Filling a Simple Template using Digital Image Pro 10

Filling a simple blank template using Digital Image Pro 10

This mini-tut will show with screen shots & notes on them, some of the steps I use to fill a simple template with a background graphic and/or color and add graphics on top of the background. **Parts of this page updated January 2007**

Some tips I use when working with Templates:
Use the rulers on your workspace for sizing your templates.
Print out a blank first and fold and assemble to use as a model.
Test first the sizing for printing, try printing Exact size, or try printing Fit to printable area etc.
Some template creators will give advice either on the template itself or on the webpage you find it about what size the assembled template should be. Print out any pictures of a completed template and or information included on a website that you might find helpful later on in assembling your template. Keep all informational printouts or pictures in a 3 ring notebook for Reference.
Mark up the model that you print, draw in with pencil the orientation of how a graphic or wording should be placed.
Then unfold and have the "model" in front of you as you work with the template on your workspace.
I usually DO NOT Remove the white inside of a template, when using Digital Image Pro. I prefer to have control of "selection" on specific areas of a template. If I removed the white beforehand, that would make the insides of the template transparent, and I would not be able to "select" the inside areas with my Magic Wand and choose how I want to "fill in that area". Most crafters that make the template transparent first, do it so they can "lay the template" on top of a background. I prefer to select areas with magic wand and "fill" with a background or color.
**Sometimes Template creators choose to create the template with transparent sections. For me - I then add a white filled shape behind the template, and then group the 2 images together, as one graphic. This then allows me to use the Magic wand to select the insides of the template.

**The Basics of how I fill in a template
**Filling in the Lines with color or patterns
**Adding lines to dotted lined areas so that you can select
specific sections with Magic wand
**Working with PNG or Transparent Templates.

**More Learning sites for Microsoft Digital Image software owners

Note: if you are looking for a specific template
I have a webpage which has resource links to the many websites with free Blank
or Ready to Print, Fold and Go - Templates that can be used for business or crafting.
visit: http://www.teas2dine4.com/4templatelinks.html
Remember to READ the Terms of Usage (TOU) and or Copyright information that template creators offer on their websites or in downloaded info, for ANY/ALL of the templates you use for your crafting projects.
At the end of this mini-tutorial I list other sites that offer tutorials for Digital Image Pro or Digital Image Suite

For this example I am using a the Bow Tent Template designed by Shirley Titus
http://www.sweetestthings.com/
Free templates **be sure to read Shirley's "Terms of Use" (TOU) for her templates:
http://www.sweetestthings.com/computer-crafts-templates.html
The first thing I do, is open my Digital Image Pro software Program, I just open to a workspace, I don't choose to open or create a project, I just open program to a gray area workspace. (at this point all of my buttons, etc are grayed out)

Next I open my pcHugbug Deluxe Browser, where I have access to the majority of my graphics. You also can open any folder on your computer to access the graphics that are in it, and drag the images directly from those folders into your Digital Image or Digital Image Pro workspace.

I decide what graphics I may want to use on the project I am working on, I may gather graphics and or backgrounds from different pcCrafter creatables and or other graphic collections I own. Each time I come across a graphic I may want to use, I click on it with my mouse and I hold my left mouse key down and drag the graphic to the open DIP program workspace. **You may see a circle with a line across it as you drag, but when you reach the open workspace of DIP, the circle should change to a plus sign, let go of your mouse and the image should appear in your workspace. As you continue to bring in graphics, each one will replace the previous one, and be on your workspace, the previous graphic will go to your FILES portion of the program.
For this example I will be using graphics from Debbie Mumm's Spring Bouquet Creatable.

This screen shot shows some of the buttons or tools in my DIP prograam that I may refer to in this mini tut.

