How to create own artwork collages - photoshop?

[neeter]

Hi all -- I really love the posters that highlight your child's artwork...like here http://www.zsquaredgraphics.com/poster-info.html

But this costs $100++!! Is there a way to do the layout myself and send it to Kinkos (or wherever) to get printed onto poster paper? I know the grandparents would love this too.

I'm hoping the photoshop experts might be able to give me some tips. I do have a scanner, so I was thinking of scanning in the artwork. If this works out, I'd love to do a poster every year! :)

Thanks!

[table4three]

I'll be watching this thread for suggestions. I love this idea!

http://b2.lilypie.com/mkn7m5.png

[jennabear]

Yes, I just saw this on Mommy's With Style. I think it's a fabulous idea!

[juliasmom05]

I think it looks like it would be pretty simple to do in photoshop especially since you have a scanner and places like snapfish and winkflash and probably Kinkos are printing posters now.

I would just decide what size you want and open a new file in photoshop that size or smaller but in the appropriate dimensions. Then just copy and paste each scanned image into the new file and arrange them however you like them. You may have to play around with image sizes and make sure you scan the artwork at a high enough resolution. Save it as a jpg or tif file and you should be able to have it printed pretty much anywhere.

If you decide to do it and have specific questions let me know.

Marci

Mom to Julia 4/05

[BillK]

http://www.nikoncafe.com/vforums/showthread.php?t=63950

That's a step by step walkthrough on how to create a montage using Photoshop. The Cafe has lots of very helpful, knowledgeable folks when it comes to photography related questions.

[jenmcadams]

I posted on the other thread on this yesterday(http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=12&topic_id=58595&mode=full&page= it was moved to around the house), but there's a new company that was featured in the WSJ in June called Tabblo (http://www.tabblo.com/). I don't love their software and may end up just doing it in photoshop, but for those who don't want to mess with photoshop you might be able to do something similar. Their large posters are only $20

[neeter]

Great - thanks for these suggestions! :)

[Lynnie]

I love pictures, have a great camera, but no real editing software. So, I think it is time to get photoshop - but which one ?? Any suggestions ? (I am sadly not as computer literate as I'd like to be)

Thanks in advance !

[juliasmom05]

I'm sure someone will chime in with more experience with the different Photoshops than myself, but depending on what you want to do, Photoshop Elements would probably be sufficient. I can't directly compare because I've only really used Photoshop. I got the program through work and personally wouldn't pay close to $600 for it. I think Elements is less than $100.

HTH

Marci

Mom to Julia 4/05

[BillK]

You really don't have much of a choice on Photoshop.

Either the most recent version of Photoshop Elements (5.0 I think) or the full version Photoshop CS2.

Elements is gonna be like $100 before any special deals/rebates (maybe $70ish if you search) and CS2 is gonna be like $900 before any special deals/rebates (maybe $700ish?).

Unless you're a pro or do lots of crazy editing things CS2 is going to be way more than you need - stick with Elements.

[neeter]

I have used Elements for the past year and its really all that I need. Actually I don't find it too easy to use, even (doesn't come with a manual)...I'm slowly discovering all its capabilities. I can't imagine having the patience to figure out Photoshop!

[BillK]

>I have used Elements for the past year and its really all
>that I need. Actually I don't find it too easy to use, even
>(doesn't come with a manual)...I'm slowly discovering all its
>capabilities. I can't imagine having the patience to figure
>out Photoshop!

There are a lot of "....for dummies" type books for both PS and PS Elements. I haven't tried any - since I'm semi-selftaught but I'd assume they're pretty handy to have.

PS is only slightly more complicated than Elements - the overall look is about the same - there are just a few more drop down menues and choices within menues on PS vs. Elements - as well as several other "color spaces" in PS.

[Tondi G]

I saw Elements at Costco Last night... I think it was $80!

~Tondi

[kboyle]

i downloaded a free trial of photoshop elements and couldn't figure a darn thing out! then someone suggested that i give microsoft digital image suite a shot, and i LOVED it, seems pretty similar to ps elements, but maybe a bit more user friendly. it seemed to do everything elements could.


there is a 60 day trial of suite on its site & a 30 of elements on its site. as soon as i get some $ saved up for the program i'm getting suite. i loved it! in my 60 days we made charlie's bday invited, his thank yous, max's bday invites & fathers' day cards...plus some fun things just playing around. :)

ETA: adding links
photoshop
http://www.adobe.com/downloads/

microsoft digital image suite:
http://www.microsoft.com/products/imaging/FreeTrial.mspx