The Photo Layout feature >> The new Photo Layout dialog groups together the options that govern the way that your multi-page photo layout document is created. The documents produced with this process are editable later inside the Full Edit workspace where extra images, text, graphics, effects and pages can be added to or removed from the design.

Great layouts quickly >> Photo Layouts fast track the production of multi-image, multi-page projects in Photoshop Elements 5.0. Simply select the images to include in the Organizer space, style the layout with the options in the Photo Layout dialog and click the OK button to produce the layout in Full Edit space.

Step 1 >> The process of creating a Photo Layout, one of the new Photo Creation options, will generally start in the Organizer workspace. Here you can multi-select the photos that will be used in the layout. To choose a series of images click on the first thumbnail and then hold down the Shift key and click the last picture in the series.

Step 2 >> To pick non-sequential photos, select the first and then hold down the Control key whilst clicking on other thumbnails to be included in the selection. With the images highlighted the next step is to choose File > Create > Photo Layout or pick the heading from the Create Shortcut Key menu.

Step 3 >> Using an Elements’ collection as a starting point you can alter the order or sequence that the photos appear in the multi-page document. After rearranging the position of photos in the collection, multi-select those to be included in the layout.

Step 4 >> Alternatively a blank document can be created by selecting the File > Create > Photo Layout option in either the Editor or Organizer spaces. Photos that are already open can then be dragged into the blank document from the Photo Bin area of the Editor. Nonopened pictures can be added by clicking onto the Click Here to Add Photo section of the newly created frames and then choosing the image from the file browser that is displayed.

Step 5 >> After selecting to create a multi-page document Elements displays the new Photo Layout dialog. The window contains a preview area and four sections for adjusting the characteristics of the document. At the top you can select the Size of the photo layout from those contained in the drop-down list.

Note: For a more detailed look at this dialog see the illustration on page 308.

Step 6 >> Next the Layout design is chosen. This option controls the number and general position of the pictures on the document pages. The Theme options provide the chance to refine the way that the layout looks. Here you can choose background and frame treatments. The last section provides the Additional Options of auto filling the pages created with selected photos, adding caption details and altering the total number of pages created. The choices you make will change the example preview to the right of the dialog.

Step 7 >> Extra pages and images can be added or removed after the Photo Layout has been created from inside the Full Edit workspace. The frames, backgrounds and themes can also be changed by applying an alternative design from those listed in the Artwork and Effects palette.

Step 8 >> Once the Photo Layout or other Photo Creation’s characteristics are set then clicking the OK button at the bottom of the dialog will instruct Elements to create the free form multi-page document. This process can take a little while as the program creates the pages and then sources, sizes and inserts the pictures into the new Photo Layout.

Step 9 >> Each photo is stored on a separate Frame layer which is indicated by a small plus icon in the bottom right of the layer’s thumbnail.

Step 10 >> Frame layers are unlike other image layers in that they contain both the photo as well as its surrounding frame. These picture parts are stored separately and remain editable even though they appear as a single layer. When the creation process is finished you can flip between pages by clicking on the next (or previous) page in the Photo Bin or pressing the Forward and Back buttons in the Organizer space.

Step 11 >> Unlike the album pages in earlier versions of Elements, Photo Layouts and the other Photo Creations, and their contents, remain editable after they have been saved and reopened. To enable this new ability Adobe created a completely new file format for the multi-page editable documents. Called the Photo Creation Format it has an extension of .PSE as opposed to the .PSD that is associated with standard Photoshop and Photoshop Elements documents.

Step 12 >> When saving a newly created Photo Layout the file format in the Save dialog automatically changes to .PSE. By default the Include in the Organizer option is also selected ensuring that the new document is catalogued and displayed in the Organizer space. A small Multi-page icon is displayed at the top right of the thumbnail of each Photo Layout document displayed in the Organizer.

Quick change layouts using Themes >> The new Photo Layout feature in Photoshop Elements 5.0 can be used to quickly create a series of photo album pages using photos selected in the Organizer workspace. A variety of layout designs are shipped with the program with other variations promised as downloads in the future. Changing a design (a specific background and frame) is as simple as Applying a new Theme from the Artwork and Effects palette.

Basic adjustments >> To move the picture and frame combination to a new position on the canvas just click and drag the combination.