Please NOTE: When working with Graphics from your Files, Your Stack and your actual
Canvas or Object/Graphic you are working on in the Workspace - It is helpful to first
click on the SELECT tool and then on any other tools such as the Magic Wand or
to Move something, or Apply an Effect etc. - Using the Select tool you select the
object or graphic you want to do something with.
Example: if you use the magic wand on a section, and then decide to get a graphic from
your files to drag over to template, your magic wand stays active, so to de-select the
magic wand, just click on the SELECT arrow tool first, then drag your graphic from the files
or Select the template by clicking on it, and it should de-activate the magic wand action.
When I am ready to work on the Template I scroll through the FILES that I dragged into the program and double click on the Template, and it now is on the workspace. I think of the graphic or template or if I create a new blank file as my CANVAS - where I will be creating my final graphic compilation.
You can also at this point go to EDIT MENU and choose to DUPLICATE the Template image, and work with the Duplicate. That way there is no danger of you saving changes to the original inadvertently. You should always save any changes that you apply to the original graphic on the workspace with a different name, so as not to change the original name. When closing out of the DIP program, you may see a prompt, asking you if you want to save changes to the ORIGINAL Graphic File. Always SAY NO!!
Once I have the template and have duplicated it - as my Canvas, I go about filling in the background of the template. I click on the magic wand tool, and place it inside the black lines of the template and click - inside the area I want to fill with a background, a pattern or color.
The area(s) that I select will now have small black dotted lines, and they will appear to be moving (these lines are often referred to as Marching Ants) any area that is surrounded by those marching ants, can be filled with a color or a background graphic, a photo, etc. .
See below for how I would go about filling in the lines with a color or background to match the
template body

If I want to fill more than one area at the same time, I can hold down my keyboard shift key as I select the different areas of the template.

Next, to fill the template, I choose from the EFFECTS MENU, the choice of Fill with Texture or Color, and on the next screen is the option of Color, More Color options, Gradient Color and Picture.
If I want to fill area I selected with a background graphic, I click on PICTURE, the next screen asks what Picture I want to use, Is it in my FILES or Do I have to open it from some other location on my computer.
Since I brought over the graphics I want to use, I scroll through my FILES and click on the one I want to use as a Fill, DIP will show you what it looks like, and you can see if you are satisfied with the choice you have made, before you click DONE.

If I am happy with the choice, I click Done and my template is back on the workspace.
Please NOTE that for filling small simple templates, I prefer to fill each section one at a time with a patterned background, and I usually just select the section, fill it, then select the next section and fill it with the same pattern, etc.
You will find in DIP that your pattern will fill the space selected with a background in porportion to the space itself, meaning a large scale pattern will scale itself down to fit inside the section you chose with the magic wand.
If I choose to fill more than one area at a time with a large scale background, it will scale itself to fill that entire area, and the pattern will appear larger, than in smaller spaces.
It's just a preference of mine, and depends on the actual pattern of the background, you may find that filling in all areas at once with certain backgrounds, to look just fine. And if you are using a color to fill areas, choosing all the sections at the same time is the way to go.

When I have filled in all of my backgrounds, I am ready to layer on other embellishments or graphics. I need only to drag the graphics I want to use, from my FILES, I scroll through the FILES of Graphics I brought into the program and select one by clicking on it and I just Drag to the template. Once on the template I can size it and place it anywhere I want, I can rotate it, duplicate it, apply effects to it, etc.

Note: the center section of this template is filled with a color,
when I chose to FILL area when selected with Magic Wand,
I chose from Effects menu >> Fill with Texture or Color, and on next Screen I chose More Solid Color Options, and using the Eye Dropper, I picked up a color from the background graphic of green and it filled that section with that color.
This is a nice feature, when trying to match up colors within a graphic.
You can always move eyedropper around picking up other colors
and seeing how they look in selected area, before deciding to click Done.
And you can also use color wheel and create your own color to fill with.

