#template memes

First off, open your file. (Drag the template from Downloads to the "Drop Any File Here" box. Then I would go "Views > Extras" and unclick that option.) The most useful part about .psd files for templates is the Layers. Every program that can edit a .psd should have a section of the screen that displays the layers. For the 2024 Wrapped, the layers are named "December" and "Layer 0". Everything under the "December" layer will be blocked by the non-transparent portions of that layer, and everything above "Layer 0" will be above the white.

So now we want to add some images. Open up your desired screenshot in any program and Copy>Paste (Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V) into your editing program. They should generate a new layer with only the image in it, but if it doesn't you can do Layer>New Layer to make a fresh one.

But, err... that's kinda too big to fit, isn't it? It is. So what we need to do is scale it down and possibly cut some of it out.

First, select your image layer and find a "Transform"  or "Scale" tool. This is Edit>Free Transform (there is also "Transform" but I preferred free transform) in Photopea. There should be some options on the Scale section that are important. "Keep Aspect Ratio" is important to make sure that you don't squash or stretch your image. This is the set of chain links in Photopea. "Free Transform" also allows you to move the image into the right spot.

You can also use the numbers to scale it down from 100% to 50% or what ever your desired scale is (I liked 32-35% for Landscapes and 22-25% for Portraits for this template). Once it's to your liking, you can accept your transformation and move on. You can either delete the extraneous section of your image, or just leave it to be covered up by the other layers.

You will want to repeat this process until you have the template filled, making sure that each image is its own layer. This allows the most freedom when editing images if you want to go back and change anything. You can also use the layers to cover up other portions of different layers by moving it above or below each other.

If you have overlapping sections that can't be resolved with just layers, I would recommend deleting under the template rather than at the edge of the section because you might delete more than you wish. (I do not recommend using the "Crop" tool in Photopea as it effects your entire image rather than just your layer.) Use a Rectangle Select to pick the area you want deleted and hit "Delete" to do so.

So you've gotten all your images where you like them and cropped any overlapping bits, it's time to Export a new .png using File>Export as>PNG. "Export" creates a completely new image where "Save" just saves the image. You can Save the .psd for future use or if you feel like there may be a mistake that you aren't catching (which has definitely happened to me before) and then you have the ability to edit the entire thing again. A .png will not save the Layers, just all the visible stuff.

And that should be it! Feel free to ask any questions, it's entirely possible I didn't communicate something clearly or a tool works differently in the program you're using. I also included the .psd for the version I did so you can see behind the curtain. Happy memeing!

—    QUESTIONNAIRE.

▸      WHAT    ARE    SOME    OF    YOUR    MUSE’S    BAD    HABITS ?

Judging people too quickly and being quite stubborn to change her mind. She believes she can read people to a tee and very often it’s true but also sometimes she is just wrong, especially when there are prejudices involved. She flirts with anyone she finds remotely attractive and 4 out of 5 times it doesn’t mean she is actually interested. She takes a long time to trust people but once she trusts someone it pretty much turns into blind faith. She is loyal TO A FAULT. She is terrible handling rejection. She is very bad at asking for help or even just accepting help. She texts while she drives, and takes calls, and takes selfies and photos and does pretty much everything except keeping her attention on the road. She has absolutely no shame. I can be here all day

▸      HAS    YOUR    MUSE    LOST    ANYONE    CLOSE    TO    THEM ?      HOW    HAS    IT    AFFECTED    THEM ?

Yes, she has been losing everyone close to her pretty much all her life. First, her mother died when she was a child, then her father and brothers when she was a teen, then she lost Amadeo and everyone in the palazzo, then she lost Marius too, she lost her first fledgling because she was tired of the world and he wasn’t and she lost her second fledgling because she was killed in the third burnings. 

When it comes to separation she has simply come to accept and expect that bonds won’t last. This means she will try to make the most out of every moment she has with her loved ones but also that she is prone to let go of people without putting much of a fight, accepting separations as the natural course of life. When it comes to death she experiences a sort of survivor’s guilt that will arouse in periods of mourning.

▸      WHAT    ARE    SOME    FOND    MEMORIES    YOUR    MUSE    HAS ?   Modelling a brand new dress for her family. Taking singing lessons from her mother. Receiving her mother pearls from her father. Dancing with Amadeo. Dozing in a gondola with Amadeo and Riccardo at the end of a warm summer day encompassed by the colourful reflection of the sunset on the water. Receiving Marius and Amadeo in her bed. Strolling Venice streets at night free and unafraid flanked by Amadeo and Marius, holding their arms. Marius’ voice, calm and warm and comforting, narrating stories of his life for her. Sleeping in Marius' arms in the absolute silence of the shrine. Drinking from the Queen. Twirling in circles across the ample and empty chambers of high ceilings and tall windows in their new schloss in Dresden. Saying farewell to The Parents. India and the whimsical songs of exotic birds. Riding a horse through the English meadows wearing a gown. Jazz music and jazz dancing in the new world. Cassandra’s wine-flavoured lips.

▸     IS    IT    EASY    FOR    YOUR    MUSE    TO    KILL ? Yes, she grew used to kill already while still being mortal. She has even better and more agreeable reasons to kill now so she doesn’t really question it. When it comes to feeding she goes after evildoers because that’s what she was taught and because she finds it thrilling. When it comes to killing her own kind she used to see it as something necessary and wouldn’t think twice about it, but in later times she has stopped because Cassandra (her late fledgling) didn’t like it and made her promise she won’t do it anymore

▸      WHAT’S    IT    LIKE    WHEN    YOUR    MUSE    BREAKS    DOWN ? She becomes cold, distant and quiet. When she can’t handle her feelings she suppresses them. Is an instinctive and almost unconscious reaction, although she can usually tell when is happening and will often try to stop it or manage it to a degree. If she really allows herself to go deep into that numb state it can be difficult to ease herself out of it (It can be easier if she gets help, but she won’t get help out of her own volition in that state, of course).

▸      IS    YOUR    MUSE    CAPABLE    OF    TRUSTING    SOMEONE    WITH    THEIR    LIFE ? There are a few people in whose hands she would put her life without thinking twice about it or minding it much. But outside of those people? no, she would rather don’t take risks