Photo as Background

[Niki Burony]

I have what may be a question with an obvious answer, but here goes.

I've been reading alot about video scrapbooking. I'm still getting familiar with PE and playing around with the templates, backgrounds, etc.

My questions is, can I use a photo as a background? Actually, I'm sure I "can" do this - but what I asking is mechanically how do I set this up - If I want a 12x12 page, do I open a new 12x12 file - and how do I open the "picture" as 12x12?

Lastly, are there any websites people like/recommend from which to get more "paper" or backgrounds to use in video scrapbooking?
Thanks
Niki

[Chuck Engels]

Hi Niki,
A Digital Scrapbook and a Video Scrapbook are two different things, for a digital scrapbook you can create a 12 x 12 canvas and do whatever you want to it.
Video is still 720 x 480 so you have to stick within those parameters.

You will find great links to digital scrapbooking materials at
http://www.elementsvillage.com/forums/f ... y.php?f=14
http://www.photoshopcreativeelements.co ... m.php?f=14
http://www.cottagearts.net/gallery.html
http://www.digitaldesignden.com/xcart/home.php?cat=17

The last two are sites and images owned by friends of muvipix

[Wheat King]

Building on what Chuck said. All you have to do is import the image you want to use as a background into your video project and place it on track one and extend it the length of your timeline. Place all your other clips / pictures on track two or higher.

[Chuck Engels]

And you know what is strange? I was just thinking that I have 720 x 480 pixels to work with but that can equate to a 32 inch TV screen, much larger than 12 x 12.
As Jamal says, you can use any image as a background and put as many images on top of it as you like. You are just working in a smaller area in Premiere Elements but the images will be much larger on your TV

[Niki Burony]

Sorry guys, I think I'm losing it today. Since I posted this under Photoshop elements, I did actually mean "digital scrapbooking", not video.

So my question above still applies about opening the file as 12x12 and making the picture 12x12? How?

Thanks, and forgive my confusion.

[Chuck Engels]

Now I'm not sure what you're asking Niki

Open the 12 x 12 image, save as a Photoshop (PSD) file if it isn't already, then you can drag and drop any other images, as additional layers, on top of it.

[Wheat King]

Hi Niki,

I attached a jpeg that show the settings you would want in Photoshop elements.
Select File new blank file.

This will bring up the preset dialog box. where you can specify your settings. Once you have this as your starting point you can bring in your background picture and place it as a layer inside the psd you just created.

[Chuck Engels]

Much better Jamal, thanks for clearing that up

[Niki Burony]

Got it - thanks!!
One last clarification - once I have the new blank file size of 12x12, then I dragged a photo onto the file and it becomes a new layer. But the photo is smaller than the 12x12 -
do I adjust the size of the photo to the 12x12 by dragging the corners and placing it so it covers the background layer?


Niki

[Chuck Engels]

That should do it Niki

[Wheat King]

How much smaller is it Niki? If you size it up quite a bit you will notice a degradation in quality. This may not be a big problem for you because it's the background. Anyway there's two possible solutions 1) You could add a soft blur to your background image so that it will reduce the pixalation effect as well as make the background less noticeable 2)a while ago I found a great tip for upsizing images for photoshop it can work in in photoshop elements too. Check out step 3. http://www.photoshoptalent.com/photosho ... action.php

[JohnnyO]

There is a good trick I got from a Scott Kelby book for resizing photos larger. Scott Kelby uses this technique to print out poster sized prints from lower resolution photos. He claims the results are stunning. I use this technique all the time when up-sizing photos.
Remember, ususlly the resolution for the photos is 72 dpi. Scott recommends changing this to 300 or more, which photo quality printers use.

Here are the steps:

1. Open your photo. Go to the image menu and choose image size
2. make sure Resample Image, Scale Styles and Constrain Proportions are all checked
3. type in the dimensions you want for your final print
4. Adjust the resolution field to be 360 pixels/inch
5. Under resample image, choose Bicubic Sharper
6. Hit OK

[John 'twosheds' McDonald]

Another technique Scott uses is to use an "increase by 10%" technique. Note that these steps relate to Photoshop as I don't use Photoshop Elements. If there is a huge difference perhaps someone else can help you out.

The basic settings are made by going under the image menu and selecting image size. Ensure resample is turned on and that the increase in image size is set to percent and type in 110.

Because the process is iterative it is easiest if you create a custom action called "Increase by 110%" or whatever. Go under the windows menu and choose Actions. Click the New Actions button. Name the action and assign a function key to it. Click the record button and repeat the steps in tha para above. After making one size change click on the stop recording icon. Now you have a "110% Resize" action that you can run again and again by pressing the assigned function key.

Hope this makes sense. If you need more help let me know.

[Barb O]

John,

Photoshop Elements can not create Actions - so that paragraph will not apply to Elements.

Niki,
Since this thread says the photo will be used as a background, I am guessing that it does not need to be as "perfect". So I would first experiment with the settings (like Bicubic) on a singe resize to see if that provides satisfactory results. Then if I was not happy with those results, I would try repetitive 10% resolution increases.

[John 'twosheds' McDonald]

Thanks Barb. Didn't know that.