If I need to remove the white surrounding a particular graphic, I use my SELECT button and make sure I am selecting the graphic I want to remove the white on, and then I click on the Magic Wand and I click in all the areas surrounding the graphic that I want gone, again you should be seeing the marching ants, and to pick multiple areas I hold down my shift key.
Note: Keep the "tolerance" level for your magic wand at about 10 for selecting the white areas around the graphic - the higher the tolerance the more of a specific color or shades of it, you magic wand will select. The magic wand selects areas surrounded by a border or inside a border, so if there are breaks in a graphic on the lines in the drawing, and or white in those areas where the break is, your magic wand may select those white areas inside the graphic itself, then lower the tolerance. If you still find it is selecting too much white inside the graphic, you may need to draw in a free hand line around that area.
Ok, once you have the white around the graphic chosen and you see the marching ants, then just click or press your keyboard Delete key and the white should be gone.
Note: if you see when viewing any graphics in your pcHugBug Deluxe Browser, that the graphic itself has little or no white inside it, you may elect to Hold down your keyboard shift key as you Drag it to the DIP program. It won't look like it, but when you bring it over like that - the white surrounding the graphic will be gone. Because the workspace or canvas on DIP is White, you don't realize the white is gone till you go to layer it against another background or next to another graphic. If for some reason this hold down the shift key as you drag and then drop in DIP, you can still select white with magic wand, and then press Delete key.
Related: I created a web pages showing how I remove the white around graphics using
the features of Digital Image Pro 10, Paint Shop Pro 8 and Adobes's Photoshop Elements 2.
See: http://www.teas2dine4.com/whiteouts.html
You can choose to apply effects like drop shadows, to the graphics you layer on the template. You can copy parts using the free hand selection tool, and then paste and move or place on the template in other areas of template, etc. You can insert text. You may also draw around parts of any graphic with free hand tool and delete parts of the graphic. Everything you do, and each graphic element you place on the template will be in the STACK - (in my program space I have the STACK and FILES located off to the right of my workspace area) click on Files and Stack to view or hide these areas. I prefer to see them. When I want to work on any part of the template I select the part from the STACK by clicking on it.
You can only work on areas that are "selected" or highlighted in the STACK.

My Template is now complete and I can save it
for future use and/or print it.
Please note that when I save it, I will name it a name
different than original template, and I will save it to a location
on my computer that I have designated for such files or graphics.
Do NOT save changes to the ORIGINAL Template or Change its
original name. If you want to, when bringing the original
template to your workspace, You can Duplicate the Image first
and only work on the Duplicate. When you close out of the DIP program if it asks you if you want to save changes to an original graphic file, always SAY NO, save ORIGINALS in same name and same format.
I usually choose to save such graphic compilations in PNG format.
When I re-open saved PNG graphic compilations that I created using Digital Image Pro, all of the items or parts used to compile it that were in my STACK ( NOT the ones in that were in my Files) will be available for me again, and I can change of edit any of those parts.
I would name this creation a name that is something easy for me to remember and associate it with (such as teatentblufloral01.png) and save this template to a folder on my computer or one of my drives that I have created for storing such graphics.
If I want to work with the same background, but perhaps add or layer other graphics to the template or add text etc. - I can copy just the filled background layer and open a new document and "paste" the background of the template and continue to drag from my files new graphics and/or add text etc. I would then Name and Save this completed template with a new but similar name such as teatentblufloral01b.png **all images named 01b- thru whatever I would know that all the 01's share a similarity of design or coloring.

I crop the template to just surround the template graphic and I note the size, of it by my rulers along top and side of workspace. If it is the size I want for printing, I will choose Exact size from my Printer options.

Here is that template (it has been reduced in size for posting on the web)

See below information about how I would go about filling in the lines of the template.

Further NOTES and Tips
It is important to remember, That you can UNDO every step you have done while working on a graphic compilation. Choose from the Edit menu - UNDO, and it has in its memory all the past actions, you can undo as many times as you want to get back to a specific point and start again from that point.
The shortcut key for UNDO is hold down your keyboard control key (Ctrl) and the letter Z.
Control and the letter Y is ReDo.
Control and the letter D is Duplicate.
When you open the various menus, look to see if there is a shortcut key for the function - across from it.. Write it down on a piece of paper in front of you, for future reference or better yet make a shortcut index card and put up near screen.

