Make Your Own Poster

Here is a simple poster I created from a recent trip to Prague in the Czech Republic. It consists of 9 photos plus text. Below you will find step by step instructions on how to make a poster like this using Photoshop Elements. Practice along by using 9 of your own photos.

This poster is available for purchase through QOOP. Just click on the image to go to the QOOP page.

Turn on the grid for your new blank document by clicking on View, then Grid, so it is checked. This is an invaluable tool for spacing photos properly.

Using the move tool (usually top of the tool list), drag each of the nine photos for your poster on to the new blank document and place where you want them. You will notice that as you add a photo to the background layer, it creates a new layer, shown on the right of your screen.

Using the grid, you will leave 1/4 inch on all sides and 1/4 inch between pictures.

Rearrange as necessary. I moved pictures around a bit until I got a combination that looked good.

Decide if and what text you would like to use. Here I used the Scriptina font, which you can download from Fontspace. Click the Text tool (T) which will create a new layer. Select your font and size and type your text. Using the move tool, you can place your text anywhere you want. You can also resize the text box, bold or italicize your text.

Save the final Photoshop Elements file as a psd file, which will be large. This will preserve all of the layers in case you want to make changes in the future. To create a file for printing, click on Layer and then Flatten image and save as a jpg file. Print directly from this file or send to an online source for printing.

Note: I uploaded the final image to QOOP, where it is listed for sale.

Doors of Tuscany by Kim Manley Ort

Photoshop Elements also has an automatic photo collage creator with templates. I don't generally like these because I want more creative control.

But, if you would like to try it, at the top right of the Photoshop Elements screen, you will see Edit, Create, and Share. Click on Create, then Projects, then Photo Collage, and follow the instructions on the screen. Above is an example that I created using this option.