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Print photos in a picture package layout


 

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Flexible picture packages with Smart Objects

Michael Hoffman
Lay out a custom package template in Photoshop CS5.

    Place multiple photos into a picture package

    To use the optional Picture Package plug-in described below, first download it for Windows or Mac OS. You can also create picture and custom packages in Photoshop Lightroom, if you have it. See Choose a print template in Lightroom Help.

    With the optional Picture Package plug-in, you can place multiple copies of an image on a single page, much as portrait studios do with school photos. You can also place different images on the same page. You can choose from a variety of size and placement options to customize your package layout.

    A picture package layout
    1. Picture Package is an optional plug-in. Download and install it for Windows or Mac OS.
    2. Run Photoshop in 32-bit mode (64-bit Mac OS only).
    3. Do one of the following:

      • (Photoshop) Choose File > Automate > Picture Package. If you have multiple images open, Picture Package uses the frontmost image.

      • (Bridge) Choose Tools > Photoshop > Picture Package. The Picture Package command uses the first image listed in Bridge unless you select a specific image before giving the Picture Package command.

      If you’re using only the frontmost image or a selected image from Bridge, skip to step 3.

    4. Add one or more images to the layout by doing one of the following:

      • In the Source Images area of the Picture Package dialog box, choose either File or Folder from the Use menu and click Browse (Windows) or Choose (Mac OS). If you choose Folder, you can select Include All Subfolders to include images inside any subfolders.

      • Click a placeholder in the preview layout and browse to select an image.

        Click a placeholder in the Picture Package preview layout, then browse to select an image.

      • Drag an image from the desktop or a folder into a placeholder.

        Add an image to a picture package by dragging the image from the desktop into a placeholder.

      You can change any image in the layout by clicking a placeholder and browsing to select an image.

    5. In the Document area of the Picture Package dialog box, select page size, layout, resolution, and color mode. A thumbnail of the chosen layout appears on the right side of the dialog box.
    6. Select Flatten All Layers to create a picture package with all images and label text on a single layer. Deselect Flatten All Layers to create a picture package with separate image layers and text layers (for labels). If you place each image and label on a separate layer, you can update your picture package after it’s been saved. However, the layers increase the file size of your picture package.
    7. In the Label area, choose the source for label text from the Content menu or choose None. If you choose Custom Text, enter the text for the label in the Custom Text field.
    8. Specify font, font size, color, opacity, position, and rotation for the labels.
    9. Click OK.

    Customize a picture package layout

    You can modify existing layouts or create new layouts using the Picture Package Edit Layout feature. Custom layouts are saved as text files and stored in the Layouts folder inside the Presets folder. You can then reuse your saved layouts. The Picture Package Edit Layout feature uses a graphic interface that eliminates the need to write text files to create or modify layouts.

    1. Do one of the following:

      • (Photoshop) Choose File > Automate > Picture Package.

      • (Bridge) Choose Tools  > Photoshop > Picture Package.

    2. In the Picture Package dialog box, choose a layout from the Layout menu if you’re creating a layout or customizing an existing one.
    3. Click the Edit Layout button.
    4. In the Picture Package Edit Layout dialog box, enter a name for the custom layout in the Name text box.
    5. (Optional) In the Layout area of the Picture Package Edit Layout dialog box, choose a size from the Page Size menu or enter values in the Width and Height text boxes. You can use the Units menu to specify inches, centimeters, pixels, or millimeters.
      Dragging a placeholder to a new location in the Picture Package layout
    6. In the Grid area of the Picture Package Edit Layout dialog box, select the Snap To option to display a grid to help you position the elements in the custom layout. Enter a value in the Size text box to change the appearance of the grid.
    7. To add or delete a placeholder, do one of the following:

      • Click Add Zone to add a placeholder to the layout.

      • Select a placeholder and click Delete Zone to delete it from the layout.

    8. To modify a placeholder, select a placeholder and do any of the following:

      • Enter values in the Width and Height text boxes to resize a placeholder.

      • Click and drag a handle to resize a placeholder. If you resize a rectangle placeholder with an image in it, Picture Package will snap the image within the vertical or horizontal placeholder, depending on the way the zone is being resized.

      • Enter values in the X and Y text boxes to move a placeholder.

      • Click and drag a placeholder to the location you want in the layout.

    9. Click Save.

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