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The last two versions of Photoshop have
contained a "Picture Page" feature under the File>Automate menu.
This feature enables you to choose a variety of formats to print
more than one copy of a single image on a page.
It's much like the packages of pictures the
school photographer sends home with your kids. One 5x7, two 4x5,
20 wallet size, you know. This is a nifty feature for
distributing a photo widely. But it only works with a single
image. Once more, a Snapshot Montage comes into play.
Our second type of snapshot montage consists of
layers of same-size snapshots placed four-up on an 8x10 image.
We begin with a new file 8x10 inches in size at 222ppi with
guides splitting the page into quarters. I turn "Snap To Guides"
on in the View menu.
Our son had sent some JPG's as email attachments
of our grandkids and their brand new bunk bed. I opened the
first one and dragged it to the new file. Using free transform,
I held down the Shift key and rotated it 90 degrees. Then lining
up two sides with the guides, I enlarged it until it fit the
quarter frame.
Opening a second image, I repeated the process.
As soon as four images are assembled, the four
individual layers are linked, then Merge Linked Layers is
applied. Now, a print can be made.
Then, using the first layers as a template,
place another four layers, turning off the underlying layer when
a new layer is added. As soon as a second four-layer page is
assembled, print it. In the screen shot, I've reduced the
opacity of the bottom layer for illustration purposes.
I've found that up to 12 images can be placed in
a single three-layer .psd file before the file gets too large
for printing and saving. These sheets can be saved as a single
four-shot montage or trimmed to make individual snapshots.
But wait (as they say), there's more! Next week
we'll examine the new, improved and fantastic Picture Package in
Photoshop 7. |