Printing Multiple Photos in Photoshop

One of the problems with printing in Photoshop is that it gives you a single photo on each page. This is fine if you print 8 x 10's on letter paper, but it's not so good to use a whole sheet of expensive paper for a 4x6 photo.

Photoshop, and many graphics applications have provisions for printing multiple images on a page, but unfortunately it is usually multiple copies of the same image, and usually in a predetermined size. What if you want to print some of your photos for an album, just one or two of each, and in all different sizes, without wasting paper?

This is actually very easily done in Photoshop, and the nearly identical procedure will work in Photoshop LE, Photoshop Elements, and Photodeluxe, though there may be slight differences. This procedure is not difficult, though you should expect to spend a little time learning it, then a while longer to get used to it.

There may seem to be a lot of steps listed, but once you get the idea, it is a very simple and quick way to print your photos; it is much more versatile than any of the automated programs that print multiple photos on a page, and it is ideal for making custom photo albums, where you don't want everything limited to the "standard" sizes. Take it step by step for a time or two, and it will become easy.

I have included the keyboard shortcuts for Photoshop 6. Where I know them to be different, I have included that information for Photoshop LE. I imagine the shortcuts are similar for Photoshop Elements, PhotoDeluxe users click here. The process is very similar, and easy in PhotoDeluxe also!

Use the keyboard shortcuts! They make things much faster once you learn them. Also, if you find a way that works better for you, use it. As in most Photoshop operations, there are numerous ways to arrive at the same result; so modify it to suit your tastes. I've only given the Windows shortcuts, so convert them to Mac if you use one.

Open a new image (ctrl-n), and fill in the blanks with the maximum page size for your printer and the size paper you are using. In the resolution box, you can use whatever resolution is suggested for your printer, I would recommend 200 for general purpose-fits-all, but if you're picky you may want to use 240 for an Epson, or whatever suits you for your printer.

The sizes given here are what I use for my Epson 870 set to maximum paper size for letter paper, however sometimes I use 240 for resolution, which is optimum for my Epson.

I'll refer to this page as the template, though it's really just a blank image. In fact, if you save this blank page, you won't have to type in the numbers next time, just open the template file.

Open your first photo. If you want the entire photo, use "select all" (ctrl-a). If you just want a part of it, use the marquee tool (selects a rectangle, key 'm' is the shortcut), and select the part of the photo you want.

With the "move" tool (key 'v'), drag the selected area or entire photo to the template. (the move tool is normally at the top right of the toolbar)

With the photo on the template, use the transform tool (ctrl-t) to size the image as you want it by dragging the corner while holding the shift key down. (the shift key keeps the image in the right proportions)

When it's moved and sized where you want it, press 'enter' to exit the transform tool.

Note: Photoshop LE doesn't have the same shortcut, you'll have to choose "edit...transform..." and choose what you want to do from the menu.

You can also quickly rotate the image 90 degrees using "Edit...transform...rotate...", as follows. This can help fit more images on the page.

Open the next image, and use the move tool (key v) to drag it to the template. If you only want part of it, use the marquee tool (key m) to select the part you want, then use the move tool to drag it to the template.

You can use the transform tool to rotate the image to make it fit in. Or, you can choose "Edit...transform...rotate 90 degrees xx" to rotate it for you in either direction. Then use the transform tool (ctrl-t) to size it as you want it.

The result is that you can fit horizontal or vertical images on the page to make the most efficient use of the space.

Proceed with the next photo. I've sized this one down a lot, using the transform tool. Let's say, though, that we want several copies of this photo to send to the bird's relatives. After you've sized and placed the first one, go to the next step.

On the layers pallette (and with the layer that you want to duplicate selected), choose "duplicate layer", then use the move tool (key v) to move the new layer where you want it.

Notice that every time you add a photo, Photoshop puts it on a new layer. This makes it possible to move or edit it later, without affecting any of the other photos on the page.

Hint: If you forget which layer a photo is on, choose the move tool (key v), and right-click on the photo; it will show the layer it's on at the top of a list; if you want to select that layer, just click on it's name in the list.

I've done this (duplicate layer) a couple of times, and moved them to the new locations, so now I have the 3 copies I need for the flamingo's relatives, all identical so no one will feel slighted.

Here's another way to do it. I've used the marquee tool (key m) to select a small area of the photo. I can choose Edit...copy from the menu, or press ctrl-c; either way will copy the selected area to the clipboard.

Then click on the template, and choose Edit...paste from the menu, or press ctrl-v, which will put a copy of the part you selected on the template.

Then use the move tool (key v) to move it where you want it, and/or the transform tool (ctrl-t) if you want to resize it. I did this twice here, every time you press ctrl-v it will paste another copy onto the template, just move it where you want it.

Here I selected a different area of the photo, and dragged it to the template with the move tool, then resized it with the transform tool to finish the page.

Print the page and cut out the photos.

Or, use the whole page in an album.

Or, make a collage; you can overlap the photos, twist them part way with the transform tool, and arrange them by selecting the layer that the photo is on, and then using the move tool to put it where you want it.