Why create a composite photo?

Because sometimes you want to show several things on one sale page, but don't really need a separate photo for each one.   This is especially useful for low-priced items where you want  to keep your listing costs down.   The example above was created for a sale in my store, The Happy Rooster, which offered 6 different squash seed varieties in one deal.   The photo lets me show all the squashes without spending a fortune on listing fees.  A composite photo helps keep the price of the seeds more affordable for my customers.  You can do the same with your items -- easily!

What software do I need to do this?

Any picture-editing program will do.   If you have something like PhotoShop, that's fine, but you really don't need such fancy software.  I created the examples on this page with a  program called Paint.NET which is 100% free on the Web.  (Sorry, I can't put a link here, but do a search and you will find it.)  If you have a Mac, you can find similar shareware or freeware graphics programs.  What you want is a program that will let you do simple cut-and-paste with photos. 

Here's how to do it:

In this next example (created for an heirloom seed sale), you see both a distance shot of a morning glory vine, and a close-up of the flower.  

To make this pic, I used a simple point-and-shoot digital camera to photograph the vine climbing on the trellis.  With the same camera, I also took a close-up of the flower by holding the flower in one hand and the camera in the other, so that my hand gives some idea of size.  These photos were then downloaded into my computer with the camera's software.  (If you are using prints instead, you can scan them into the computer.)

Next,  you start the photo editing program.   Open the picture you want to cut your insert  from (in this case, the close-up of the flower.)  Use the SELECT tool to outline the area you want to paste into the other photo, then COPY it.

Now open the photo you will use as the background (in this case, the trellis).  The program will probably ask if you want to save your changes (the copying you just did) to the first photo before closing it.  Choose "no" -- that will keep your original intact. 

When the second photo appears on screen, use PASTE and then move the insert to where you want it.   Paste it down (usually by clicking your mouse).   If you goof and want to re-position it, use UNDO and try again until you get what you want.  (Note: If UNDO won't restore the pic to its previous state, you can close the background photo without saving, then re-open it.)

If necessary, CROP the whole thing around the edges to eliminate any extraneous background (The original trellis shot had a bunch of sky and roof at the top, which I cut off.  The dark area you see is the shadow under the eaves, which shows off the sunlit flowers very nicely.)  When you are happy with your pic, use SAVE AS, give it a new name, and you are done! 

You now have ONE photo that you can use for FREE instead of paying extra for the close-up of the flower. 

What about adding more things to the same photo?

That's easy!  To make a multiple-item composite like the squash seed sale, open a new blank workspace in your graphics program, instead of using a photo for a background.  The first time you paste something in, use SAVE AS and name it.  Then paste down each section as before, but fit them tightly together like a puzzle.  If the outside edges don't match up exactly, no problem -- just trim  the whole thing with CROP when you are done.  If the inside edges don't match up, you can fill the blank space with a matching color.  In this case, I filled with dark green and then used that area for some text.  The result is a very nice professional-looking ad.   I use this technique a lot for multiple-item sales.   Try it for yourself and save!