This tutorial will teach you how to use basic tools and ScrapSimple Paper Templates to make your own papers in Microsoft Digital Image Pro. For this tutorial I am using the ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Leaves Biggie by Valerie Randall.

Open your template in DIP. At this point, it is always a good idea to duplicate the whole image under your Edit Tab so that you don’t accidentally save over your original template. These templates can be used over and over again.

Add a Shape Square. This will be your background layer. Drag the corners until the square is the same size as your template, 12x12.

Right-click and send this layer to the back.

Fill with a color, or paper. Go to Effects> Fill with Color or Texture.

Select your template layer from the stack. Go to Effects> Fill with Color or Texture, and then choose how you want to fill your template. At this point you can choose a paper, photo template or a plain color. I just picked a darker color.

These are the basics, now you can play with fun effects in DIP.

For this example, I used the "Watercolor Soft Effect" under the Filters Panel. If you want to soften an effect or color on this layer you can go to Effects> Transparency> Even and raise the transparency of the layer.

You can use effects and filters on one layer at a time or group them (press Ctrl while you select both layers, then right-click and choose "Group") and use effects on them together. Once you use effects on a group, it will automatically flatten the layers so that they won't come apart again. This can be undone, but you will undo any effects. I grouped the layers here and added a little texture with the "Crisscross Pencil Effect" Filter. This paper is done.

To make coordinating papers, use the same colors and similar effects using other templates from your set. Here is another paper I made, using Valerie's ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Beccy in this layout.

Tips:

• Some Templates will have images in grayscale. When you select your template layer to fill it, you can select an individual color of gray with your Magic Wand. Each individual color in the template can then be filled with a different color.

• Some grungy templates look great filled with white or black and made transparent (Effects> Transparency> Even). Different degrees of Transparency will give you different effects.

• Use your Magic Wand to select any part of the design and hand paint colors onto the template.

Tutorial uses:

	Note: Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Leaves Biggie and ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Beccy are also available.

Tutorial written by Melissa Renfro