Create Photoshop Templates For Photo Effects

Create Photoshop Templates For Photo Effects

In this Photoshop tutorial, we're going to learn how to create so reuse a photograph consequence as a Photoshop template using Smart Objects and Smart Filters. Smart Objects were get-go introduced in Photoshop CS2, and Photoshop CS3 takes them even further with Smart Filters. Both of these contempo additions to Photoshop have the potential to completely modify how you piece of work within the plan, since they give you an amazing level of flexibility that simply doesn't be without them.

To go the most from this tutorial, yous'll need to have Photoshop CS3, since it's the but version of Photoshop (then far anyway) that comes with Smart Filters, although you tin still do quite a fleck simply with Photoshop CS2 and Smart Objects. Of form, you can even so read through the tutorial fifty-fifty if you take an older version of Photoshop, if but to come across what sort of features yous'll be getting if and when you determine to upgrade.

What are Smart Objects and Smart Filters?

If y'all've always used a page layout program before, y'all'll exist familiar with how Smart Objects work. When yous convert an epitome into a Smart Object in Photoshop, you lot're no longer working on the prototype itself, fifty-fifty though information technology yet looks similar y'all are. Instead, you're working on a reference to the image, with the actual image stored safely in a split up file that Photoshop creates. The Smart Object is basically a container that displays the reference to the actual image. This is what allows us to create templates from Photoshop documents that use Smart Objects, since when we're done creating our upshot with the original image, we can tell Photoshop to merely supervene upon the image within the Smart Object container with a different epitome, or more precisely, we tell Photoshop to reference a different image, and just similar that, Photoshop swaps one image with another and the unabridged effect is instantly recreated using the new paradigm, without having to redo any of the work!

So what are Smart Filters then? Essentially, they're the same as Photoshop's regular filters that we find under the Filter carte du jour in the Options Bar. In fact, they're exactly the same. The merely deviation, equally nosotros'll see, is that when you employ a filter to a Smart Object, Photoshop converts it into a "smart" version of the filter, with the difference being that Smart Filters remain completely, 100% editable! Normally, when you employ one of Photoshop's filters to an paradigm, the image itself is physically contradistinct past the filter, and if y'all want to change the filter settings, you'd have to undo your steps all the style back to just earlier y'all practical the filter (assuming y'all haven't run out of History states) and then use it again with the new settings. Not then with Smart Filters! With a Smart Filter, you can go back at whatever fourth dimension, alter the settings in the filter's dialog box, and accept the new settings applied to the image instantly without damaging or even touching the image in any style. If y'all're familiar with how Aligning Layers work in Photoshop, Smart Filters work substantially the aforementioned manner.

Every bit I mentioned, ideally you lot'll have Photoshop CS3 for this tutorial, merely there's even so plenty of things y'all can do when creating photo
templates simply with Photoshop CS2 and Smart Objects. In fact, the only thing yous can't do with Photoshop CS2 is apply a filter to a Smart Object, at least not if you still want to be able to use the event as a photo template.

A couple of things to point out earlier we begin. Commencement, even though we'll be creating a unproblematic photo upshot here, one that works very well with wedding photography, the effect itself is non the focus of this tutorial, although you're certainly free to recreate the same effect if you cull. The purpose of this Photoshop tutorial is to show you how to go about creating an effect using Smart Objects and Smart Filters and so that you tin can then use the knowledge to your own photo template creations. 2nd, in order to use a different photo with the template, it'south important that the new photo matches the original in terms of image size, orientation, and resolution. If the original photo used was an 8x10 portrait at 300ppi resolution, any photo you replace it with should also exist an 8x10 portrait at 300ppi resolution, otherwise you'll end up with unexpected results.

If you're simply using photos y'all took yourself with the same digital camera and haven't resized or cropped them, then all you'll need to make sure of it that you don't try to replace a photo in portrait orientation (taller than it is broad) with one in landscape orientation (wider than information technology is tall). If you need more data on image resolution and certificate sizes, exist sure to visit our Digital Photo Essentials department of the website.

This tutorial is from our Photo Furnishings series. Let'south get started!

Step one: Open The First Image You Want To Use

Before we tin utilize our photo
event as a template, nosotros first need to create the outcome, so open the offset photo y'all desire to apply with information technology. Here's the photo I'll be starting with:

A photo of a young bride smiling.

