JPEG Collage

[grayteck]

I am trying to figure out a way to create a photo collage (6, 8, 10 & 12 image files) similar to the ones you can create in the print layout using templates, but instead of printing the file, I want to save it as a jpeg file.

[BrianCee]

I do NOT actually use PSP - but I am sure I read somewhere about a "File >> Save for Office >> jpeg" option - I'm sure one of the PSP experts will have the correct words

[MarkZ]

I created the attached collage a few months ago from some travel photos and learned quite a bit while doing it. Here are some pointers.

Before getting into PSP, decide how many photos you want to use and roughly how you will lay them out. Also, what is the end product going to be, the size (e.g. 4x6 or 5x7) and whether portrait or landscape.

The size of the jpg in pixels depends on the size of the final product. If you are going for a small print then the larger dimension may be, say 4500 pixels. If larger, scale it up. The photos I started with were about 5000 pixels on the long side and the jpgs were about 10MB. To use full size in an image that may contain five or six photos requires a lot of horsepower and severley slows down processing; so to start, decide how many photos you will have across and resize each one you will use to about 1/n +20%. If you will use a canvas that is 4500 pixels and you will have three photos within that dimension then resize to about 1800 pixels. Then "save as" as a new image to retain the original. Do any cropping of the individual photos at this stage. If you want to experiment with cropping, select the save as new image icon when you have the crop as you want it. If you don't like that, delete and do a different crop.

In PSP create a new image with the dimensions in pixels of your finished product. If you are aiming for 4x6, ratio of 1.5, then you would create a new image of 4500x3000 pixels. Alternatively, select the first photo, promote the background layer, select Image/canvas size and plug in the size you want. Let's call this image collage.

Select an image, then select Edit/copy (or Ctrl-C). Select collage and Edit/paste as new layer. Repeat for each image to be included. Each layer should give an image smaller than the canvas if you have resized correctly. For each layer, use the pick tool (large arrow) if you want to change the size - drag the corners to change the size of an image. You need to keep careful track of which layer is active as you use the tools, especially later. To position the image on the canvas, use the move tool (crossed arrows) to drag each one to where you want it. If the image overlap, and they should, move the layers relative to each other so the one that you want those that cover to be above the others.

Early in this process save your image as .pspimage. This preserves all the layer information and you are less likely to lose your hard work. The final is saved as a jpg.

In the collage I did I did not want sharp edges, I wanted the layers to blend. You can achieve this by erasing portions of the image. Better still, I used a mask on most of the layers (not the bottom ones). Masks give much opportunity to vary the degree of opacity, and to go back and modify what you have done. In a mask you use the paintbrush - I wanted straight, soft edges; to get that I would position the brush at one end then press Shift while clicking on the other end of the line. PSP connects the two points with a straight line.

A project like this is a great opportunity to experiment with PSP's features, try thing out. Have fun.

By the way, the sentiments expressed in this collage are those of the Haida Gwaii islanders. I was impressed with the overwhelming sentiment on the islands.

[hartpaul]

There are also videos and other tutorials on this if you do a search using google.
One on youtube is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lm7D0sz2atI

or the text version here:
http://corel.force.com/index/articles/e ... ntShop-Pro
It is with X6. You did not mention which version of PSP you were using.

Another:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-d5j1JtabY

and the pdf version:

http://www.corel.com/static/product_con ... op-pro.pdf

[grayteck]

Thank you for your ideas, that helps a lot