Creating an Overlay {Photoshop Elements Tutorial}

Those of you that have taken a peek at my 120 Days PAS have seen the email and facebook overlays I created.  I wanted to take some time to show you how to make your own!

To begin create a new canvas.  File...new...blank file.

I made this canvas 4x6.

Choose the shape for your overlay.  I used the rounded rectangle.

In the top tool bar select the pixel size for your corners.  I used 40 px.  The larger the number the more rounded your corners will be.

Click and drag your rectangle to size.

Don't worry about the color of your rectangle, you won't see that in the end.

In the top bar click on the Style button.  At the edge of the menu click the arrows and choose Visibility.

Under visibility click hide.

Hover your mouse over the shape thumbnail in the Layer palette.  Hold down the Command key (Control for PC) and click.  You should see marching ants around your shape.

Add a new layer by clicking the icon that looks like a stack of sticky notes in the bottom left of the Layer palette.

Now go to Edit...stroke selection.

Decide the width of your line.  I used 10 px.  The larger the number, the thicker your outline.

Next it's time to pick your color.  Click on the color box and the color palette will pop up.

I chose black for my outline.

Once you have your width and color chosen click ok.

To get rid of the marching ants go to select...deselect.

Now it's time to make space for your sentiment.  You could just erase part of the line, but I don't like to do that.

Making a rectangle is easier to adjust bigger or smaller as needed based on your text.  Select a regular rectangle.

Begin to draw your rectangle over a portion of the outline.

My rectangle didn't show up.  But when I looked in the layers palette I saw it there so I knew there was a reason I couldn't see it.  First I tried to select the rounded rectangle outline shape and the stroked layer and merged just those layers...didn't work.  :)

Then I remembered that we had told the shape tool to "hide."  So I went back up to style and chose show...there it is!

Make sure your rectangle matches your background.  If it doesn't make white your foreground color (top of the two color boxes on the left) and paint bucket it into the little rectangle.

Then select your text tool and choose your font.  I used Ali Edwards official font.

Type your sentiment and then adjust your font size as needed.

Move your sentiment around until it fits in the space the way you want.  This is also the time you may want to adjust the length of your white rectangle to fit the size of your sentiment.

I like to File...Save As at this point.  That way if I want to make a different overlay all I have to do is come in and type a different sentiment.

To print, right click on the layers palette and flatten image.

File...Save as again.

This time change the format to jpeg.  And you have a completed overlay!

I sure do LOVE THIS!

















Ever used an overlay on one of your pages?  Have something you are dying to learn how to do in Photoshop?  Leave me a comment!  I'd love to hear all about it!