Step by step tutorial using a number of different programs to journal directly onto your photos BEFORE you send them to print.
I am exploring Photoshop and Picasa. I had issues using Publisher (from the printing of it point of view, and Word just doesn't allow you to text on images)

Scroll done to the relevant one for you. The title of each section is in red.


PHOTOSHOP CS steps.
open your image in one of two ways.
Either find the image on your computer, right click on it and open with Photoshop


or
In Photoshop go to File/Open and locate your file on your computer.

THIS STEP IS SO VERY IMPORTANT.
DUPLICATE YOUR IMAGE
If you don't you are journaling on the original photo and once you've saved it and closed it from Photoshop you can't remove it.
So.....
Go to Image and Duplicate.

keep the copy file open and close the original so we don't get them confused.


You first need to set your final print size.
use the crop tool and set your inches high and wide. set the resolution at 300dpi. No less, and no more. This is what you need for your print resolution. This is also another reason why we are using a duplicate shot, so we don't mess around with the original.




On the left side toolbox is the T for text tool.


This is just like using Word and Publisher. We draw a text box and write in it.


and just the same as Word and Publisher, you highlight your word and you can change the font


the colour of the text by clicking in the coloured box on the top toolbar and this pop out window opens


move your mouse over the image and you notice it changes to an eye dropper. This samples that colour on your photo that the tip is pointing at. Awesome way to cordinate text colour and the image.

the size of the font is up the top by the font styles. You can also align it left, right or centre. you then need to click on the tick box on the top toolbar to confirm that you are done


once done you can then do as many text boxes as you need.


tick box again.

On the right side on the layers pallete you need to right click one of the layers and choose flatten layers.


Then save the image as a jpg file with the following settings.

and

and


this image is now saved as the best possible resolution (12) for printing.


Picasa

Picasa is so simple to use to insert font onto images BEFORE printing them.
1. find your image on your computer and right click on it. Open with Picasa





2. on the left tool bar you'll find the crop tool. Crop the image to the final print size.

3. the text tool is here too.


4. Decide on a font


5. A colour. You can move the mouse over your image and it changes to a colour picker. Pick up a colour to co-ordinate the font colour to something in your image.


6. click on the image and type away.


you can adjust size as you go.

7. you can add as many text boxes as you like.


8. THIS IS THE IMPORTANT BIT!!!!!!

FILE THEN SAVE AS. We want to make this image a duplicate of the original so we don't have text on the original image. Very very important.


9. determine where you are saving the image


10. All done.


This is so straight forward. I reckon its worth downloaded Picasa just for the ability to journal on your image.
Mac download
http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/30131/picasa

Windows download (XP, Vista, 7)
http://download.cnet.com/Picasa/3000-21 ... 60334.html
(click on the green ‘download now’ square.

What a fantastic tutorial - am going to have to have a play with this - thanks Tiff

Great tute, Tiff.

Thank you Tiff! I have two photoshop whizzes here, but it just means I don't understand their hurried explanations

Thats awesome Tiff. I am starting to really understand abit more now. I still have trouble resizing photos and watermarks. I always got back to your tutorial. At least I having a go.

I still haven't looked at photoshop Tiff - I'm more than happy playing with Picasa at this stage and your tutes are certainly helping!

awesome feedback gang. I'd go with Picasa if I didn't already have Photoshop.
Not only is it a free download, you can do so much with it.
check out this previous tute on playing around in Picasa for ideas and help.

tiff

looks great tiff will have to give it a go

so Tiff,

i have had a quick play and this image is the first one i have done. Pretty basic i know but you have to start somewhere right?

Cheeky little one

Thanks,

Mel

nawwwwwww.
now I challenge you to see if you can make the font the soft pink colour of her top, or the satin edge of her blanket on the ground.

know you love a challenge chook!!

t

Challenge Accepted - Thanks Tiff xx