Filling in the Lines on a template with a color or pattern
Some templates have very black lines, that some would prefer not show up, you can see the thick black lines in the template I used for this example in the top bow section of template.
You can fill in the lines of the Template by first deleteing the "white from surrounding the actual template image" Click on the outside area surrounding the template, you will see the marching ants, next click on your keyboard Delete key. You won't see any difference as the "canvas" in Digital Image software is "white" but if you delete the original white - trust me the background actually is transparent.
OK - now click on all the areas inside a template, using the magic wand, and using the Selection box - click on the word Invert. Doing this will switch the marching ants from surrounding the inside of the template to surrounding just the "Lines".
Next from the Effects menu choose to Fill the selected area with Texture or Color and from this point, you can choose fill with Color, Gradient Fill colors or Picture such as a background paper that you may have open in your files area.
(Note: if Selection box doesn't come up when you select the Magic Wand tool, click on the word Selection in your tool bar area and it should show up)
The following are some screen shots of the process of how I made a Halloween Tent.
For this I used Gina Jane Johnsons "Candy Corn" graphics collection, formerly available from pcCrafter as a Creatable, now available in png format (no white surrounding the graphics) from her DAISIE Company website.

You can choose to fill the Selection using the
Effects menu option of Fill with Texture or Color
or
Choose to use the Transparency option and fade out all the lines
I chose to fill the lines with a background paper I had open in my Files area
and that I will use to fill in the square areas of the template.

I next filled in the template following the same steps as noted above in the beginning of this tutorial
I chose to leave the center section are as a solid color to help me with the fold lines when printed.
**note if you should cover any lines that you might need to help you know where to score and/or fold the template, be sure to have printed out the "blank" white template first and assemble to use as your model

Here are some pictures of a completed and assembled Candy Tent
one of the variations I made of this Tent -
I didn't have a hole punch for this sample so the lining up
of the ribbon closure isn't quite centered - this is just a prototype sample.
** I layered over the tear drop openings with the candy corn graphic
so that I didn't have to worry about cutting out the holes

Back side of candy tent

I now have a new home online over at DAISIE Company.com's forums
I am the Mary of the Ask Mary forum.

Adding Lines over Dotted lines so that you can select specific areas of a template
Some templates may have dotted lines to show where the fold lines are, but if you select sections with your magic wand the wand will go through the dotted lines or any broken portions of a line. If you don't want to fill an entire area - you can place lines on top of the dotted lines and then group the lines and the template into one graphic.
To Group items - place/position all the lines. Next click (hold down your keyboard control key as you select) on each line in your STACK area and the template graphic.
Once all has been highlighted and selected press your keyboard Control Key and the Letter G for Group and the graphic should group together as one. You also may see a Lock icon at bottom of work area, and you can choose to click on the Lock to lock all the pieces together, versus using the Control Key plus the letter G method.
Next you would be able to select sections within those solid lines with your magic wand and fill those selections with backgrounds, pictures or patterns or colors of your choice
Here below are a few screen shots with notes showing how I added lines - using Insert menu and Insert Line, and placed them over the dotted lines of the template. **Remember do this on a Duplicate of the template, and to NOT CHANGE YOUR ORIGINAL TEMPLATE!!!
** Also printout a blank of the original template, and fold and assemble and make any notations on your sample for future reference** You can use just regular paper if you want to for your sample / and future referece
For this example I am using a free Pinchbox template from Dazzlemania.com

Now that I have sections with solid lines surrounding specific areas I can select the sections
with my magic wand and fill with backgrounds, colors, photos, or patterns.
I can then drag graphics from my Files area, that I brought into my program to use on my
template compilations. I can also choose those graphics in my STACK area and apply effects
to them individually using the Effects menu options.

Next I can use the ZOOM tool (in right hand upper corner of tool bar area) and ZOOM in
on the Lines that I may not want to show in the final printed item. I select the lines with the Magic Wand
and next choose the Transparency option from the Effects menu. I can fully fade out the lines.
If any areas or lines still show on the template - I often will copy specific areas using the Marquee
drawing tools (either the shape or freehand tool) and draw around similar colored or patterned areas
and copy and paste those areas onto the lines I want not to show.

**Note: when using the Marquee drawing tools, you can click on the word "Selection" and the Marquee tools
screen will show - and you can choose the Adjust Marquee, which allows you to move, position and
resize your selection that you drew.
You also can Copy your selections, Cut out your selections etc. by clicking the Copy icon in tool area
and to cut the selection out of your graphic - example you drew on a Heart shape, and want that section
cut out of your background - you can click on the cut (sissors) button and that selection will cut out the heart
from the background, you could then put a photo or graphic inside that section or place behind it.
Here are pictures of the Pinch box ** I just printed out on regular paper and added a ribbon I had.
This is for DEMO only. I usually don't actually print and assemble many crafts -
I am more of a "graphics player" just using my software programs and seeing what I can do "on the screen".

