Easy Way to Create a Triptych using Photoshop (or GIMP)

This months photo challenge is one of the hardest we've ever had here on Nikonites. One of the worries I had when preparing the challenge was whether or not people would be turned off due to the heavy use of computer skills as well as photographic skills. So I figured I would present a very easy way to prepare a triptych using Photoshop. I believe you can use this same technique using GIMP as well.

To begin with, bring your 3 images into Photoshop. Once all three are loaded, using the "Select" pull-down menu and select "ALL" (or keyboard PC = Ctrl A; Mac = Cmnd A). This will bring up the "dancing ants" that will surround your image. At this point go to the "Edit" pull-down menu and select "Copy" (or PC = Ctrl C; Mac = Cmnd C). This will send the copied image to your clipboard. Once there the Photoshop program "knows" the exact size of this image. This will be important in the next step.








Now that you have copied the image to your clipboard go to the "File" pull-down menu and select "New" (PC= Ctrl n; Mac - Cmnd n). When you do this it will pull up the following window you see below.









Note that the sizes listed below are based on the object that you have on the clipboard. (see the arrows)









Because you are planning on pasting 3 of these objects (all must be the same size, btw) you will need the width of your new window to be at least 3 times this number to accommodate all 3 images. But because you want a border around your triptych,you'll want to multiply this number by a number larger than 3. In this case I multiplied the width by 3.5 which gives you 13121. If you want a larger border then increase this number. Likewise, if you want a smaller border use a smaller number. You will now want to multiply the height of your new window by 1.25 to give you a border on top and bottom of your triptych. Multiplying 3047 by 1.25 gives you 3803.






Once you have the width and height changed click "Okay" and a new window will pop up. When you see this new window "paste" the image on your clipboard into this new window. (note I have chosen "black" as my background. You can choose any color you want. The background color option is in the window that we adjusted the height and width).









Now using the "move tool" that is in the top right hand side of your tool palette, move the image to the right hand side of your new window, as shown below.









Now repeat the "cut" and "paste" for the remaining images and you should end up with something that looks like this below. Note that I have clicked the option of grid snap lines so I can insure these images line up nicely with each other.










And now you have it. A quick and easy way to make a triptych using Photoshop. Please let me know if you have any questions!!

Dave

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