Making a  Poster in Photoshop

Use the following steps to make a poster with several images on it.

Step 1: Draw out the layout first so you have an idea of what size each image should be.  You can adjust the image size, but a rough idea will help.   Use vertical (or portrait) format. 

Step 2: Open Photoshop.  Go to File, New,

          This window will pop up.  Set the preset

          drop down menu to custom as shown               

          which will automatically set the width to                                                                      

          11 inches and the height to 17 inches.

          Name the image if you wish. Don’t change                                                              

          any other setting and hit OK.

Step 3: You now have a blank canvas that looks like this:

Open all of the images that you want on your poster in Photoshop.  They will automatically overlap each other. When done, click on one image to begin working on it. (All images should already be adjusted with levels, cropped, etc. for the best possible image).  Go to Image, Image Size, and under “Document Size,” type in the Width and Height you want your image to be. (Usually less than 3 inches a side) Click OK and the image will be resized.

Step 4: On the tool bar click on the Rectangular Marquee Tool (in the upper left-hand corner).

 The cursor will turn into a "+" sign.  Put this in on one corner of your image and click and drag to

draw a rectangle around your picture.  Your picture will now have a series of

“marching ants” around it.   Now click on the icon next to the Marquee tool,

the Move Tool.  The cursor will turn into an arrow shape.  With the left

mouse button pressed, click anywhere in the picture and drag the photo

over to your blank poster canvas.  You can move the photo anywhere

you like at any time by clicking on the layer that includes this photo.  

Repeat for all 15 of your images.  Once you get them on the page, move each image around until you like the layout.  Be sure to leave room for some brief text. HINT: In order to put the marching ants around each image, it may be necessary to enlarge the canvas slightly.  Do this by moving the cursor to a corner of the window with the photo in it – it will turn into a 2-sided arrow. Click and drag to enlarge the canvas until you can see all the edges of the photo.

Step 5:  Putting in text- Click on the T on the tool bar.  If you click anywhere on your poster it will put a bar cursor to show where the text will begin. At the top of the screen, just under the blue bar, are size and font windows so you can choose what font you want to use. Be sure to include a “photos by” attribution somewhere on your poster. 

Step 6: Print your poster using 11”x17” paper.  You will print one for each person in your group. 

OTHER HINTS: Be sure to vary the sizes of your photos.  It can be boring if each image is the same size.  You may include captions if you wish, but they are not required.

Grading:

Includes all 15 elements:                     5 pts

All Elements Correctly Identified:          5 pts

Creativity of Photos:                           5 pts

Quality of Photos:                              5 pts

Creativity and Quality of Poster:          5 pts

Total Points Possible:                        25 pts