The original image.

With my image now open in Photoshop, if I look in my Layers palette, everything seems normal. I take one layer, the Groundwork layer, which contains my image:

Photoshop's Layers palette showing the original image on the Background layer.

Photoshop's Layers palette showing the original image on the Groundwork layer.

We're going to convert the epitome into a Smart Object side by side!

Step 2: Convert The Epitome Into A Smart Object

Here'due south where things go a little different than if nosotros were simply creating this result once with no intention of using it again with other images. To exist able to use this Photoshop document every bit a template, we need to convert our image into a Smart Object, which, as I mentioned on the previous folio, volition mean we'll no longer be working on the image itself. Instead, we'll be working on a reference to the prototype. The actual image will exist safely stored in a separate file, untouched and unharmed by whatever crazy things we practise next.

To convert the image into a Smart Object, go upwards to the Layer bill of fare at the top of the screen, choose Smart Objects, and then, in Photoshop CS3, cull Convert to Smart Object, or if you lot're using Photoshop CS2, choose Group into New Smart Object. Nothing will seem to have happened to your image, but if nosotros look in the Layers palette again, we can run into a few changes with the Background layer. For one thing, information technology's no longer named "Background". Photoshop has renamed it "Layer 0". More chiefly though, if we look closely at the layer's preview thumbnail, we can see that information technology now has a white highlight box effectually information technology, forth with an icon in its bottom right corner. That icon is telling us that the paradigm has now been converted into a Smart Object:

Photoshop's Layers palette showing the image on the Background layer now converted into a Smart Object.

Photoshop'due south Layers palette showing the image on the Background layer at present converted into a Smart Object.

Step 3: Duplicate The Layer

Now that our epitome has been converted into a Smart Object, allow's indistinguishable it. Duplicating a Smart Object is no dissimilar from duplicating a normal layer, and the easiest way to do information technology is with the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+J (Win) / Command+J (Mac). If we look once again in the Layers palette, nosotros tin see that we now have two layers, the original "Layer 0" on the bottom and the new "Layer 0 re-create" in a higher place it, both of which contain a copy of the Smart Object :

Photoshop's Layers palette showing the newly created copy of the Smart Object layer above the original.

Printing "Ctrl+J" (Win) / "Command+J" (Mac) to duplicate the Smart Object layer.

It's important to note here that even though we've duplicated the Smart Object, nosotros don't really have two separate Smart Objects. Both of them are referencing the exact same photo, which ways that when we replace the original image with a different image, as we'll do at the end of the tutorial, both layers volition and then prove the same new photograph. If we were to create 3, or 5, or 10 or more copies of the Smart Object and then replace the epitome, since they're all copies of the exact aforementioned Smart Object, they would all show the new photograph!

Step 4: Resize And Reposition The Image On The New Layer With Free Transform

Let's move and resize the image on our newly created copy layer. Once more, at that place'southward no difference betwixt moving and resizing a Smart Object and a normal layer. Press Ctrl+T (Win) / Command+T (Mac) to bring upward Photoshop's Free Transform box and handles effectually the image on the new layer. And then hold downward Shift+Alt (Win) / Shift+Option (Mac) and drag whatsoever of the four corner handles inward to resize the image until information technology's about threescore% of its original size. Holding "Shift" constrains the width and height proportions of the image as we resize information technology so nosotros don't accidentally distort its shape, and holding "Alt" (Win) / "Option" (Mac) tells Photoshop to resize the image from its center:

Resizing the image with the Free Transform handles in Photoshop.

Resize the image to virtually 60% of its original size with Gratis Transform.

I'm as well going to motion the epitome down a bit past clicking anywhere inside of the Costless Transform box (except for on the pocket-sized target icon in the middle) and simply dragging the image down with my mouse. As I drag, I'thousand going to hold Shift which will force the image to motion downwards in a directly line, preventing me from accidentally moving it left or right:

Dragging the image down a little with Free Transform.

Drag the image down a little by property "Shift" and dragging it straight down with your mouse.

Printing Enter (Win) / Return (Mac) when you're done to have the transformation and exit out of Gratis Transform.

