Templates contain placeholders where you may drop images. If the placeholder does not currently have an image in it, it will be marked with a green rectangle. A placeholder that already has an image in it will not be marked, but will still function in the same way.
To place an image into a placeholder, simply click on the desired image from the pictures frame, while holding the mouse button down, drag the mouse cursor over the top of the desired placeholder and release the mouse button.
Your image should now appear in the active layout frame within the placeholder you selected.
Manipulating an Image Within a Placeholder
Once you have placed an image within a placeholder, you may edit the properties of that image, by left clicking that placeholder.
When you are editing the properties of an image, the 'Edit Image Properties' dialog box will appear. The selected image will be surrounded by a red 'Bounding Rectangle' as shown in the following diagram.
Resize
To resize the image, left click and hold any one of the four 'Resize Grab Points' that in the corners of the 'Bounding Rectangle' While holding down the mouse button, move the mouse so that the image becomes the desired size, then release the left mouse button.
Move
To move the image around within the placeholder, left click and hold any point within the 'Bounding Rectangle' While holding down the mouse button, move the mouse so that the image is positioned in the desired place, then release the left mouse button.
You should note that you are only able to move the image so that the edges of the 'Bounding Rectangle' never pass within the edges of the Image Placeholder. This prevents you from leaving any gaps between the template and your images.
Image Properties
The edit image properties dialog allows you to manipulate the image to obtain the most pleasing result.
Photo Layout allows you to perform green screen operations using this dialog. Green screen is an advanced topic, and will be covered in the section in 'Features of Photo Layout Event'
Other than green screen, the Edit Image Properties dialog allows you to adjust contrast, general brightness, and primary color brightness.
The digital photograph that you place within a template will most likely have been taken in different lighting conditions than any images in the template. You can compensate for this by adjusting the contrast and brightness of the image.
Photo Layout also allows you to adjust the brightness of each of the primary color components in the image. For instance, if the template contained images of a sunset, you may wish to increase the brightness of the red component for a more natural look.
Rotating an Image within a Place Holder
You may wish to rotate an image within a place holder by 90 degrees. This is useful if the photograph was taken with the camera on its end (ie. A portrait shot). To rotate the image, right click anywhere within the Image Placeholder on the template. Select the desired rotation direction from within the menu that pops up.
Removing an Image from a Place Holder
To remove an image from a place holder, simply right click any where within the place holder of the template and select 'Remove Image' from the menu that pops up.