Pics and Kicks: photoshop 101

Hi all! I'm so happy to introduce both a new segment here on Pics and Kicks, Photoshop 101, as well as an awesome guest writer, Naomi Masina. Naomi is a Photoshop extraordinaire and she's graciously agreed to give us a tip or two here today on using templates to enhance our portfolio presentation.

Image illustration is a simple way to polish off any photo presentation, and simplify your work flow. I use templates for story boards, blogging, invitations and announcements....you name it, templates help. Here are the basics to building a template in Photoshop. Take it and run with it, be as creative as you like.

1. For this design, pick two pictures and save them onto your desktop: a vertical image and a horizontal one.

2. Create a new folder on your desktop called "TEMPLATES."

3. Select: FILE>NEW the actual size of your document will depend on the size of images you use. Adjust as needed.
4. With document open, select: FILE>PLACE (this will allow you to browse your computer for the pictures you saved on your desktop). Once you have your first image transfered in, repeat for your second image.

5. Click on the small, square corners to transform size. Hold the shift key down to maintain scale. Once you have your images in place, Save as>Template1.psd. (save into the template file), and close.

YOUR DONE!! Your template is ready to go.

To change images in the template:

1. FILE>OPEN (select template1.psd).

2. Move cursor over layers box, make sure the image you want to replace is selected.

3. On a Mac hit: CONTROL>COMMAND(apple)>MOUSE CLICK On a PC hit: ALT>SHIFT>MOUSE CLICK

4. Select: REPLACE CONTENT

5. CHOOSE NEW IMAGE. EASY AS PIE!!

*remember to DUPLICATE A COPY after the change, FLATTEN image, and SAVE as a JEPG file.

Thanks Naomi! If you have any follow up questions, please comment below and I'll get them over to Naomi asap.