I know when I first started digi-scrapping, I got Photoshop Elements and downloaded a bunch a free templates and had NO IDEA how to use them!

So here is a quick and simple tutorial on how to use those awesome layered templates to get started making some beautiful layouts!

I use Photoshop Elements 8, but this is pretty much the same in all versions of Photoshop. Layered templates come in either .PSD or .TIFF files. Both work the same way.

For this tutorial I am using Tracy’s Old Glory Template Pack and Kit.

These templates can be found in Tracy’s store HERE!

Open Photoshop. Open a layered template. Go to File>Save As and save this project under a new name so you don’t accidentally save over your original template.

Open a photo. Drag your photo onto the template. Position the photo so that it covers the spot for the photo in the template.

Go to Layer>Create Clipping Mask (Keystroke: Ctrl+G in PSE, Shft+Ctrl+G in PS, Apple+G on a Mac).

With the photo layer active (it will be highlighted), resize and rotate the photo until the desired portion is visible. I resize by moving any of the 4 corners of the photo. If you move the sides of the photo, it will distort the photo.

Right click on the photo layer in the Layers Palette and select “Merge Down” from the drop down menu to merge your photo into the template layer. Or use Layer>Merge Down or Keystroke Ctrl+E, Apple+E on a Mac.

Open a paper and drag your paper onto the template. Click on the paper layer in the Layers Palette and drag down until it is directly above the template layer you want to clip it to.

Now we are gonna clip it just like me did the photo earlier. Go to Layer>Create Clipping Mask (Keystroke: Ctrl+G in PSE, Shft+Ctrl+G in PS, Apple+G on a Mac).

Just like we did with the photo, right click on the paper layer in the Layers Palette and select “Merge Down” from the drop down menu to merge your paper into the template layer. Or use Layer>Merge Down or Keystroke Ctrl+E, Apple+E on a Mac.

All you have to do now is continue this process until you have all photos and/or papers placed on your template!

After you get used to using templates, they become a really awesome base for starting your pages. You can rotate them, move the layers around and even delete/add layers.

Here is my finished layout!

All Trixie Scraps Designs products can be found in the following online stores: Trixie Scraps Shop * Gotta Pixel * Scrapbook Bytes * Funky Playground