Step 5: Add A Stroke To The Resized Prototype

As nosotros've seen so far, working with Smart Objects isn't much unlike from working with normal layers, and the same is truthful even when adding Layer Styles. Click on the Layer Styles icon at the bottom of the Layers palette (in Photoshop CS2 it looks like a circle with an "f" inside, and in Photoshop CS3 it'due south only the letters "fx") and select Stroke from the bottom of the list:

Clicking on the 'Layer Styles' icon at the bottom of the Layers palette and selecting 'Stroke' from the list.

Click on the "Layer Styles" icon and select "Stroke" from the list.

This brings up Photoshop's Layer Style dialog box fix to the Stroke options in the heart column. Change the Size of the stroke to 1 px and the Position to Inside, then click on the red color swatch to the right of the give-and-take "Color", which will bring upwards Photoshop's Color Picker, and cull white every bit the stroke color:

Change the stroke options circled in red.

Change the stroke options circled in red above.

Click OK to leave out of the Color Picker, but don't leave out of the Layer Style dialog box merely yet. We have a couple more layer styles to add showtime, which we'll do side by side.

Step six: Add together A Drib Shadow

Click directly on the words Drop Shadow on the left of the Layer Fashion dialog box:

Clicking on the words 'Drop Shadow' on the left of Photoshop's Layer Style dialog box.

Click directly on the words "Drop Shadow".

This changes the options in middle column of the Layer Manner dialog box to the Driblet Shadow options. Lower the Opacity of the Driblet Shadow to effectually 40% so it's not and then intense. Set the Distance to 0px, go out the Spread ready to 0%, then increase the Size to around 40px, although you may desire to experiment with a higher value if you're using a loftier resolution image:

Photoshop's Drop Shadow layer style options.

Change the Drop Shadow options circled in cerise above.

Step seven: Add An Inner Glow

Click directly on the words Inner Glow on the left of the Layer Style dialog box:

Clicking on the words 'Inner Glow' on the left of Photoshop's Layer Style dialog box.

Click directly on the words "Inner Glow".

This changes the options in heart cavalcade of the Layer Style dialog box to the Inner Glow options. Lower the Opacity of the Inner Glow to effectually 40%, over again then information technology's not as intense. Click on the yellow color swatch directly below the word "Noise", which brings up Photoshop's Color Picker, and select white as the glow color. Click OK to get out out of the Color Picker, then set the Size of the glow to around 40px. Again you may want to experiment with a higher Size value if you're using a high resolution image:

Photoshop's Inner Glow layer style options.

Change the Inner Glow options circled in red to a higher place.

When yous're washed, click OK in the top right corner of the Layer Way dialog box to go out out of it. Hither's my image subsequently applying all three Layer Styles:

The image after applying the three layer styles in Photoshop.

The image after applying the Layer Styles.

So far, everything we've washed with our prototype tin be completed in either Photoshop CS2 or Photoshop CS3. What we're going to do next is a Photoshop CS3 exclusive, at least until Photoshop CS4 comes out.

Pace 8: Add A Gaussian Blur Smart Filter To The Bottom Layer

Hither'south the part of the tutorial that you need to be using Photoshop CS3 for (don't worry if you're using Photoshop CS2, we'll get back to you in a moment). We're going to utilise a Smart Filter to our Smart Object. At present I should clarify something earlier we continue. You can apply filters to Smart Objects in Photoshop CS2, just as you would apply them to a normal layer. The difference is that in Photoshop CS2, when you effort to utilize any filter to a Smart Object, Photoshop will popular upward a warning message telling you that the Smart Object must exist rasterized before the filter can be practical.

What that means is, the Smart Object volition be converted back into a normal layer once again, which means it will no longer be a Smart Object, which means you will no longer be able to merely replace one photo with another inside of information technology. Which basically means, you lose the ability to employ the Photoshop document as a template. So in other words, if your goal is to create a document that can be used equally a template and you lot're using Photoshop CS2, don't use filters. There's still lots of other things yous can do with your Smart Objects in CS2, only using filters isn't one of them. Non if y'all're making a reusable template, anyhow.

Having said that, if you are using Photoshop CS3, click on "Layer 0" (the lesser layer) in the Layers palette to select it. So go up to the Filter bill of fare at the top of the screen, cull Blur, and and so cull Gaussian Mistiness. This brings upward the Gaussian Mistiness dialog box. I'yard going to set my Radius value at the bottom of the dialog box to around 9 pixels. If you lot're using a high resolution image, try 12-xiv pixels:

Applying the Gaussian Blur filter to the bottom layer in Photoshop.

