Making Collages

Getting Started

  1. Select the images you wish to include in your collage.
  2. Open Photoshop Elements
  3. Make sure that the Layers pallet and the Undo History pallet are open
  4. Create a blank page to start your collage
    1. Choose file-new-blank file
    2. Name the file "Collage" or whatever is appropriate
    3. Set the width and length to the size you want printed (say 11 x 8.5)
    4. Set the color mode to RGB color
    5. Set the resolution to 300
    6. Set the background contents to "White"
    7. Click OK

Open and Crop your Images

  1. Open one image to place on your collage (crop using the elliptical marquee tool)
    1. Select the elliptical marquee tool
    2. Using the elliptical marquee tool select the portion of the image you wish in your collage.
    3. Note:  Once you have made your selection you may move the selection by clicking and dragging in the middle of the selection.
    4. Use the Select-feather command to feather the selection as desired.  (a feather factor of about 20 would be a good place to start.)
    5. Create a new layer with the Layer - New - Layer via copy Command.
    6. Give your new layer an appropriate name.  It is important to name your layers so you will know which is which.
    7. Move your cropped image to the collage by clicking and dragging the layer (in the layers pallet) to the "Collage" file which is now blank.
    8. You may move the new layer in Collage to where you wish but do not change its size at this time.  Avoid changing the size of layers any more than you can because each time you do so you degrade the image slightly.
    9. You may now close the original image.
    10. Note:  This technique can be used with the rectangular marquee tool also.
  2. Open a second image to place on your collage (crop using the lasso tool)
    1. Select the lasso tool
    2. Select a portion of the image using the lasso tool.  Note this selection will be free hand.  But you do not have to be real precise.
    3. Use the Select-feather command to feather the selection as desired.
    4. Create a new layer with the Layer - New - Layer via Copy command
    5. Give your new layer an appropriate name.
    6. If needed you may remove a portion of your new layer with the eraser tool.  Use a soft brush.
    7. Move your cropped image to the collage.
    8. Close the original image.
  3. Open a third image to place on your collage (crop using the cookie cutter)
    1. Select the cookie cutter tool
    2. Click on the toggle on the "Shape" box
    3. Click on the selection button on the upper right hand corner of the shape selection box.
    4. Choose the shape set you desire.
    5. Choose the shape you desire.
    6. Set the feather amount you desire.
    7. Click in the upper left hand corner of the portion of the image you wish to include in your collage.
    8. Drag to the lower right  hand corner of the of your image area and release.
    9. You may change the size of your selection by moving the corners of the selected area.
    10. Accept your selection by clicking on the check mark at the lower right of your selection.  Reject by clicking on the stop symbol.
    11. Rename your layer.
    12. Drag your layer to the Collage image.
  4. Open a forth image to place on your collage (crop using the eraser tool)
    1. Select the rectangular marquee tool
    2. Select an area that includes all of the portion of your image you wish to include in your collage.
    3. Create a new layer with the Layer - New - Layer via Copy command
    4. Make the background layer invisible by clicking off its eye icon.
    5. Select the eraser tool and use a soft brush.
    6. Erase around the portion you want to keep.
    7. Drag your layer to the Collage image.
  5. Put into your collage any other images you wish to include.

Resize and Place the Images in Your Collage

  1. Turn off all images except one, and make that layer active.
  2. Select the move tool.
  3. Move that image to the location you wish.
  4. Resize the image to the size you wish.  As you resize hold down on the shift key to maintain proportions.  Try to do this only once for each image to keep your images from degrading.  Note:  You may move as often as you like -- just avoid resizing.
  5. Adjust your layers as to which one is on top by draging the layer up or down within the Layers Pallet.
  6. Turn on the next layer and resize and position that layer.  Do this for each image in the collage.

Edit Individual Images

  1. You may edit individual images by  first making its layer active.
  2. Then choose the command Layer - New Adjustment Layer - Levels (or any adjustment layer you wish.)
  3. Click on "Group with Previous Layer" so that the effects will apply to that single image.
  4. Make your adjustments.
  5. Note:  You can apply multiple adjustment layers to each image if you wish.

Outline an Individual Image within Your Collage

  1. Make the image layer to be outlined active
  2. Use the command Edit -- Stroke
  3. Pick the width of the outline in pixels.  Try 5 or 6 to start with.  A larger number will give you a heaver outline.  A smaller number will give you a light outline.
  4. You may choose your color by clicking on the color patch.  The color will be the currently selected background color.
  5. Click OK.

Create your Background

  1. Method one -- solid color
    1. Click on the background image at the bottom of the tool bar to bring up the color picker.
    2. Choose the color you wish your background.
    3. Alternative:  Use the eye-dropper and choose a color from your image.
    4. Select the paint bucket tool.
    5. Make the base layer active.
    6. Click on your image.  The entire base layer, and thus your background, will become the color you have choosen.
  2. Method two -- select an image for the background.
    1. Open an image you wish as your background.
    2. Use the command Select - All to select the entire image.
    3. Use the command Edit - Copy to put that image into the clipboard.
    4. Make the Collage image active.
    5. Use the command Edit - Paste to copy the background image into the Collage image.
    6. Move the background image background to the bottom of the layer pile by dragging it within the Layer Pallet.
    7. You may now resize the image as needed.  If you make the Collage image smaller with the zoom tool then maximize its window you can even resize the background beyond the borders of the Collage image.