Ploppers in Photoshop Elements :

by Angie Svoboda

Ploppers, are easy to use pre-made digital layouts. They are usually JPEG files or PNG files, they are sometimes called, quick sticks or easy pages. This tutorial will show you how to use a Plopper in Photoshop Elements 3, it can be used for Photoshop Elements 2 and Photoshop 7, and CS.

Open up your plopper. This example is a PNG file (I will explain how to use a JPEG Plopper later). You can see the transparent background through the image (the grey and white checker board).

The PNG files allow you to place your pictures behind the plopper. Think of thePNG Plopper as a frame, and we will be placing our picture behind the frame.

Open the picture you would like to place in the layout. Crop your image to the approximate size you need to fill up the cutout area of the plopper. Use the crop tool in the tools palette.

Set your size and resolution and then crop your image.

Edit > copy, and Edit > Paste your image on to the plopper document. (or you can click and drag the image into the plopper document.

Position your image by using the move tool.

Your image will be on top of the Plopper. Drag the image Layer 1 below the plopper layer 0.

Add and text and any other final touches you may have.

A JPEG Plopper is just like a background paper. You will just add your photos and text on layers above your plopper. The JPEG files will not have a cut out frame to add pictures behind.

Save and upload your layout to the DSP gallery.

Enjoy.