Apply the Gaussian Blur filter to the bottom layer.

Click OK when you lot're done to exit out of the dialog box. Here'southward my prototype after applying the filter. Notice how the image in the background is now nicely blurred out:

The image after applying the Gaussian Blur filter in Photoshop.

The groundwork is at present blurred out after applying the Gaussian Blur filter.

Nothing we did here was out of the ordinary. Nosotros selected and practical the Gaussian Blur filter to the copy of the Smart Object on the bottom layer in exactly the same way we would have practical it to a normal layer. But if we expect in our Layers palette, we can see that something out of the ordinary has definitely happened:

Photoshop's Layers palette showing that the Gaussian Blur filter applied to the Smart Object on 'Layer 0' has been converted into a Smart Filter.

The Layers palette showing that the Gaussian Blur filter applied to "Layer 0" has been converted into a Smart Filter.

Past applying the filter to a Smart Object, the filter has been converted into a Smart Filter! If we await below "Layer 0", we can see that information technology now says "Smart Filters", and below that is a list of all of the filters we've applied to the Smart Object. In this instance, we've only applied 1 filter, the Gaussian Blur filter, and nosotros tin see information technology listed in that location. If we had practical several other filters to the Smart Object on that layer, they would each be listed under the words "Smart Filters". We've now successfully practical a filter to the Smart Object without having to catechumen information technology back into a normal layer. What's more, equally we'll see when we go to replace the photo with a new photograph, the Gaussian Blur filter will now automatically be applied to any photo nosotros apply with our template!

Smart Filters accept numerous advantages, and we've merely scratched the surface with them hither with our discussion on how to use them when creating templates. We'll await at more of the amazing possibilities they offering in other tutorials.

We'll see how to replace our photo with another next!

Pace ix: Supersede The Photograph With A New Photo

At this point, our basic photo effect is complete. You can save the certificate now if yous wish. Nosotros're now going to see how incredibly like shooting fish in a barrel it is to apply our Photoshop certificate as a template past replacing our existing photo with a new photo! This works with both Photoshop CS2 and Photoshop CS3 (welcome back, Photoshop CS2 users!).

Keep in mind what I mentioned at the beginning. When replacing one photo with another inside a Smart Object, yous need to make sure that both photos have the same width and acme dimensions, the same orientation (portrait or landscape), and the same resolution, otherwise things won't work out the way you expect. If you lot try to replace one photograph with another and suddenly the new photo is either too large or too pocket-size inside the document, something was different between them, and you'll need to correct that before trying again. You'll detect lots of information nigh image size and resolution in our Digital Photograph Essentials department of the website.

Bold that the next photo you lot want to utilise with your template does use the same dimentions, orientation and epitome resolution as the original, permit'due south swap them! Select either "Layer 0" or "Layer 0 re-create" in the Layers palette. It doesn't thing which ane you select since, every bit I mentioned previously, they're both copies of each other and both referencing the exact same photograph, and so replacing the image inside ane of them will automatically replace the image in both. Then, with either of them selected, go up to the Layer menu at the acme of the screen once again, choose Smart Objects, and this time, choose Supplant Contents:

Selecting 'Replace Contents' from the Smart Objects menu inside Photoshop.

Go to Layer > Smart Objects > Replace Contents.

A dialog box will pop upward assuasive yous to navigate to the new photo on your computer. Once you've located it, double-click on it to select information technology, and instantly, the original photo is replaced with the new photo inside the certificate! All of the Layer Styles we practical to the top layer have been practical to the new image, and if yous're using Photoshop CS3, the background paradigm on the bottom layer fifty-fifty has the Gaussian Blur filter practical to it, all without redoing any of the piece of work:

The new photo has replaced the original in the document.

The original photo is instantly replaced with the new photo inside the document.

Where to go adjacent...

And there we have it! Thank you to Smart Objects in Photoshop CS2 and the new Smart Filters in Photoshop CS3, it's easy to create photo effects that can be reused equally templates any time you need them! Visit our Photograph Effects section for more Photoshop furnishings tutorials!