Preserved Topic: Picture Collage (Page 1 of 1)

Hello All,

Could some one please tell how to make a picture collage in photoshop??..Using 4 different photo's..I have tried everything I can think of and I can't seem to figure it out.. Also how do make the matting for it??

I'm using a IBM/wins98 system
Thank you

SweetAbyss

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Come fall into the Abyss of wildlife photography

Picture collage.. that seems to be kind of vague.. What exactally do you want to do, that you can't? Do you mean just placing images on top of others, and rotating them a little? Do you want something special done with the edges? Do you want them to fade away into each other?

Please give more info!

- Dan -

Hi Dan.

I want to put 4 in dividual pic togther in one. But not on top of each other. One left one right and so on..With a space in between like a plus sign that I can define with difedrent colorsand or textures..

I can send u a scan photo of what I'm saying
if that will help.....

Thank you

SweetAyss

Come fall into the Abyss of wildlife photography

Oh, ok, well, first off load all your images onto their own layers. Then one by one, select the layers, and press ctrl + t and make the image the correct size you want them (probably so they're all the same size). Then, simply move them images into place. (By click on the layer, then the move option. Then clicking and draggin on the picture). Add a layer above the background layer, fill with the background you want. Then 'save for web'. If you need any clarifications, just ask.

- Dan -

Hi Dan,

Great thanks...I'll try that..I still don't get the barckground color layer though. Everytime I try to do that my pics disappear.
Why.? I only see the background no pics...

(sorry about the typo's in the last message)

SweetAbyss


Come fall into the Abyss of wildlife photography

Quickly, here's how I'd do it:

Create a new document the size you want the final collage to be. I'm hazy on what you want the background to be (the part that shows as a + sign between images), but whatever it is, make it in this background layer - texture, color, whatever.

Then you introduce the 4 images, one at a time, each on their own layer. The way I like to do this is have your new document and all 4 source documents open at the same time, and be sure the layers palette is showing too. Make one of the source documents the active window (let's say the one that will be the top left). Arrange it on your monitor so that you can see at least part of the "background" image behind the source photo's window. Select the move tool (the 4-pointed arrow tool), click on the image icon in the layers palette, and drag into the window of the final (collage) image. Bingo, it's copied to the new doc without tying up memory with copy/paste. It's probably in the wrong place, and possibly the wrong size. Since you still have the move tool selected, drag it to where you want it to be. If it needs to be re-sized, Dan's suggestion about transform is quick and easy. Don't forget to leave enough room for the background to show through. A good way to plan for this is to show rulers, then drag out 4 guides to line up the inner edges of the new photos.

When you are done, you will have 5 layers: four images plus the background. Flatten if you choose and that's it. I don't understand what you mean when you say the pics disappear. One of 2 things is probably happening, and the layers palette will tell which: either you have created your background layer above the photos and it's covering them up (fix is to drag it below the lowest photo layer in the layers palette), or you have managed to turn off visibility - make sure all "eyeball" icons are on.

'Course it could be something completely different. Let us know how it goes.

Hi Steve,
Wow, thanks...It makes much more sense now.
I will try that ..You are right about the background layer too..I didn't assign it to anything..This will definitly help make the work easier to do...I am so happy I found this forum.......

SweetAbyss

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Come fall into the Abyss of wildlife photography