Notes on Graphics used:
I used graphics from the PC Crafter Creatable :A Mothers Garden by Beth Yarbrough.
Note:Not all graphics used in my project compilation are included in the
"A Mothers Garden" creatable currently for sale at PC Crafter.
Some graphics were part of a Free download offered, by PC Crafter in the Cafe Diva
during the Spring of 2006, and may no longer be available.
Please contact pcCrafter.com to inquire about any availability of past Cafe Diva offerings.

Working with PNG or Transparent Templates :
Some sites such as DAISIE Company may have templates available for free and/or to purchase that are in PNG format - The PNG formatted templates are "Transparent" which means that when using them in Microsoft's Digital Image line - there is nothing inside the lines of the template for you to select with your magic wand.
What I do in such cases is that I first duplicate the PNG template using the Edit menu option of Duplicate whole image. Then on the Duplicate I use the Insert Menu option of Insert a Shape such as a square or rectangle.
I fill it with white or another color and place it "behind" the template (Use the Format menu - Move to back option - or drag the shape in your Stack area and place it below the Template image). Next I use the Edit menu option of Group or Flatten all objects. I name and save this template. Now this image has "selectable" areas for me to select with my Magic Wand.
If you choose not to do this - You can work with the Transparent areas of Template - First DUPLICATE the original template using the Edit menu option - Duplicate whole image and use the Duplicate to create your project.
You can place a background pattern "behind" the open areas of your Duplicate PNG transparent template and size and adjust it's placement in the open areas of your PNG template.
Then you can layer your other graphics and/or text etc. on top of your template image.

Added information January 2007
On this Template - I added a "stitching" to various parts.
Most graphics and backgrounds by Gina Jane Johnson @ D.A.I.S.I.E. Company.com and the Heart on Patchwork Quilt graphic is by pcCrafter artist Melissa Saylor found in the Creatable "Cute Valentines"
Rina Kroes at Scrapbook Elements has created a Brush that can be used by Digital Image Pro owners
**Rina also has her own Blog @ http://rinakroes.blogspot.com/
She even offers a FREE single white Stitch to download
and see new instructions to download for using the Stitch Brush on this page - scroll to near bottom of page.
If you purchase any of the Stitch brush sets (I bought vol 1. which contains all stitches - they are straight stitch - in various colors) there are complete instructions included telling you where to install them and how to use.
See http://store.scrapbook-elements.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=78_167 for more information or to purchase your own Stitch Brush
**Please NOTE: It has been my "personal experience" that these Stitch brushes may only work in the newest versions of Digital Image. But your own experience may be completly different and the Brush may install and work just fine in versions of DIP 10 and up. I own both DIP 10 and Digital Image Suite 2006 - and I was only able to get the stitch edge effect to work in my Digital Image Suite 2006 version. I used my Digital Image Suite 2006 to complete the template shown above.

My webpage shows only some of the BASICS of filling a simple template
and layering a graphic on top of it. And it shows how "I" do it. You may find different ways to accomplish the same tasks.
You can experiment and go beyond these basics, by just pressing buttons, applying various effects to objects, etc. You can use the Marquee shape tool, and draw a shape on the template and fill that shape with a background graphic or a color etc. You can arrange graphics anyway you want, use the Format menu to move graphics forward or backward of each other. Just have fun and start simple and then experiment with different effects and options later on.

Looking for a specific Template?
I have a webpage which has resource links to websites with free Blank
or Ready to Print, Fold and Go - Templates that can be used for business or crafting
visit: http://www.teas2dine4.com/4templatelinks.html
Looking for Sayings, Poems, Quotes to use on your crafting templates?
Find many website links to sayings, poems, scrapbook toppers, verses, writing etiquette,
gag gift sayings, and much more:
visit: http://www.teas2dine4.com/4sayingsnquotes.html
Need Fonts?
Find website resource links for free Fonts and Alphabets | included are website links to information about downloading and installing, organizing Fonts.
visit: http://www.teas2dine4.com/4fontslinks.html

LEARN MORE..

