Blog Collage Freebie!

Long time no see!!! I’ve been super busy with my portrait business over the past several months and unfortunately haven’t had a chance to add any new products or any other type of update for The Collage Connection! That is all about to change though!  I want to start off the summer portrait season with a fun share: a Blog Collage freebie! I just updated my portrait blog and set up a new basic set of templates for blogging sessions. I love that I have a great option of working with horizontal or vertical images in these templates.

Tech details – the collages are set up at 1200×1600 pixels. You can easily upsize PRIOR to inserting images, or downsize before or after you have added your images. They are layered and images are inserted using the clipping mask option in Photoshop (instructions included.)  If you are using Photoshop Elements, you may need to Google “Photoshop Elements Clipping Mask Tutorial” for specific instructions on how to insert images into the various layers.

Click HERE to download the Collage Connection Blog Collage .zip file

blogs for photographers, blog collages for photographers, photoshop collages

Show & Share | Many Thanks Card Template

A little thanks goes a long ways… right?  Well, then this template is a little thanks to all of you who have supported TCC over the past year! It also serves as a great template to make your own “Thank You” card to include with your client orders (or to anyone you need to say “Thanks!” to.)

The card is designed as a 4×5.5 flat card that meets WHCC guidelines. It’s two sided – one side features an image and fun background text graphic and the other side has just the PERFECT amount of room for you to write a quick note to show your appreciation. All colors are completely customizable!

DOWNLOAD HERE – Many Thanks Card

Download available until 12/31/10


Show & Share | 5×7 Border Template

Happy November!!! Here is a quick Show & Share for the month!

4×6 image opening with a border – total size is a 5×7. Perfect for mounting in an album or as a mounted print within an image box!

DOWNLOAD HERE | Collage Connection Border 1 Link Expired

Expires 11/30/10


Show & Share | 10×20 4-Square Collage Template

I am so excited to share this template as a free download. Don’t let the simplicity of the design fool you – it’s fantastically versatile.  Hang it horizontal or hang it vertical! There are three image border options – the classic square, shabby borders or modern rounded corners. Seriously – a little bit of everything all wrapped up in one little .zip file!

DOWNLOAD LINK | 10×20 4 Square Collage Template EXPIRED


Show & Share | Simply Shabby 3×3 Accordion Album

Wowza – where has the past month gone?  Between all the end of school-year activities and the baby boom that is also known as June, I’ve been busy busy busy!

Hopefully you’ve had a moment to check out the new mini-square accordion album templates in the store – these things are wildly popular and just as cute as can be!  Being that I am still in the “honeymoon” stage with this new product, I thought I’d put up a very basic “Simply Shabby” accordion album template for this week’s freebie template.

The colors of the background and the borders are changeable – the sample show is a modern gray on gray color scheme, but the true possibilities are endless.  For some color inspiration, I suggest you check out Portrait Allure’s posts on the subject – some great ideas!

DOWLOAD LINK | EXPIRED!


Show & Share Wednesday | 3×3 Brag Book Template

I’ve always been a fan of the little Ventura 3×3 mini-albums made by Renaissance Albums (find them at albumsinc.com). If you aren’t familiar with them, definitely check them out as they make a fabulous bonus or gift item and are the perfect size for a purse (so your client can show off your beautiful work to all of their friends!)

To obtain the 3×3 prints, I use a 10×13 template that has ten 3×3 squares. This is perfect to upload to the lab (I always get lustre coating!) and then I just trim down to size with my Carl 18″rotary trimmer. I put a foil sticker in the back of the album that has my logo on it (I get my logo-labels from Rubber Duck Design) and slip the whole thing into a 5×7 organza bag from Papermart.  Oh, and don’t forget to put a few business cards in there for your client to give to their friends!)

LINK EXPIRED

Link expires 3/31/10 at 11:59 PDT.

Show & Share | 3-Panel 5×7

I recently sold a gift certificate for my baby’s first year plan and the gifter asked if there was a way to create an item that the recipient could actually unwrap at the shower. My solution was to create a 5×7 collage of images from a baby’s first year series and then the gifter could put it into a 5×7 frame and wrap that up as a gift, along with the gift certificate itself. The gifter was thrilled with the idea and I was rather pleased with how it turned out – so I thought I’d share it!

The 5×7 collage includes three panels with the shabby border – there is also a set of traditional solid image frames if you do not want to use the shabby borders. (Note: the background used in this image is not included.  Font shown in sample is Bickham Script Pro.)

DOWNLOAD: 3-Panel 5×7 Collage

Expired on Friday, March 26th at 11:59pm.

Show & Share Wednesday | Digital File Packaging Kit

I keep it VERY simple when it comes to my digital file packaging – everything can be done in-house by me (I print with an Epson R1800 printer) so that I am not waiting on items from my lab or if I have a hiccup with something (i.e. the CD doesn’t burn properly) I am able to make quick adjustments and not fall behind on my workflow for that client.

Here are the supplies I use:

DVD Cases – Uline.com (I love that I can include a 5×7 card that contains a usage release letter and printing instructions on the inside of the case.)

TaiyoYuden/JVC White “Printable Hub” CD – Meritline.com

Epson Premium Matte Paper – Amazon.com

As I mentioned, my printer is an Epson r1800, which I love, though I don’t really need the wide format option.  What you want is a printer than can accept printable CD/DVD media and I recommend checking out the Epson models for this feature.  If you get a printer that can print the media, but may not do that great of a job printing the covers, you can upload the covers to the lab of your choice, which I have done before.

For this weeks Show & Share, I have my DVD Case template along with my printable CD/DVD template.  The standard “how to use our templates” instructions are included, but if you have any questions, please let me know. :)

DOWNLOAD LINK – will expire on Tuesday, March 9th at 11:59 pm MST. EXPIRED!

COVER

Back                           Spine                      Front

Sample CD (showing with “printable hub”)

Show & Share Wednesday | Basic 16×20 3-Image

Last week on The Collage Connection’s facebook page I asked for requests for upcoming Show & Share templates. Heike asked for a basic 16×20 template, so hopefully this is what she had in mind. :)

DOWNLOAD LINK Expired!

Download will expire on Tuesday, February 20 at 11:59 PM MST

View all of our 16×20 Collage Templates – 16×20 Set I and 16×20 Set I {Rounded} are now $10 off!

What I love about the 16×20 templates is that you just have to rotate them and you have a whole new look!

Photoshop Tip: To rotate your canvas, go to IMAGE>ROTATE CANVAS> and then select one of the options.

Show & Share Wednesday – Promotional 20×30 Collage

I came across this great blog – BRAND CAMP BLOG – and they had a nice entry about how to promote your portrait business in a cost effective manner. As I read, my eyes zoomed right in on the headline “When it comes to displays, rely on collage to sell your work.”

A single 20×30″ canvas featuring your favorite four to six images and logo will go a long way toward selling your work.  Buying 6 20×30″ canvases for a space is going to put you back $600-$800, a costly solution when you plan to change the images out every four to six months.

DING DING DING! Gee, I know a thing or two about collages and thought that this would make an awesome Show & Share Wednesday item. :)

So here you go. This is actually the 20×30 I will have printed as either a flat-wrap canvas or gallery wrap canvas for a couple of silent auctions I have coming up this spring.

DOWNLOAD LINK – EXPIRED!

Download will be active until Tuesday, February 9th at 11:59 MST.