INTRODUCTION
Here we will combine 2 pictures on one background for printing.  Along the way some keyboard shortcuts will be introduced.

DOWNLOAD TWO PICTURES
Open your browser and navigate to this lesson.  Click HERE to view picture 274a >  restore your browser and move to reveal part of the Desktop > drag the picture onto the Desktop > click Yes.  Click HERE and repeat for picture 274b.  Open Photoshop Elements > close the Welcome screen > maximize Photoshop Elements > hold the Ctrl key and click the O key (Open) > navigate to the Desktop > select 274a.jpg + Open.  Repeat for 274b.  Close all palettes except Layers (open if necessary by clicking Window + Layers.  If the Layers palette is attached at the top, click and drag the little rectangle below the title bar.  The rectangle is located left of the L in Layers).

CREATE A BACKGROUND LAYER
On the Shortcuts bar, select the New icon > set Width 14 inch, Height 11 and Resolution: 200 > click OK.

PREPARE AND MOVE PICTURES ONTO THE BACKGROUND
Select 274a.jpg > press the M key (Marquee Tool) > drag a rectangle near outer edge of picture > click Select + Feather > size = 20 + OK > click the V key (Move Tool) > drag picture onto the background layer.  Repeat for 274b.jpg.  On the Layers Palette, double- click the boy picture’s name and type Boy > click Enter > rename the girl’s picture too.

RESIZE PICTURES
Select Boy > press V > hold the Shift key and enlarge to fit the background leaving a small border > repeat for Girl back and forth until borders are even > use arrow keys to make small adjustments.  If top border is larger than side, it’s OK to release the Shift key and distort the pictures slightly in the vertical direction until borders are even.

CHANGE BACKGROUND COLOR
Click “Change foreground color > select black + OK > select the Paint Bucket Tool > make the background active > click anywhere on the background.

CONCLUSIONS
You are not limited to 2 pictures.  The background color can be changed for best effect.  Try to have the same resolution on all pictures.  It may be necessary to try different resolution settings for the background to simplify sizing and fitting the pictures.

GOOD WEB SITES:
LEISURE VILLAGE1: http://leisurevillage.us
LEISURE VILLAGE2: http://leisurevillage.org
BILL’S HOME PAGE: http://bzus.com
LV COMPUTER CLUB: go to Leisure Village1 and select Our Computer Club
LV CAMERA CLUB: go to Leisure Village1 and select Our Camera Club