Working with pictures already created.....

Hello, this is my first post to the forum. I am also new to working with Photoshop. My question is this. I have a web site I would like to use, purchased it from someone who assured me all that I needed to do was "tweek it" to my clients taste. I am now having difficulties trying to put my clients images into the template. The mask which is on the layer is fine, what I would really like to do is to import or whatever it takes to get my client's picture in place of the template picture. I do understand there are layers, and that I need to be on the correct layer to make the change... my problem is that all I want to do is to drop my clients picture onto the layer instead of the template picture. My alternative was to attempt to recreate all the template web site in my own layers... but, that defeats the purpose of buying the template. What can I possibly do?

Penster

...not sure if this is the right way, but... delete the contents of the old layer (not the mask). Place your new image on a layer above the old layer, then from the layers pop-up menu (little black arrow in the upper right), select merge down... it should ask what you want to do about the mask... just select 'preserve', and your new image should be on the old layer with the mask... then you can reposition it or do whatever you want (assuming the image and layer aren't locked).

Hope that makes sense

That helped. I was able to add the image (odd way to go about doing what one wants to do). This begins the process of getting my clients items/pixs into the template. However it also now shows me that I have much much more to learn since I am seeing the original image DID NOT have a mask on it but instead it was the image which was somehow filtered and transparent with a curvature in it which was totally transparent to the layer belows curved picture. This is going to be much of a learning curve.

I now would like to know how to select portions of the picture I placed on this particular layer to work with it in the fashion I need to do. I am definetely out of my realm here. I have worked with "flat" pictures and selected with other softwares - however what I have learned in other programs are basic and staightforward. As I re-read what I have typed , I see my questions are totally vague and you need more detail. Sorry for this.... as I say I am new and felt I did know enough to do what I needed to do.

I put the .psd file out at URL
In the file you will find there are two distinct pictures (one on left and one on right). I will be removing one on left with the yellow totally showing thru... the one on right I would like to switch out for URL.

As you will see - I will need to place onto the stonequarry picture some transparency to allow the blue background to bleed thru, apply some kind of effect which will gradually fade the edges to soften as does the vignette effect on many photos, also some way to isolate the lower left corner as to totally allow the yellow layer below it to show thru with the curve found on that image/layer below has (and I do not know the steps to do any of which I mention).

Is there anyone willing to take a look see? And then advise?

Penster

I edited your file and place it at ftp.asap.net in the files from folder... named 'penster.zip' Please let me know when you get the file so I can deleted off of the server, thanks.

I created a masked layer for you to drop your new images into. The only way to get it to match the original would be to do each image individually (the feathering/erasing, etc.). I also created a masked layer for the smaller framed area... not sure if you need that or not, but... there ya go!

Hope it helps.