SOCCER MEMORY MATE

[lucian]

Earlier I made a post requesting help in re-sizing an image in t's own layer.  The more proper term is Transform.  

The Soccer Memory Mate is an example.  The template is in .psd format.  The 7x5 is for the team photo and the vertical is for the individual player.  Sometimes the intended photo needs to be transformed to fit exactly. 

I do a lot of work like this for a local living history group.

[cats4jan]

Do your psd's have the photo squares on their own layers? If so, clip your photo to the photo square. 

To clip a photo to the photo square, place your photo above the photo square and while on the photo layer, hit Control G (Mac - Command G) - this will group/clip your two layers.

Then, while on the photo layer (select the photo layer in the layers palette - make sure you are on the photo layer when you use the move tool)

Use the move tool to resize and move the photo layer until you have just what you want in your photo square.  With clipping/grouping, your photo will be confined to the shape of the photo square.  If your photo is too small, enlarge it - if it's too large, make it smaller.  

Realize that you will not be able to make most photos fit exactly.  Something will have to give. If you want your whole photo on the square, you may end up with the photo square showing through.  Enlarging the photo may cut off something you like - your choice is to use a different sized photo square, but it looks like they want you to use the same template for each page.  So make it fit by deciding what can give way.

 When you use clipping, you can see just what will show up in your photo square.  No measuring to make a photo fit before you place it on your template.  Just clip and manipulate.

You will note that in my example, I had to rotate my photo and I lost a couple of trees - as well as some foreground land and some sky. 

[lucian]

Oct 25, 2016 1:46:42 GMT lucian said:

"Do your psd's have the photo squares on their own layers?"

Yes.

Anytime I create a template I leave them in .psd format.

"Realize that you will not be able to make most photos fit exactly."

For things like this memory mate it's important to shoot for the final product. Using the move tool to transform makes the job a bit easier. For the team photo I always tried to not shoot too close.

I've never used clipping so I'll have to give it a go. I imagine I'm going to have a learning experience.

When I was working, creativity was sometimes limited since most of my work was 'standardized'. Hopefully, come the new year, I'll have the time to get more creative.

I'm in west Texas and living in the city limits. Even so, I'm at the north edge of town. My neighbors have goats, sheep, cattle, horses and some have chickens. I'm hoping to get some decent shots of livestock before rodeo in March. It sure will be a change from military studio portraiture and retirement ceremonies. Looking forward to the change.

[cats4jan]

I leave everything in psd format - including my digital scrapbooking layouts. I like being able to grab items from old layouts to use on new layouts.

I am looking forward to seeing your livestock and scenery photos - my very favorite subjects. We have cattle all over our section of town - we are called the "horse capital" but all I see is cattle. For someone who grew up in the dairy state, I don't remember having the same fascination with dairy cows as I do with beef cattle. LOL