Please NOTE - as of Spring 2007 :
Microsoft has announced that they no longer will produce the Digital Image line of software.
Excerpt quoted from Microsoft
Microsoft has discontinued its line of Digital Image Suite products*. Many of the digital imaging features and tools that have been enjoyed for years now can be found in new Microsoft titles and services including Windows Vista™. For more information Click Here

These products will be available in retail outlets while supplies last.

Customers will receive product support for up to three years from purchase date or through April 30, 2010, whichever date is reached first.

*Discontinued products include Digital Image Suite Anniversary Edition, Digital Image Suite Plus (paired with Pinnacle’s Video Editing Software) and Digital Image Standard.
Read more about the annoucement at:
http://www.microsoft.com/products/imaging/default.mspx
and
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/features/experiences/memories/default.mspx

Links to some Tutorials online for Microsoft Digital Imaging software
Other related mini-tuts I have made - for working with Graphics using Digital Image Pro 10
Sizing a Sigtag or graphic for posting on the web, by sizing the CANVAS to the size you want final graphic to be.
Visit: http://www.teas2dine4.com/hugbees/maketagwdip.html
Sizing a Graphic for PRINTING, by sizing the CANVAS first to the size you want the Printed graphic to be
Visit: http://www.teas2dine4.com/hugbees/maketilewdip.html
I use as my example - sizing a graphic for printing to use for a 4 x 4 inch ceramic tile graphic.

The DIP DIVAs : Shellyrae and Kim, have a wonderful web-blog, which includes
links to their Tutorials and other DIP helpful information.
They also offer lots of Freebies to download and Information and Tips about using
Microsoft's Digital Image line of software.
http://dipdivas.blogspot.com
Learn more about Digital Image Pro
MarysGraphics.com has excellent tutorials for
all versions of Microsofts Digital Imaging software programs
http://www.marysgraphics.com/picit.html
See also Scrapbook-Bytes tutorials for Digital Image Pro
*click on tutorials and then choose Digital Image Pro
Register for free at Scrapbook Bytes for access to their messageboard
forums, and you can post questions about DIP.
And download the many Digital Scrapbooking freebies and or items such as brushes offered to Fourm registered members, etc.
Kim Lizzy's Digital Image Pro Tutorials
http://www.members.iinet.net.au/~kimlizzy/index.html
Other useful Software Tutorial (all types of software not just DIP) Links to explore: Note you don't have to be a digital scrapbooker to utilize many of the useful tips and/or information on how to do things with your software programs.
Scrap Girls University
http://www.scrapgirls.com/SG_University_main.htm
Digital Scrapbooking tutorials - About.com Scrapbooking Guides' listing
http://scrapbooking.about.com/od/digitaltutorials/
Digital Scrapbook Place
http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/university/tutorials/tutorials.shtml
Read about plug-ins
http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/pluginsfilterseffects/
and
for DIP users **no I am NOT this Mary
http://www.marysgraphics.com/picit/dip/plugins/plugins.html
And from scrapbook-bytes.com
PROGRAM BASIC: Using Plug-In Filters in Digital Image Pro
By Shelleyrae Cusbert Nov. 2005
http://scrapbook-bytes.com/cgi-script/tutorials/publish/article_389.shtml

Go to>> pcCrafter MessageBoard Instruction Junction Forum
Go to >> pcCrafter MessageBoard General Chat Forum
Go to>> Microsoft Digital Image Forum at DAISIE Company

DaisieCompany.com (a.k.a. Across the Street) offers a wonderful line of
Printables / Kits / Templates for your Crafting Pleasure
and also Graphics sets, Scrapbooking sets and Much More
Link on over to D.A.I.S.I.E. Company and do some shopping and join in the fun and surprises of the Community forums.

Go to>> top of this page
This Page was created by LibMary October 2005
for informational purposes only!
To show how "I" use
Digital Image Pro 10 or Digital Image Suite 2006 software and it's features.
You may find different ways to utilize this sotware program
when working with graphics.
Page updated June 2007