Digital Scrapbook Sheets

Composite Sheets as I call them, are scrapbook sheets which include a background plus frames for photos. You then insert your photos into these frames with the use of a computer program such as Paint Shop. Or alternatively, cut out the frame and then paste it over your photograph.

To create these composite sheets, you will need to start with a blanc image in Paint Shop in the size of your choice, depending on what you want to use it for. 680 x 1000 pixels will fit a A4-size sheet.

First we need to create a background for our composite sheet. See: Creating Scrapbook Layouts how to do this. When you save all backgroundimages as jpeg-files, you can use them over and over again. Make sure you also make a copy of your original photo before you begin. Then it won't matter if you don't get it right the first time; you can always make another copy and start over!

Now we need a frame to insert your photos in. Open this image and copy (Ctrl+C), followed by Ctrl+T to make the background transparant by selecting backgroundcolor: "white" and then paste it as "transparent selection" on the backgroundsheet you have created before. You can use it once, or twice or as many times as there is space.
You can also resize it; make it larger or smaller, depending on the size of your photos. You can, if the frame allows, rotate it and paste it in another way on the sheet. Or use different frames on the same sheet. Just play around with this to get the feel of it.

You now have a sheet with a background plus one or more frames pasted on it. If you like, you can also save this as a separate image on your computer. for future use. When you're not going to use it more than once, you can then insert the photos of your choice into the frames on your composite sheet.

You do so by opening the photo of your choice followed by Ctrl+A which selects the complete photograph. Then using the "magic wand" tool, click INSIDE the frame. This will select the inside of the frame where you want your photo to be. Followed by the command "paste into selection." This will include your photo in the photoframe on the composite sheet. You do the same with all photos you have chosen in all of the frames on your sheet. Do not use the "paste" command, because it will not include the photo into the frame but paste it on top of the frame!