The size and orientation of the Frame/Picture can be altered by clicking on the picture and frame first, to select it, and then using the corner, edge and rotate handles to scale or pivot.

Click on the Commit button (green tick) at the bottom of the selected picture to apply the changes. To disregard the changes click the Cancel button (red circle with diagonal line through it) instead.

Altering the picture only >> As well as being able to alter the characteristics of the frame by selecting the photo you can perform similar changes to the picture itself. Doubleclicking with the Move tool or choosing the Position Photo in Frame option from the right-click menu selects the photo and displays a marquee around the picture. A small control panel is also displayed at the top of the marquee. To move the position of the photo in the frame simply click and drag on the image, releasing the mouse button when the picture is correctly placed. You can alter the size of the photo within the frame by moving the Scale slider (in the control panel) or by dragging one of the handles of the marquee.

Moving a corner handle will scale the photo proportionately, whereas dragging a side handle will squish or stretch the image. The picture can be rotated in 90° increments (to the left) by clicking the Rotate button in the control panel.

Alternatively, you can rotate the image to any angle using the rotate handle (middle of the bottom edge of the marquee) or by click-dragging the cursor outside the boundaries of the marquee.

The photo can be replaced with a new picture by clicking the Replace button in the control panel and then selecting the new picture from the file dialog that is displayed.

Adding new photos >> All editing of Photo Creations occurs in the Full Editor workspace. So to add new photos to an existing layout you need to add a new blank frame to the composition. Do this by clicking on the selected frame in the Artwork section of the Artwork and Effects palette and pressing the Apply button. A new frame will be created on the current page of the document.

To add a photo to the frame, click-drag one from the Photo Bin to the frame or click the text in the empty frame and select a photo from the file browser that opens. Using this approach you can add a photo without it first having to be open in the Photo Bin.

When moving the photo make sure that the frame is highlighted with a blue rectangle before releasing the mouse button to insert the picture.

Getting new photos to fit >> The last part of the process is to fine-tune the picture by adjusting size, orientation and position within the frame. Use the techniques in the previous section to make these alterations.

A good starting place is to select the Fit Frame to Photo option from the rightclick menu. After the image and frame are the same size you can then scale, rotate and move the combination.

Replace existing photos >> It is just as easy to replace existing photos with different images whilst still retaining the frame. Select the frame first and then click-drag a picture from the Photo Bin to the frame.

This action swaps the two pictures but you will need to have the replacement image already open in the Full Editor workspace beforehand. If this isn’t the case, then an alternative is to select the Replace Photo entry from the right-click menu and choose a new picture via the file dialog that is displayed.

Switching photos >> You can also switch photos between frames on a page by dragging the content of one frame over another. You will see a special Cursor icon when the image is in position and the content will be switched.

Removing photos >> Pictures inserted into frames can be removed whilst still retaining the frame by selecting the Clear Photo option from the right-click menu. The frame will then revert back to a blank state providing the opportunity to add a new image to the composition. If you want to remove both the frame and the photo it contains then select the frame first and click the Delete key. A warning window will display asking you if you want to delete selected layers. Answer yes to remove the frame and picture from the composition.

Adding Pages >> All new pages in a PSE document are added after the current selected page. So start by expanding the multi-page document in the Photo Bin and then selecting the thumbnail of the page before the position where the new page is to be created.

So to add a new page you choose either the Add Blank Page or Add Page Using Current Layout option from the Edit menu.

The new page is then added to the document and a new thumbnail is displayed in the Photo Bin to the right of the selected page. These Add Page options are also available from the right-click menu when you select a page in the Photo Bin.

Moving pages >> The position of pages (from left to right) in the expanded view of a multi-page document in the Photo Bin indicates the page’s location in the production. The first page in the document is the one position furtherest to the left, the second page is the next one along to the right and so on. Changing the position of the page thumbnail in the Photo Bin preview alters the page’s actual position in the document. Moving pages is a simple task – just click on the page to move and drag it to a new location in the document, release the mouse button and the page is relocated.

Deleting pages >> Pages, and the frames and photos they contain, can be deleted from a multi-page document by selecting the page thumbnail in the Photo Bin and then choosing Edit > Delete Current Page. Alternatively, the Delete Current Page entry can also be selected from the right-click menu.

