How to Use Photoshop to Create an eCard

• by Tracy C.

Introduction

• If you have Photoshop installed on your computer, you can easily create your own eCards with layers of images and text. Use your own images to design perfect party invitations, birth announcements, or just an excuse to say hi. And you're saving paper! Read on to learn how to make a simple eCard.

Step 1: Choose Your Image

• Select the perfect image to serve as the background of your eCard.

1. Upload any new images from your camera to your computer.
2. Open the image you'd like to use in Photoshop.

Edit Your Image

1. Before proceeding to next steps, take the time now to edit your image to the desired size and crop if necessary.
2. Remember when sending an eCard that you don't want people struggling to open a huge attachment. You might sacrifice some quality of the image to make it a reasonable size. Generally no wider than 500 pixels is appropriate.

Step 2: Use Layers

• Layers let you add text and work on your eCard as if you're using separate panes of glass that will be combined together at the end of the process.

1. Find Layer in the menu bar and scroll down to select New Layer in the drop-down menu.
2. Or, just start typing on your image using the text tool (as detailed in Step 3). Photoshop will automatically add a new layer of text.
   • 
3. Now you have a new layer to work on to which you can add text.
4. Your layers should appear in the lower right of your screen so you can manage them and switch between them if necessary.
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     Manage your layers in the Layer palette.
5. To switch to another layer, select a layer's thumbnail or name in the Layers palette in the lower right of your screen.
6. Your background will appear with a padlock icon to indicate that it is locked; this means you can only edit layers, not your original image.

Step 3: Add Text

• Creating a text layer will turn your photo into an eCard.

1. Click the capital T in the vertical palette at the left of your screen (see vertical toolbar at right; the T button is highlighted).
2. Point your mouse to the place in your photo where you wish to add text and click to set an insertion point for text.
3. If you know the exact area where you wish text to go, click on your image and drag a rectangle to create a text box.
4. Type as you normally would, hitting the return button (or Enter) to create a new line each time.
5. Click the Commit button in the options bar, press enter, or click outside your text box (but inside the image) to complete the layer.
6. As you add layers to an image, you should rename them using descriptive titles so that you can easily identify your different layers in the Layers palette.
7. If your text isn't exactly where you want it to be, click on the Move Tool button (at the top of the vertical toolbar) and drag it to the right place.

Experiment

1. Choose text color, font style, and size in the Options Bar, which is just below the menu bar at the top of your screen.
2. Click the T button with a downward arrow in the options bar to convert your horizontal text to vertical text, if you think it will look better.
3. Then experiment with your Styles and Effects menu to add shadows or other effects to your text. Using drop shadows can make your text stand out against an image.
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     Customize your text with Styles and Effects. To use drop shadows, click on the drop down menu that currently says "Bevels."
4. You can align text by using the same alignment tools you would use in a document. Center, left align, right align, or top align (with vertical text) to see what looks best.
5. You can also add shapes to your image using the vertical toolbar at the left of your screen (where you found the Text button):

• • 1. Select the Shape tool.
    2. Select what kind of shape you want. Your choices are in the options bar.
    3. Also on the options bar, select the color for your shape from the drop down menu.
    4. Point your mouse to where you want the shape; click and drag to the size you want your shape to be.
    5. If your shape is covering your text, use the layers panel to click and drag until your layers look right. Remember, a layer is like a pane of glass so you might need to switch them around when you're using opaque colors.

1. If you need to delete a layer, make sure you have the correct layer selected and either drag it to the Delete Layer button at the top of the Layers palette or click the Delete Layer button at the top of the Layers palette and click Yes in the delete confirmation dialog box.

Step 4: Merge Layers

• Now it's time to put your layers together to form your eCard.

1. Go to the Layers palette and select all your layers by holding down the Command key and clicking each layer you wish to merge.
2. In the Layers palette More menu (in the upper right corner of the Layers palette), scroll to Merge Layers in the drop down menu.
3. Now your layers are merged and only one should appear (locked) in the Layers palette.
4. Be sure to Save your image. A dialog box will appear asking if you want to Commit the image. Click Yes.
5. You may want to save your image for the web in JPEG format, which is the standard for compressing photographs. Photoshop allows you to determine the quality of your photo, and thus its size, for optimal images to be viewed online.

An image plus a layer of text and a shape will create an eCard like this one. (Photo by Mahalo)

For additional help

• Consult your Adobe Help Center.

Resources for How to Use Photoshop to Create an eCard

• Adobe: Photoshop Support Center
• Adobe: Adobe Help Center for Macs
• Adobe: Support Plans
• Adobe: Adobe Photoshop Elements 6
• Amazon.com: Books about How to Use Photoshop

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