Templates are a great way to make cards, layouts and embellishments. You can quickly and easily create a well laid out project. ScrapSimple templates are delivered as individual PNG files to make them more versatile. You can choose to use all or only some of the template pieces, or mix and match template pieces.

When you use a template, you will need to assemble it first. If you copy and paste each PNG into a new .PSPIMAGE, PSP centers it. This can make it difficult to position each piece exactly where it belongs. I have spent hours on one template dragging each PNG in and trying to get it into place.

The frustration I have experienced is where ScrapSimple Assemble Tools were born. Necessity being the mother of invention, I knew there had to be an easier way. Now, all you need to do is run the proper script for the size of the template on each layer and then copy and paste them into a new .PSPIMAGE. Everything lines up right where it belongs.

ScrapSimple Layout Templates are either 12X12 or 8.5X11, but we also have many templates that do not fit into these sizes. I created a few scripts that will position each PNG after resizing the template. With the Rectangle Scripts, I have included three scripts that will resize your template to 11X8.5, 8.5X11 and 6X4.5. The Square Scripts include three scripts that resize to 12X12, 8X8 and 6X6. You should choose the script that is closest in shape and size to the template you are working with, always resizing up and not down.

The Script toolbar is found under View> Toolbars> Scripts. I have mine checked and docked with my toolbars, as I use these all of the time. I am using Jan Hick's ScrapSimple Crafts: Greeting Card Gift Set for this tutorial. I start by opening the black base layer.

We need to know the original dimensions of the card. To find this information, go to Image> Resize. A dialogue box will open with the original dimensions indicated at the top. Write them down and then click "Cancel."

There are a few key buttons on the Script Toolbar. The Select Script Menu has an arrow which allows you to choose the script to run. The "Run Selected Script" arrow is the button to actually run the script and the Execution Mode toggles between either Simple or Interactive Mode. We want this script to run as it is, so don't change the Execution Mode. Some digital scrapbooking scripts, like Lori Cook's Silver and Gold Scripts, allow for user interaction. You would turn it on when using them.

It's time to run the script on the base layer, so which one do we choose? Click on the Script Tool drop-down menu and find the folder where you put the scripts after you downloaded. They should be in your "Scripts_Restricted" Folder. To see all of the options available, click the "Resource Manager" button (circled in red). We are going to use the resize to 8.5X11 script, as our template is 7X10 and we want to make it just a bit bigger.

Click the "Run Script" arrow and we now end up with an 8.5X11 image with a transparent area around the template. Edit> Copy and Edit> Paste As a New Image. Rename your NEW template and save it as a .PSPIMAGE. I save it with the same name as the template and in the template folder. This makes it easy to find later when I want to reuse it. Close the original WITHOUT saving changes. We do not want to save the template with the script run on it, but as it was when we first opened it.

Open each layer and run the SAME script on them. Then Copy> Paste As a New Layer into your .PSPIMAGE. Save when you are done. You now have an assembled template that you can use over and over!

There is one last step I like to take and that is cropping the template back to its original size. Activate your Crop Tool, check the "Specify Print Size" on the Tool Bar and set your Width to 7 and Height to 10 (red circles). These are the numbers we wrote down earlier.

Double-click on the image and we have cropped the transparent area away. Save again and you are ready to start working on your card.

Card by Dee-Ann Decker
larger view

	Note: Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Tools-PSP Script: Assemble Layered Templates - Rectangle 7502, ScrapSimple Crafts: Greeting Card Gift Set, ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Acrylic Bubble Buttons, ScrapSimple Tools - Scripts: Silvers 4602 and Lettering Delights Nuptials Font are also available.

Tutorial written by Dee-Ann Decker