If you are downloading our Lightroom templates, you are hearing that you can add your own background to almost any of our Facebook Timeline Templates. The exceptions are the ones that don’t have any background space that shows. We thought you might like a little tutorial on how to get the job done! First, here are two examples of timelines that have been customized with a background.
Thank you to Jessica of Lemongrass Photography for mocking up this example for us!
For this background, we used a texture that was downloaded for free from Shadowhouse Creations.
First, you need to have a .jpeg file to use as a background. This can be a photo, a texture, or a digital paper that you purchased. Please be aware that if you plan to use the FB Timeline customized as a part of the photo packages you offer, then you will need to be sure you have the correct licenses for the file that you use for a background. Some will be free, some you will pay for. But either way, the provider will have specific terms of use associated with file, be it free or a purchase. Read the fine print!
Now that you have a background that you want to use, open up Lightroom. On the left panel, scroll to the bottom to Collections and click the + sign and choose Create Collection. Name it for the session you are working on. Then open the session in the Library. For any photo that you might want to use in the FB Timeline, drag the photo from the Library main window over to the collection that has the session name that you just made. Like this:
Then, find the background you want from another folder, and drag it into the collection as well. These photos will stay in their main folder location. The collection is just making a virtual copy so that you can use them for other purposes.
Now that you have all the images you need in the new collection, click on that collection. The photos and background you chose should now all show in the filmstrip.
Click on the Print Module tab at the top right. Now you can begin making your Facebook Timeline. Choose a template in the left Template panel. It is a good idea to first load the photos that you want to use in the boxes, and put in the background last. When you are ready to put in the background, drag it into the negative space and drop it. Like this:
That’s it! Now just print to file and your timeline is ready to be uploaded to Facebook! On Senior sessions, they love it when you add “Class of…” to the timeline. Here is the finished product!
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i have started a small photo business by taking school pictures in a small private Christian School. I would love to expand but still need help with Lightroom. Thank you for your blog.