Use Photoshop Elements to create Simple Quilt

Before we get too far along with this tutorial I want to talk about using the GRID in PSE. PSE allows you to turn a grid on and off and allows you to “SNAP” to the grid (just and easy way to make sure things line up)

You can check your grid settings by going to the EDIT menu at the top left. From here click preferences and from there click GRID. A menu will pop up where you tell PSE how many divisions you want your grid to have. I usually have mine set to Grid Every 1 inch and subdivisions is set at 8. Once that is done click OK.

Now to turn your grid on and off you can go to VIEW along the top menu bar. To turn the grid on, make sure there is a check next to GRID. Also from this same menu, go down to SNAP TO and select GRID to turn this feature on.

Phew, now on to the fun stuff. Just like yesterday open both the Block picture and the quilt background PSD document just like yesterday. You can go between these 2 files by clicking them along the bottom of the workspace. To start with bring your quilt block up on the work space. Now you want to copy this to the quilt background. To do this use your MOVE tool (top of the left tool bar) and click on the block and drag it onto the Quilt Background document on the bottom. When you do this you will go to the quilt back ground document and the blcok will be on it.

Here you can use your MOVE tool to move your block all around. Place it somewhere in the upper left corner.

Now let’s have some fun making copies. Once you have your block placed. Using your MOVE tool click on the block HOLDING DOWN the ALT key at the same time. Another copy of you block will appear.

Now is the time to play. Create multiple copies of your block and arrange them on your background. If you want to make things line up, make sure your grid is on. Here I have created a quilt with 9 blocks.

You will notice that every time you create a new copy of the block a new layer appears in the right hand Layers menu. Once you are ready to finalize your design you can select all your layers by CNTRL Clicking on each individual layer. Once they are all highlighted you can right click and chose merge. This will merge the image into one layer that you can save just like a picture.  I realize that the blocks are a little small compared to the background. Here I cropped it just the same way as I did yesterday except I used a 5” x 5” crop from the Aspect Ratio drop down menu at the top of the workspace.

Here it is all saved like a picture.

OK, so that was very technical. Sometimes when I am learning something new like this it feels like someone is speaking to me in a foreign language. If you feel this way it really helps to PRACTICE.

If your head is just spinning, check out Jessica Sprague’s wonderful classes. There is even a get started for free section. Just go to:

http://www.jessicasprague.com

 

I will be picking the Miss Kay winner later today.

Comments

[Ellen]

Thanks Erin for doing this, looks like fun. Can't wait until this weekend to have time to play. BTW, Amazon had PSE10 for about $63.

[Elizabeth]

Thanks so much for this tute. I have this program and have not used it too much. Now I can.

[April Forristall]

Hi Erin,
I couldn't sleep tonight and open the blog and to my great surprise you had the tutorial started. I love it and can't wait to get started.
Thanks so Much!

[Costumesmegastore.com]

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