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This tutorial demonstrates how to create a three panelled Triptych image from a
photograph. To work along, you are welcome to download the start images Here.
Unzip the file and open your choice of start image onto Photoshop’s workspace.
Triptych - pronounced trip-tick
The word Triptych originates from the Greek language - Tri meaning three. It refers to three-panelled artistic productions that were popular during the middle ages; during this era, Christian Art was popular, and many churches today, display relics demonstrating triptych panelling in the form of wood carvings, paintings and stained glass windows.
Note
If you are printing your work, choose a photograph with a High Resolution.
Undo and Navigation Steps
Two ways of undoing steps are from the top menu, Edit then Step Backwards.
Alternatively, click a previous snapshot in the History Palette.
Navigate (zoom in and pan) your image using the Navigator Palette,
or the Zoom Tool. 
Activate The Hand Tool by tapping the Spacebar, keeping the Spacebar pressed, pan your image in the usual way. 
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Open your start image onto Photoshop’s workspace, then extend its grey workspace by
left-clicking and dragging out one of its corners.
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Then from the Tools Toolbar, activate the Rectangular Marquee Tool.
And enter the following attributes into the Tool Options Bar.
Now, left-click and drag out a rectangular marquee over the left-side of the image - as illustrated below.
Note
If you are creating a three panelled (vertical) triptych frame, you will be utilising the same rectangle for all three panels; therefore, ensure it is the correct size for your needs before commencing. To resize the rectangular marquee after its application - from the top menu, choose Edit then choose Free Transform, and resize the selection marquee as necessary.
When you have applied your first rectangular marquee, you are ready for the next step.
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Now, press Ctrl then tap the J key. This copies the area inside the rectangular marquee, and pastes it as a New Layer in the Layers palette - as illustrated below.
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To retrieve the selection marquee; from the top menu, choose Select then choose Load Selection. From the subsequent Load Selection dialogue box, accept the default settings, then click OK.
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By tapping your Keyboard’s Right Arrow Key.
Gently nudge the rectangular marquee to the right - so it incorporates a different area of the photograph.
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Then from the Layers palette, activate the Background Layer.
Continue to Chapter 7.
Smaller Triptych Panels - Notes
If you would like one large, and two smaller panels, (instead of three large vertical panels); if necessary, press Ctrl then D to remove the selection marquee. Then drag out a (smaller) square marquee over the photograph’s right-side; then continue with the next Chapter - Chapter 7.  
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Press Ctrl then tap the J key. This copies the area inside the second rectangular marquee (or smaller square marquee), and pastes it as a New Layer in the Layers palette - as illustrated below.
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Now, from the top menu, choose Select then choose Load Selection. Then, from the subsequent Load Selection dialogue box, accept the default settings - and click OK.
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Using the Right Arrow Key, gently nudge the rectangular marquee further to the right, so it incorporates a different area of the photograph.
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Then from the Layers palette, activate the Background Layer.
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And press Ctrl then tap the J key. This copies the area inside the rectangular marquee, and (again) pastes it as a New Layer in the Layers palette.
Now you have created your three panels, (and have pasted them as New Layers), you are ready for the next step.
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From the Layers Palette, hide the visibility of the Background Layer by left-clicking to remove the layer’s Eye Icon - as illustrated below, left.
 
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Activate the Background layer.
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Then activate The Crop Tool. Extend Canvases With The Crop Tool Tutorial.
Now, working on the Background layer; enlarge the transparent canvas by extending the Crop Bounding Box. (Remembering to click the Commit tick, afterwards).
 
Important Note
Ensure the extended bounding box is symmetrical.
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Then from the Tools Toolbar, activate the Move Tool. 
Now, left-click over each panel, and drag them (one-by-one) to their final positions - remembering to tap them into position (pixel-by-pixel) using the Keyboard’s Arrow Keys.
Tip
Use the chessboard background as a guide - or activate the Rulers - Ctrl then R.
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To apply Drop Shadows to each panel; activate each panel consecutively - then from the top menu, choose Layer then choose Layer Style then choose Drop Shadow. After you have applied identical Drop Shadows to each panel, you are ready for the next step.
 
Tip
Save your image with its layers intact, (as a .PSD file) to edit at a later date.
Borders
To apply a thin border around the panels, activate each panel consecutively - and from the top menu, choose Layer then choose Layer Style then choose Stroke. Enter your choice of Colour and Size into the subsequent Layer Style’s dialogue box, then click OK.
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When you are happy with the panels’ positions - from the top menu, choose Layer then choose Merge Visible.
Tip
Delete the Background layer if you wish - right-click the layer then choose Delete.
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Then from the top menu, choose Layer then choose New Fill Layer. Fill the New Layer with your choice of either Solid Colour, Pattern or Gradient, then drag the Fill Layer below the Triptych’s layer - as illustrated below.
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Congratulations, you have completed your Triptych image; and it is ready to save or print.
Tip
If your Triptych’s border is un symmetrical, Crop it to size.
Have fun creating Triptych panelling from your own images - images without focal points, such as landscapes - work best with vertical panelled Triptychs.
Wendi E M Scarth. Top of Page - Home.
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