Our ScrapOver templates are a hit because they are simple to use and help you get so much done in little time!  Here’s a quick breakdown of the steps to use them with Paint Shop Pro. Most other image editors that are compatible with PNG formats would follow similar steps.  Our sample is using the versatile Natural Beauty 8x8 ScrapOver Album, which includes eight designer-pieced 8x8 templates, word art and extra elements.

See our selection of Downloadable ScrapOver Templates here

What you’ll need:

•  Corel® Paint Shop Pro® (version Photo X2 used in tutorial)

• ScrapOver template of choice

• Photo(s) in digital format

You’ll learn how to make:

•  Finished layout ready to print, e-mail, or post to on-line gallery

Open Paint Shop Pro Photo

Open a ScrapOver template within Paint Shop Pro Photo:

Choose File>Open and browse your system for the template you want to open. We chose NB ScrapOver 1.png from our Natural Beauty Album.

Click Open. 

Notice the transparent openings for your photo, which is what makes ScrapOver templates so easy to use!

Open  Photo(s)

Choose File>Open and browse your system for the photo you want to open. Click OK to open.

Tip: To open more than one photo in the same folder, simply hold the Ctrl key and click multiple images, as I did.

Tile Images

As shown in the main window,  there are 3 images, plus the template open. Paint Shop Pro opens all images in same window.

Tip: Tile the open images to see them more easily. Select Window>Tile Horizontally (or preferred layout).

Paste Photo(s) onto Template

1. Click on one of the photos to make it the active file (will come to front in main window of screen).

2. Select Edit>Copy.

3. Click on Template image.

4. Select Edit>Paste as New Layer to paste photo on template. See in Layer Palette at right that photo layer is on top of template.

5. Repeat for other images.

6. Close all images except template (which should have all images pasted onto it).

Resize and Reposition Photo(s)

With the Pick Tool selected (second down), drag the corner pulls of the photo by dragging inward to size to photo opening in template (dragging outward decreases quality of image, so use carefully).  Also, rotate if needed.

If desired, rename this layer (named Layer 1 or Raster 1) to 'Photo 1' to help distinguish it.  To Rename, right click on it in the layer palette, select Rename, and give it the name of your choice.

Enhance your photo, as needed, such as adjusting the levels, brightness/contrast, or curves, etc. Select Adjust>Brightness and Contrast> and select option desired. Paint Shop Pro also has awesome menu led Smart Photo Fix (Adjust>Smart Photo Fix).

Repeat for all photos.

Tip: You can increase or decrease the visible size of the active image by using the scroll key on your mouse. Try it!

Move Photo(s) beneath Template

In the Layer Palette at lower right of screen, select this photo (the layer named Layer 1 or Photo 1).

Click on the thumbnail image and drag downward in the layer palette, so it is now below the template.

Voila!  The photo is now perfectly sized and has an awesome realistic shadow around it.

Repeat steps if there are openings for more photos.

Add Title Art & Elements (optional)

Many of our ScrapOver and Quick Page Album Kits have additional title art and elements for you to make the page even more your own. This kit in particular has many different vacation words, staples, and button. As with opening multiple photos, hold the Ctrl key while clicking on multiple files.

Add these to the page as you added photos. Position and size as desired. You can even change the color (Select Adjust>Hue and Saturation>Hue/Saturation/Lightness).

In the sample shown, a staple, 2 pieces of title art, and 3 buttons were added (two were re-colored with technique above).

Add Text

To add journaling, click the Text Tool (A icon) on the tool bar and choose font and settings from Tool Options menu across the top of screen. Be sure you are on a layer above the photo and template layers in the Layer Palette. In the Materials Palette at right of screen, click on Background color and set to desired color.

Tip: Set Stroke Width to 0 if you don't want a border around your text using the Foreground Color.

Place cursor in position on layout where you want title to appear.

In Text Entry dialog, type journaling, adjust position and size, if necessary. Click Apply to accept.

Add additional text in different fonts and colors, if desired.

Add Drop Shadows (optional)

If desired, add drop shadow to title art or elements, for added dimension, like on the Beauty title art.

Select Effects>3D Effects>Drop Shadow.

In dialog, set a small shadow from top left (default). I like to use 3, 3, 40% for my settings. Click OK.

Tip: Click the top box, Preview on Image to see what the drop shadow will look like.

Save and Print Layout

You’re done!  Save as a .pspimage format file to retain layers (choose File>Save As>pspimage) and high quality jpg for printing.  Print at any square size on photo paper using the highest quality setting. This set is 8x8, but some of our templates are 12x12. If you do not have a wide format printer and want to print at 12x12, check out our printing article to learn about other options.

Save as .jpg format to share on the Internet (resize to 72 dpi for this option).  Good luck enjoying the ease and versatility of digital!

Happy creating!

Michelle Shefveland and Team