Featuring Resizing 12” x 12” Layouts to Optimize Performance
 and Print on Standard Size Printer

Below is a quick tutorial on how to reduce the working file size of a layout template with Paint Shop Pro 8 (PSP) in order to optimize performance, as well as print on standard format printer.  As stated in our product overview, the .psd files are large files and we recommend at least 256 KB RAM on your computer. Thanks to design team member, Leila, for her input on this tutorial! 

After completing the exercise, you should be able to:

1.      Create a scrapbook layout using PSP with the help of a layout template!
2.      Resize the layout to improve performance while customizing it into your own creation.
3.      Once complete, resize to desired print size for printing.

 OPEN PAINT SHOP PRO AND TEMPLATE:

·        Insert “simply elegant” CD in CD drive.
·        Open Paint Shop Pro 8
·        Clicking on the top menu, select File/Open and open “Wedding_tulips.psd” from your CD drive in the 12 x 12 Layouts folder.
·        Since the templates were created to work with multiple software packages, there may be some features not supported by
      Paint Shop Pro, and the following dialog box may appear.  If so, just press OK and the file will open. 

·        The layout opened just fine, only the drop shadow is missing from the photo mat.  See our other tutorials using PSP for more help on drop shadows.

RESIZE LAYOUT TEMPLATE:

• A good working size for a 12” x 12” layout is 8” x 8”.  This is also a good size for printing 12” x 12” layouts until the new EPSON 12” x 12” scrapbook paper is on the market.  There are albums and frames in 8” square format, which would be perfect to display your layouts.

• Select Image / Resize from the menu (or Shift +S) and the following dialog box appears:

At the top of this dialog box, you will see current dimensions and resolution (12 inches square and 300 dpi).

• Using Print Size section, adjust size to 8 inches for width and 8 inches for height, checking “Resample”, “Lock” and “Resize all layers” boxes at bottom, and keeping “Smart Size” selection in Resample section.  Smart Size is PSP’s recommended option.

• Save File: It’s now a good idea to save the file on your hard drive as a .pspimage to retain layers and for optimimum performance. 

·        Make custom layout changes.  In the layout below, I added the photo, changed the orientation and size of photo mat,
     changed colors of the two background papers, and added a date.  See our tutorial on changing colors in PSP for more
information on these techniques.
·        Since the paper and photo are to be the focus, I kept the layout very simple in design. 

·        Resave layout file.
·        If you want to print as 12” x 12”, resize back to original dimensions, keeping all the bottom check boxes checked and using
        Smart Size. Save to a different name, in case you are unhappy with the results.  My recommendation would be to save it with
        a _12 at the end of the name to indicate size.
·        These steps should help optimize performance during your design process, while retaining high image resolution.

Michelle