Free Photoshop Scrapbook Layouts for Blurb 10x8 inch Books

Feel free to change these layouts as you see fit. If you don't know what a layer is /does, simply click the little "eye" to turn the layer on and off so you can locate what is on that layer and if you want to keep or change it. To be able to make changes later, be sure to save your file as a .psd file. To be able to use it on blurb, you'll want to save it as a .jpg file.

Each file is zipped. To download, simply click on the picture. Files are quite large so please be patient. Files will open in Photoshop in .psd format when unzipped.

These layouts use "clipping masks" to reveal the part of the photo you want seen.

To use a clipping mask-

1. drag and drop your picture onto window. it should create a new layer automatically.

2. make sure this new photo layer is above the layer you want it clipped behind. then highlight the photo layer, right click in the grey area and click on "create clipping mask"

3. use your pointer tool to move the picture around. to re-size your photo, hit Ctrl-T to use the "transform" function. *hold down shift key while resizing to keep photo dimensions* (be sure to hit enter or the checkmark at the top when you are satisfied with the results)

when your clipping mask is applied, it should look like this:

It's simple to create your own layouts using clipping masks. My layouts are a little froo-froo with lots of extras for dimension and they don't mix well with the flatter booksmart layouts. So, to make layouts that  intermix nicely with the booksmart layouts when the program just isn't giving you the option you want, try making your own without drop shadows and texture elements.  The easiest way to start understanding what you can do is with the shapes tool.

1. create new layer

2. select shapes tool. locate shapes tool menu along the top of your work area. make sure you have it on "fill" and not on "paths" or something else.

3. choose and draw your shape (a rectangle is good). if you want to keep the dimensions for square or circle, hold down the shift key as you draw your shape.

4. drag and drop your photo onto a new layer above the shapes tool.

5. create a clipping mask on the photo layer by right clicking in the layers palette on the grey area of the photo layer and choosing "create clipping mask"

6. to move the photo and the mask around the page at the same time, highlight them both (highlight one, hold down control key and highlight the other), right click, and choose the "link layers" option.