Words and Pictures Peter Bargh of ePHOTOzine Heres a colourful picture that would make a simple jigsaw using Photoshop Elements.

Well take the idea a stage further and create the effect of someone actually doing the jigsaw.

If its a larger resolution use higher values.

Its in the Elements Textures folder which will probably have the following file path if youve followed the standard install options: My ComputerC: DriveProgram FilesAdobePhotoshop ElementsPresetsTextures.

This brings up a texture edit box and youll see a preview of your picture with the jigsaw pattern in place.

Scaling sets the size of the jigsaw pieces and is preset at 100.

Increasing the percentage makes the pieces bigger and fewer, decreasing makes the pieces smaller and more.

The two pictures above show the effect this has on the pieces.

A small number could be hardly noticeable (left) and a large number looks hard and unnatural (right).

Set top right for direction to give the shapes some depth.

Select all, using shortcut Ctrl A, and cut the picture Ctrl X 3 Make a new layer by clicking on the small page icon on the layers palette and paste.

The image will appear on the new layer and the original background layer will be white.

ImageResizeCanvas size and set 1900x1500 with the centre square active so the canvas extends all around.

Select ImageTransformSkew and adjust the photo by pulling on the corner squares to change the shape so it looks like the jigsaw is on a table.

Play around with the shape until it appears to have natural perspective.

Ive got the right hand side to look good but I need a little more adjustment on the left to make it look realistic.

Now draw around several pieces from different parts of the jigsaw using the Magnetic Lasso or Freehand Lasso.

Then move each piece and drag them outside of the jigsaw using the Move tool.

The photo now looks almost complete and you could leave the photo as done, but I want to add a human element.

Photograph a hand with the index finger and thumb apart as though you are holding a piece of the jigsaw.

Shoot on a neutral, plain background so that the hand is easy to cut out.

If you dont have a digital camera you need to get the film processed and the image scanned in.

Copy and paste the hand image and resize so it looks naturally balanced over the puzzle.

Use the Eraser tool to rub out the background around the hand.

Start with a large brush to remove the edges and work inwards using smaller brush to paint around the hand.

When youve gone around all the hand its time to add the jigsaw piece between the fingers.

Use the Move tool to position this between the fingers and resize it to scale using ImageTransformFree Transform (shortcut CtrlT).

Use a small brush to rub out bits of the jigsaw so it looks as though its in the fingers and not on them.

Turn off the other layers by clicking on the eye icons so that its easy to see what youre doing and you are not distracted by the background.

The final stage is to group the hand and the single puzzle piece layers and move them using the Move tool so the puzzle piece is above the gap where it came from.

Puzzle Texture Photoshop