Viewing pages >> Navigate between the different pages of your PSE document by selecting the thumbnail of the page that you want to display from the Photo Bin. Alternatively you can move from one page to the next using the Forward and Backward buttons located at the bottom of the document window.

PSE documents in the Photo Bin >> Multi-page Photo Creation (.PSE) documents are displayed in the Photo Bin with a shaded background. The document can be expanded or collapsed via the sideways arrow button on the right of the last thumbnail on the right.

The new effects central! >> The Artwork and Effects palette houses all the graphical elements and special effects that can be added to Photo Layout and other Photo Creation designs.

Multiple designs in seconds >> You can change both frames and backgrounds of an existing layout with just two clicks – one to select the new theme (combination of frame and background) and two to apply it to the design. All the designs here were created in this way. If you drag the design from the palette and drop it on the document, then you can make the change with only one click. Cool!

Artwork and Effects > Artwork section >> The Artwork section of the Artwork and Effects palette contains backgrounds, picture frames, graphics and shapes that can be added to your layouts. Backgrounds, graphics and shapes all create their own layers when added. Frames, on the other hand, are applied to existing layers. To add a piece of artwork click on the thumbnail in the palette and then press the Apply button. To add a picture to a frame drag the image from another open document to the frame. All artwork except Backgrounds can be scaled and rotated via the corner, middle edge and rotate handles. Click the image layer to activate the handles.

Artwork and Effects > Text section >> The Text section contains a variety of text effects that you can apply to the type in your Elements documents. The effects include bevels, drop shadows, glows and gradients, and only work with text layers. To apply a text effect select the text layer in the Layers palette first, then the thumbnail of the effect that you want to apply before finally clicking the Apply button. In addition you can also click Apply to create a new type layer. Like layer styles the attributes of the text effects (size of drop shadow, colour of stroke, etc.) can be adjusted via the Layer > Layer Style > Style Settings. Text effects can be removed by selecting the Layer > Layer Style > Clear Layer Style entry.

Artwork and Effects > Special Effects section >> The Special Effects section of the Artwork and Special Effects palette groups together filters, layer styles and photo effects. The Filters group contains many of the options that are listed under the Filter menu. To apply a filter select the layer to change, then the thumbnail in the palette and click Apply. Layers styles add effects such as drop shadows, outer glows and strokes to selected layers. These can be applied to text, image and shape layers and the characteristics of the styles can be customized via the Layer > Layer Style > Style Settings dialog. Photo effects alter your photos via a series of automatic editing steps. Options include convert to black and white, create a photo frame and add soft focus. Some Photo effects are applied to standard image layers, others only work with background layers. After selecting the effect to apply, a pop-up dialog will indicate if you are working with the wrong layer type. To correct, simply convert image layers to background, or vice versa, and apply the effect again.

Artwork and Effects > Favorites section >> The Favorites section of the Artwork and Special Effects palette lists all the artwork, effects, themes and styles that you have nominated as favorites. This area is a great place to store the Artwork and Effects entries that you use time and time again. For instance when you find a layer style or filter that you particularly like then, rather than have to search for it each time you want to use it, simply click the Add Favorites star at the bottom of the palette to store the style in the Favorites area. Remove items from the Favorites by right-clicking on the thumbnail of the Favorites entry and selecting Remove from Favorites entry in the pop-up menu.

Artwork and Effects > Themes section >> The Themes section lists a variety of pre-designed backgrounds and matched frame sets that can be applied to your Elements’ document. A document page can only have one theme at a time so trying to apply a second theme will replace the existing background and frames. A multi-page document can have many differently themed pages though. Themes are a great place to start when you want to provide a consistent look and feel to your album or scrapbook pages. Commencing your project with themes doesn’t mean that you can’t add other frames, graphics, shapes or text later. Just choose and apply the selected frame style from the Artwork and Effects palette as you would normally. You can also change the theme’s background by picking and applying a new background. Different frame styles can be substituted by dragging the new style over the existing frame and letting go when the layer border turns blue.

Adjusting Style Settings: The attributes of the Text Effects or Layer Styles can be adjusted using the Style Settings dialog which is displayed by double-clicking the Star icon in the layer or by selecting Layer > Layer Style > Style Setting .

Composition changes >> The options grouped under the Align, Arrange and Distribute shortcut buttons provide quick ways to alter the composition of your framed photos.

Align >> The Align option is one of three new arrangement features designed to work with the contents of layers.

