Note: Tutorial demonstrated with Photoshop Elements 3.0.

Even though ScrapSimple Paper Templates are designed to make unique papers, they can also be used as overlays that can give your layouts a soft, unified look.

Layout by Durin Eberhart

	Note: Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Digital Layout Templates: Agency 1, ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Urban Four and ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Beads 2 are also available.

In this example, ScrapSimple Digital Layout Template: Agency 1 was filled with various papers from the Amber Romance Collection, Desert Sun Paper and Country Boy Paper. The layers were merged and the Wood Grain Template from ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Urban Four was placed on top. I experimented with Blend Modes on the template layer until I liked the effect; in this case, I chose "Soft Light." The effect is subtle, but gives even more unity to these coordinating papers.

Layout by Durin Eberhart

	Note: Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Christine Biggie, ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Textile, ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Urban Four and Birds of Fancy Brush Set are also available.

In this example, several papers were made using ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Shine (retired), Christine and Textile, each with a different background color. The layers were merged and again, the Wood Grain Pattern from ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Urban Four was placed on top. I chose the Blend Mode "Screen" for this layout, as the lightening effect worked well with my color choices and the subject matter.

Layout by Durin Eberhart

	Note: Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Digital Layout Templates: Agency 2 and ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Urban Four are also available.

For the layout above, ScrapSimple Digital Layout Template: Agency 2 was filled with paper from Atlantis, Butterfly Garden, Claire (retired) and Heather. My photo was placed behind the template and trimmed as needed. Once again, the Wood Grain Template from ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Urban Four was placed on top, but this time also covering the photo. The Blend Mode I chose for this layout was "Luminosity." With a Sea Sponge Eraser set at 25% opacity, I carefully erased the template area covering my subjects, leaving as much of the wood grain as possible to really make the photo become part of the background. The alpha and embellishments from Amber Romance were added.

Even though ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Urban Four were used in this tutorial, other templates may be used. Experiment with different templates, papers and Blend Modes to create your own unique layouts.

Tutorial written by Durin Eberhart