Newbie needs help re: layered templates for photobooks

[JustBrenda]

I'm wanting to turn all the photos we took on a recent trip to New York City into a photobook. I know my way around Photoshop and have done a little bit with layered templates although I'm certainly not a digital scrapbooker by any stretch of the imagination.

I've found a set of layered templates here that would give me a good starting point but I know I'm going to want some photos to be larger than the template provides. How much flexibility do I have in manipulating the template? Can I resize, drag a photo over from Template 2 into Template 3 or an element into a blank canvas if I want a full-bleed photo, and generally have my way with the elements on the page or are things pretty much locked in place? I could understand if they were...I just want to know what I'm in store for before I hit the buy button.

There's clearly much talent and experience here...I've been viewing many of your books on the thread devoted to photobooks and am so inspired. Or is it overwhelmed? Any advice you can offer would be appreciated.

Brenda

[Jen D]

If it is a layered template you are purchasing the sky is the limit. I change them all the time. I make them bigger, smaller, turn them side ways and even eliminate some of the elements if they don't fit the page.

The only product that has locked features are "Quick pages". They don't have layers to manipulate and are just meant to drop your photo into

Hope that helps!

Oh and Welcome!

[anke]

Well, Jen already answered your question, but I just wanted to say welcome to DD! A whole set of layered templates is really the way to go for a project like this. The pages are designed to go together, which is a great starting point. The flexibility is awesome, you can do whatever you want with them. I can't wait to see what you'll come up with!

[JustBrenda]

Thanks so much, Jen and Anke. Your reassurance that I could adapt the templates was just what I wanted to hear! Now we'll see if I can get the vision in my head out through my fingertips and onto the screen. I've been fascinated with the idea of digital scrapbooking for a long time but I've only taken baby steps. This may push me over to the dark side.

[echogirl]

Welcome to DD! That's how I started as well...my photobook was simpler though..I used this template series Blocked and Framed Layered Template Book - Digital Scrapbooking Templates ! My husband loves it still!

[Wyldfyre63]

Brenda,
I use template sets for almost all of my photobooks. Anna Aspnes has several photobook template sets that even include the photobook cover, spine & back. I love them. They offer so many variations. Have fun shopping! (Be careful...it's addicting)

[readstoomuch]

Brenda . . . if you click on this link you can view many Shutterfly books made by the ladies here at DD. Some of them are made with templates and some are collections of various layouts. You may get some ideas of template manipulation from these. Have fun with your travel photos and welcome to DD!

[esther_a]

If you have in your head the idea of resizing things and moving things from one template to another you're already thinking like a digi scrapper and since you are familiar with photoshop it will be full steam ahead!

[digigrandma]

Welcome to Designer Digitals, Brenda, and best of luck with your project. I think you've got the right idea to use a template set and have fun arranging the page to suit your needs. I bet your album will be awesome.