How to Add Images to a Photoshop Template
Got a new Photoshop template you want to add some images to but don't know where to start?!
Don't worry, it's actually very easy to do!
You can use this same method regardless of template type (such as cards or album pages etc) as they all use pretty much the same steps.
Here's the video where you can watch me add an image to a Photoshop template, but for ease of use I've also written out the steps below - between them both you'll be adding images to your collages in no time!
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ADDING IMAGES TO A PHOTOSHOP TEMPLATE - WRITTEN GUIDE
If you prefer to see things written out rather than watching a video - here are the steps below!
STEP 1: SELECT THE SHAPE LAYER
Select the shape layer that you want to place the photo in. This can sometimes be labelled as Photo Layer or Mask or Clipping Mask. Essentially it's just the shape that you want your image to clip into.
STEP 2: INSERT YOUR IMAGE
Go to FILE, then PLACE EMBEDDED and choose your photo from wherever you’ve saved it. The photo will now place itself into the collage, and have it's own layer immediately above the shape layer you’ve chosen.
STEP 3: RESIZE
When the image appears in Photoshop, it already has it’s “handles” active, which will allow you to resize it to the size needed.
Use the move tool to drag the image above the shape in the collage.
STEP 4: CLICK ON THE CHECKMARK
Once the image looks the way you want, click on the checkmark / tick on the upper menu bar.
STEP 5: CLIP TO SHAPE
Now you have to clip the photo to the shape layer underneath, so to that only that part of the photo is visible. In Photoshop, you can do this by using the keyboard shortcut CTRL + ALT + G (or CMD + ALT = G on a mac)
Alternatively, go to LAYER and the CREATE CLIPPING MASK which does the same thing.
Once you have done that, you will see a little arrow between the image you have just inserted, and the shape layer, showing that they have been clipped together.
STEP 6: MOVE OR RESIZE AGAIN IF NEEDED
You may want to resize the image again now that you see what it’s like inside the shape. To do this, you’ll need to bring up those “handles” again. You can do this by pressing CTRL + T (or CMD + T on a mac) Follow the instructions on Step 3 and Step 4 again.
STEP 7: REPEAT WITH ALL IMAGES
Chances are that with a collage or storyboard, you will probably have more than one shape for images, in which case, just repeat the above until all your images are in place.
STEP 9: SAVE AS PSD
Remember to save your file as a PSD so that you still have all the layers visible, which will allow you to modify the whole collage at a later date if preferred, and save a JPEG version for print.
And you’re done!
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