Making a montage/collage

[Shinnen]

Hi,
A friend asked me to make a montage out of several photographs she has. Does Photofiltre 7 have this capability? If so, is there a video or??? describing how to do it?
Thanks,
...... john

[Tom]

Does Photofiltre 7 have this capability?
It woul be a shame if not.

They are so many ways to do that your imagination can find them.
You simply have to adjust the sizes of the differents image's copy at the same rate.
Then you paste ans copy on a same new sheet : the copy will be now as layers.
And you drag the layers to adjust the positions of the different images on the new sheet.

[Shinnen]

Hi Tom,
OK ...... that sounds fairly simple.
Does Photofiltre 7 automatically invoke layers, where is feels appropriate? I ask, because I changed the size of the section of a picture today, and it used layers to do it, where I could have done the same thing with Photofiltre 6..... no layers.
Thanks,
...... john

[Tom]

I don't understand what means : I changed the size of the section of a picture. Which function did you use ?

PF7 is exactly the tool you need to make a montage out of several images.
Whith PF6 you do in fact the same thing but after each paste, when you validate the paste, PF6 merges the (unvisible shape) layer with the background.
Result with PF6 : when you have pasted 3 images and want to displace the first, you need to undoo your previous work.
Result with PF7 : enable its thumb and you can displace directly each image or text layer.

To realise a fluently work begin by a model in lower size around 1280 x 853 pixels (3/2 ratio) and reduce the copy of 6 images to 480 x 320 pixels
Paste all your 6 images on the background model. They will be stack on the middle of the background.
Enable the layer manager tool (or W key) and you can place simply all the images with drag and drop or with the arrows.
(when the Shift key is locked you can displace the layer by 8 pixels with the arrows)

Working with layers needs an other point of view, and training your mind to see several ways to skin a cat
could be rather usefull in the real life too ?

Did you seen the documentation ? : http://translate.google.com/translate?h ... /index.htm

[Shinnen]

Thanks Tom.
As usual you've been very helpful.
I've been avoiding learning layers 'til now; but it looks like I'm going
to have to 'bite the bullet'.
....... john

[Tom]

I'm going to have to 'bite the bullet'.

Fine, I didn't know this idiom. In french we say something like : to swallow the pill, with the same sense as to swallow a bitter pill.

But don't be worried, when you will have finished to swallow the bullet you will feel very more light to juggle wilt the layer.

Think you have a map of your next home as the background, and each layer is a peace of furniture, you can displace without any tiredness.
Then you will find the layers are very usefull tools.

[Shinnen]

Hi Tom,
"... to swallow the pill, with the same sense as to swallow a bitter pill." Yes..... exactly the same thing.
"Then you will find the layers are very usefull tools." Yes..... I'm sure you're right.
Thanks again,
..... john