Today I received an email from a reader of the post In The Swim asking for help in created this type of collage in Lightroom.
The collage is 8x8 and uses 2 large vertical photos and 2 small horizontal photos. So here are some instructions on how to create it. Once you have mastered this technique you will be able to create photos of any size you want in any quantity.
The collage is 8x8 and uses 2 large vertical photos and 2 small horizontal photos. So here are some instructions on how to create it. Once you have mastered this technique you will be able to create photos of any size you want in any quantity.
To create an 8x8 collage in Lightroom (updated for LR5).
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1. Go to the Print module.
2. Begin by selecting a Custom Package.
3. Click on Page Setup to ensure you have US Letter (8.5 x 11 inches) selected.
4. On the right side of the screen, expand your Rulers, Grid & Guides panel. Switch on Show Guides.
5. Then expand your Cells panel. Select 4x6 and it will add to the sheet of paper. If it adds a border then you'll need to remove it in the Image Settings panel by switching off the Photo Border option. I like to keep the Inner Stroke option selected to create the white line around the photo and because it's an Inner Stroke it's inside the 6x4 and doesn't make the page wider.
6. Adjust your image boxes to be only 4 x 5.53 inches by playing with the Adjust Selected Cell Height and Width. Notice you can move the sliders or manually type in the number of use your arrows to go up and down. Position your box in the top left corner.
7. Once you have the box the perfect size you can hold down your Alt Key and then click and drag it to make a duplicate box which you'll position at the right edge of our imaginary 8x8 sheet of paper (note you are likely to have an 1/8th inch margin so take that into account.
8. Then add another cell that is 2.47 x 4 inches and position it in the empty corner space. Again press the Alt key and click and drag a second copy into the other corner.
9. In the Template Browser select the + sign to create a New Template.
10. Enter a template name "8x8 - 2v + 2 h" (this format tells me the size and how many vertical and horizontal photos I can add, and that the vertical photos are larger than the horizontal because they are first at a glance). Click Create.
(Note: if you have to edit after you create the template, you right click the template name and select "update with current settings".)
11. The image you see in the center which says Marina Garrison Photography, is the logo image prepared in advance in .png format. To switch on your page identify plate, expand the Page panel, select Identify Plate and add it from the drop down menu. If you don't have an existing logo, you will need to Choose the image from the Image Options panel.
You could also prepare a large amount of text as a .jpg image to insert into one of the cells.
12. To add the images you simply select your photos before going to the Print module, then drag them from the area at the bottom of the screen into the cells you created.
You should now have a collage similar to the one in the post. This template is reusable and can be used as a starting point for making additional templates - try making one with 2 large horizontal photos and 2 small vertical photos next.
Have fun with your Lightroom photo collages!
Edited (09/15/2012):
Instead of steps 2 and 3 above, you could also select Layout Style > Custom Package and Cells > Clear Layout. This will give you a blank layout to start out with.
To change your page size, select Page Setup and select your paper size.
Edited (09/15/2012):
Instead of steps 2 and 3 above, you could also select Layout Style > Custom Package and Cells > Clear Layout. This will give you a blank layout to start out with.
To change your page size, select Page Setup and select your paper size.
FaceTime and imessage are really useful tools for communicating. My kids have iPod Touch devices but I had always thought that they needed email addresses to use FaceTime.
If you are like me, the thought of setting up an email address for your 7 year old is scary. You know there will be the usual spam that you'll have to delete etc. And you wouldn't dream of allowing them a private communications channel that you didnt monitor.
Anyway for Gmail users I've got a solution that doesn't require a real email address.
In the iPods settings for FaceTime and iMessage add an email address in the following format:
Username+uniqueid@gmail.com
Username is your regular gmail username and uniqueid can be anything like +iPod or +kidname.
Gmail has this quirk that any time the + is used it ignores it and sends it to the main email address. You will receive an email apple asking you to verify. Go ahead.
Once done you simple add your kid to the contact book with the fake email address. Then open FaceTime or iMessage and use that contact.
Simple!
If you are like me, the thought of setting up an email address for your 7 year old is scary. You know there will be the usual spam that you'll have to delete etc. And you wouldn't dream of allowing them a private communications channel that you didnt monitor.
Anyway for Gmail users I've got a solution that doesn't require a real email address.
In the iPods settings for FaceTime and iMessage add an email address in the following format:
Username+uniqueid@gmail.com
Username is your regular gmail username and uniqueid can be anything like +iPod or +kidname.
Gmail has this quirk that any time the + is used it ignores it and sends it to the main email address. You will receive an email apple asking you to verify. Go ahead.
Once done you simple add your kid to the contact book with the fake email address. Then open FaceTime or iMessage and use that contact.
Simple!
Now that we are back at school I'm making 3 school runs a day again! It's hard to find things for "I" to do while we are waiting so we play with the various painted lines on the playground. I'm really not sure how you are supposed to play with a Tic Tac Toe board on the ground. Are you supposed to use stones or other markers? How would you remember which boxes you'd filled already? Instead we make up our own games.
Our kitchen is under renovation so I'm trying to get the kids out of the house as much as possible while C drywalls, muds, sands, paints etc. By far the easiest place for us to go for some fun is our community swimming pool. It is an indoor saltwater pool and most of the time it's empty so it's like having your own private pool - and because it's indoors it's usable 12 months of the year!
This time I elected not to swim (note: my bathing suit was worn just in case) and to shoot photos of the fun instead.
It only took about a dozen attempts to have all 3 kids look at the camera and smile-ish (yes, I's face is completely forced but it's a start right!).
Photo: D7000 & 24-70 2.8, collage made with Lightroom 3.
Sometimes it's just too hot here in Kelowna. We took a trip over to Kettle Valley's water park earlier in the week to cool off from the 31C heat.
The water park is a little known treasure for families. While not as big as City Park or Rutland's Ben Lee water parks, it is almost always deserted which makes keeping your eyes on three kids *so* much easier when there is only one parent around. It is also gated so your little ones can't disappear on you.
Photos: Nikon D7000 & 80-200 2.8.
The water park is a little known treasure for families. While not as big as City Park or Rutland's Ben Lee water parks, it is almost always deserted which makes keeping your eyes on three kids *so* much easier when there is only one parent around. It is also gated so your little ones can't disappear on you.
While K and J had a great time, little I still won't venture into the water (although she insists on putting on a bathing suit so I live in hope!). In fact, when pressed I get *attitude* like this:
Anyhow, everyone had a great time even if they didn't get wet ;)
I bet you were wondering what happened to the cupcakes! Well here's a peek...