After multi-selecting several layers in the Layers palette, the picture content of these layers can be composed according to the options in the Align menu.

Top and Bottom Edges align the picture via the top or bottom extremities of layer content. The Vertical Centers option arranges the picture parts around a horizontal line or axis. Left and Right Edges move the picture content to either side aligning the edges of the detail. The Horizontal Centers feature arranges all the content of the selected layers around a vertical axis.

In the example, the three pictures are aligned using the top edge of the frame. Do this by selecting the layers first and then choosing Align > Top Edges.

Arrange >> The Arrange option is one of three new layer organization features contained on the Move tool’s options bar. Unlike the Align and Distribute features, Arrange moves a selected layer (or group of layers) up or down the layer stack rather than moving the contents of these layers around the canvas area.

To use the feature select a layer, or layers, in the Layers palette and then choose one of the options in the drop-down Arrange menu in the Move tool options bar. In the example document the green leek picture (top layer) was selected and then the Send Backward option chosen. This moved the layer one position down in the order of the stack changing the picture so that the leek now sits behind the red pepper. The Arrange options include – Bring Forward and Send Backward which moves the layer up or down one position and Send to Back which pushes the layer to the bottom and Bring to Front which places the layer on the very top of the stack.

Distribute >> The Distribute option also arranges the content of layers within the canvas space. After multi-selecting several layers in the Layers palette, the picture content of these layers can be arranged according to the options in the Distribute drop-down menu. This feature can be used very successfully to evenly space picture parts within the canvas area.

The Distribute > Horizontal and Vertical Centers options arrange the picture parts so that the axies of the objects are evenly spaced. The Top and Bottom Edges base the spacings on the upper or bottom most part of the object. The Left or Right Edges option distributes the objects using the side boundaries as the reference point for the spacing.

In this example an even space was placed between the three photos by first selecting all three layers and then choosing the Distribute > Horizontal Centers option.

Printing PSE documents >> Multi-page PSE, or Photo Creation documents that are open in the Full Edit workspace, can be printed either a page at a time via the File > Print option or as a group of prints with the File > Print Multiple Photos. The Photo Creation project can also be printed directly from the Organizer space without the need to open the document by electing the project’s thumbnail and then choosing the File Print option.

Ordering Photo Books >> Finished multi-page Photo Layout documents can be produced as bound books with the Order Kodak Photo Books option.

Revealing the Artwork directories >> By default Windows hides the directories where Backgrounds and Graphics files are kept. Your first task is to reveal these folders.

Background size >> Use the File > New > Blank File option to create a new document 2572 x 1871 pixels in dimension.

Step 1 >> Start by selecting the File > New > Blank File command. Insert the 2572 pixels and 1871 pixels for the Width and Height values of the new document. Change the pixels per inch setting to 220 – the default Elements value for quality printing. Click the OK button to create the new document.

Step 2 >> Next you need to fill the document with the picture detail for the new background. To do this you can open an existing image that is preferably larger than the background and click-drag it from the Layers palette onto the new document. You can then use the Free Transform tool (Ctrl T) to resize the image to suit. Alternatively you can create a background illustration using the drawing and painting tools in Elements.

Here I added a custom gradient to the document and then placed some text that will appear on every page of my Photo Layout.

Step 3 >> Once created, the new background needs to be saved as a high quality JPEG file into the folder detailed above. To keep track of your custom additions, make a new folder and add the custom background to it. Elements is then closed and restarted; the folder becomes a new heading in the Backgrounds menu and the new background is loaded into the Artwork and Effects palette ready for use.

Custom graphics >> Create your own set of custom graphics that you can freely add to your Photo Layouts using the steps detailed here.

Step 1 >> Start by using your favorite selection tool to outline the edges of the picture part that you want to include in Elements. Here I use a small picture frame that I captured by scanning. If you have selected the object then you will need to inverse the selection before the next step.

Make sure that you change the layer from Background to a standard Image layer before selecting Edit > Cut. This will mean that the deleted area will end up transparent and not the background color.

Step 2 >> After isolating the picture part on a transparent background save the image in the PNG format in the directory indicated above. Unlike JPEG this format retains the transparent areas of the image and so is perfect for creating graphics that blend into the background. Close down Elements and restart the program. During the restart Elements will rebuild the Artwork and Effects and at that time will include your new graphic.