3 Girls, 1 Collage, and I'm stuck...

[SandeeWig]

I've made this collage of my three nieces to be a photo album cover. It'll be a printed 4x6 stuck inside the leather binding of a 100 page album. Therefore, the detail isn't necessarily that important, but if I ever wanted to print (or create) a larger version, I'd like it to look nice.

I'm using PS CS2, and have done about as much as I can think of at the moment. All images added using layers, masked to reveal overlapped corners. I considered adding additional pics, but I like the background with space for their names. I'm not particularly crazy about the straight line edges but couldn't get it to fade into the background the way I wanted it to. I'm pretty sure I know *how* to do it, but my brain isn't functioning properly or something...

I would really appreciate any feedback or suggestions about this collage on how to make it better. My PS skills are average at best, but I'm fairly quick so if you give me even half-arsed directions, I should be able to figure it out!



All comments, critique, feedback, suggestions welcome! Thanks!

[windrider86]

I dont know how this would look without trying it, but would you be able to add borders around the pictures of the kids?

[SandeeWig]

Originally Posted by windrider86

I dont know how this would look without trying it, but would you be able to add borders around the pictures of the kids?

I could try that...I'll work on it and get back to ya. Thanks wind!

[SandeeWig]

Here's a version w/ borders...not sure about the border color; thought black might be a bit too much, but I may go back and see...what do you think?



Pretty basic border - 3 px. Should I do some other kind of border, such as a drop shadow, or ...

[SandeeWig]

Okay...here's the black border version (am I posting too many here?!)...

Thank goodness for layers! Took about a minute to change the color of all of them!



ETA: Jayden's border (top left) didn't get feathered for some reason; I've fixed it to match the other two.

[lputman]

I don't think the black borders work for this or maybe a very thin one, 1 pixel.

[newPerspective]

What if you made the images smaller (not touching each other) and put them in oval frames, like a picture frame that holds multiple pictures. And then put their names next to the oval frames (center aligned). That might look good.

Not exactly like this: http://www.pinkribbonshop.com/produc...ge_surv_lg.jpg
But along those lines.

[windrider86]

Part of it the bottom image is far too wide. Bring in so the vertical lines are matched with the top one. or do it as a trypstitch (OK ok I know I spelled that wrong) but have the middle image either higher or lower so you could still put thier names either above or below thier photo

[lputman]

Originally Posted by windrider86

Part of it the bottom image is far too wide. Bring in so the vertical lines are matched with the top one. or do it as a trypstitch (OK ok I know I spelled that wrong) but have the middle image either higher or lower so you could still put thier names either above or below thier photo

Neat idea...something like this that I did?

[SandeeWig]

Thanks Lori, nP and wind. I agree that the bottom image is far too wide, should've cropped it in tighter like the other two (scratching head trying to remember why I didn't...if I even had a reason ).

I'm going back to the drawing board and will be back in a little while. Shouldn't take me as long this time around now that I have a little bit better idea of what I'm doing.

I like the triptych ideas, but it just needs to be vertical because of the slot in the album...

Please keep a lookout for me tonight. I really appreciate your feedback.