adobe Photoshop CS 2 and latest versions

STEP 1: Open the template in PhotoshopNotice the LAYERS menu bar on the right, it shows the layers present in this template.

Each layer has an “EYE” icon before it. Try clicking an eye to hide it, and you’ll notice that a layer on the template disappears.

Step 2: Now I want to put a picture on this template. Simply open a photo file somewhere in your computer using the “File” “Open” tab in the photoshop main menu, located on top of the screen.

Once the photo opens, it may be a large or small file. But don’t worry, you can deal with that later

after you have transferred the photo onto the template. To do that, simply DRAG the photo: point your mouse on the photo, click+hold, and drag it literally towards the template then unclick to release the photo.

There,the photo is too big right? No problem. Just hit Ctrl T on your

keyboard, then a frame appears around the photo. Your photo is now ready for resizing.

Just click on the corner and move your mouse inwards to reduce size.Notice the distortion on the photo? Its okay, wag lang ma hit ang ENTER.

To deal with photo distortion, just click the Main Aspect Ratio icon to

bring back the natural shape of the photo. Then hit ENTER. Continue resizing until its perfect.

There, I’ve started typing the words on the blank space. Make sure you are typing above the layer of the white square, otherwise the words will appear behind the white square, and wala kang makikita. Just remember, the layers are like layers of a cake, new layers on top.

FOR MORE INVITATION WORDINGS JUST VISIT MY BLOG: http://writetheinvite.blogspot.com

I wanted to put ANDREI on the space below the photo. So I looked for that layer and typed above it. Resize the words by clicking the layer, hit Ctrl T , and move the frame inwards or outwards.

This is the layer.

Now I want to put some trees and animals… Simply look for a clipart file somewhere and open with photoshop.

There… just position the object where you like it to be… I also label the layer. It makes my life easy.

Now I want to put a background…. This clipart came from my collection…

There’s my background….. The patterns look funky to the eyes huh? I decided to deal with that later. Now get ready to use the Eyedropper Tool… it is used to select a photo from anywhere in your project. Para maging color-coordinated and project. Simply click that tool.

Moving to page 2 of the trifold template, I clicked on the square layer on the menu because I want to CHANGE ITS COLOR. After

selecting this layer, I used the Eyedropper tool to get a color from the patterned background. Note: clicking the layer is important when using the Eyedropper tool because you are prompting a command that you want to change the color of that layer you have chosen.

Once nakapili na ako ng color, I clicked on the Paint Bucket Tool

I then brought the paint bucket tool towards the purple square on the image and just clicked my mouse, and there, nag change na ang kulay from purple to green.NEXT….I wanted to put a green border on the photo.

I was able to do this with a few clicks…. LAYER STYLE

THEN choose stroke

2 windows will open prompting you to choose the color and size of the “stroke” or border.

NEXT, I WANT TO MAKE A LAYOUT WITH WORDINGS SA THE THIRD PAGE OF THE TRIFOLD.

Simply click to select the layer of the green square background, right click then select DUPLICATE LAYER.You will be able to drag the duplicate towards right.

THIS IS THE RESULT. Notice that I now positioned the tree and may lion na rin. Nawala na rin yung mga smaller squares sa 3rd page, kasi I clicked the “Eye” on each layer to hide them. Now Im ready to type some words on page 3.

Now notice may sun na rin. FINISHED!!!

SAVE THE FILE:FILE>SAVE AS>SAVE AS PSD FILE AND SAVE AS JPEG OR PNG FILE.

GET READY TO PRINT

LAYER 17 IS the merged layer. I merged all layers because I want to move this project as one. To merge , simply click on the top most layer, (the ones that are hidden are not included) then using your keyboard hit SHIFT CTRL ALT E

To PRINT:Open a new layer CTRL N

then PRESET: CUSTOMChange height from 11” to 13 inches.A white black layer will appear.

Go back to your project then rotate it 90 degrees.

The image will look like this. Then just DRAG this image towards the black layer that yu have created.

duplicate

Then move the duplicate to the right.

Notice that the images fit exactly right onto the blank layer. I want to reduce the size so that the images will not be “clipped” during printing.

NOW MY FILE IS READY FOR PRINTING