Newbie question

[marina013]

Hi, I am just starting to work through "getting started with Templates" which I bought here. Problem is I can't get past the first couple of steps.

1. I open a blank file & save it
2. I open up my template file & then the trouble starts!

My template is sitting over my blank file & over to the right in the layers, I can see all the layers of my template (OK so far??)

Now, the instructions say to drag those layers over to my new blank file & then close my original template without saving it (to preserve the original) I get that, but when I try to drag it, it won't let me & if I close my original template all my layers disappear too.

An observation that I did make:the picture in the instructions shows the new file in a window with the rulers around it etc & the template on another screen with the rulers etc. However, when I open my template, its sits directly over my new file, in the same window.

Where am I going wrong?

Oh, I have a PC & PSE 7

[mugsbigsis]

Welcome to DD! Sorry you are having problems. Just drag your windows so you can see both. Cassie explains everything so well and I know she'll be here soon.

You can drag from the layers palette, too. Just click on the thumbnail of the layer and drag and release over your page you are making.

[1gr8muggle]

Hi, Marina -

It sounds like you need to go to Window > Images > Cascade so that you can see all open windows and reposition them as needed.

Another alternative to my instructions is to just open the template and go to File > Save As then save it as the name of a layout. That way you save the original. The reason I do it the way the tutorial shows is because I like to create a blank layout document in my own color profile. By dragging the template to that blank document, I maintain the color profile. You could always just "Save As" and then change the color profile of the document by going to Image > Convert Color Profile.

If you have any further questions, feel free to email me directly with the email in the tutorial.

[marina013]

aha. Cascading the windows did the trick. Oh, boy have I got a lot to learn! Thanks so much to both of you. Cassie, I don't see an email address in the tutorial.
I've been saving elements, did the 2 journalling strips, then when I got to the diecut strip, first couple of goes, it was pasting the journalling strip again but then after a few attempts, 'copy' is faded out & I only have the option to 'copy merged'. I have obviously clicked something wrong somewhere!