How to Make a Photo Calendar at Home for Free

Final Product

Calendars are an essential part of everyone's life. Not a day goes by without thinking about what day it is. Instead of buying calendars from the store, you can create them at home for free. All it takes is your computer and a bit of imagination. Here's the easiest way to make a photo calendar for free.

Things You'll Need

• A computer The Internet A photograph A printer

Instructions

1. 

   Go to Sumo Paint (address below). Sumo Paint is a free, Internet-based program that allows you to create your own works of art. It's very similar to Adobe PhotoShop, but without the massive price tag. It's not necessary to create an account to use Sumo Paint.

2. 

   Change the image size from the standard 800 x 600 to the more common desktop size of 1024 x 768. Go to "Image" from the menu bar, and select "Image Size" to change the resolution.

3. 

   Add a photo by going to "File" from the menu bar, and selecting "Import to Layer." You can choose between getting the photo from your computer or from the internet (URL).

4. 

   Center the photo using the "Move" icon from the toolbar. Select the background layer from the layer box. Add a background color by clicking on the color box and changing the color. Click on the "Color Bucket" icon from the toolbar and then click on the background. It will fill the color in.

5. 

   Create a new layer and select the "Text" icon from the toolbar and type out the name of the month.

6. 

   Create a new layer. Select the "Rectangle" icon from the toolbar. Change the color box back to white, the line opacity to 0%, and the fill opacity to 50%. Draw a rectangle on the photo where you'd like to create a calendar.

7. 

   Create another layer. Because Sumo Paint does not have rulers or guides, draw your own guide with the line tool. Draw 3 horizontal lines and 7 vertical lines. This should be just to help you understand where the dates on the calendar go.

8. 

   Select the "Text" icon from the toolbar and type out the calendar dates. For a quick calendar reference, see the resources below.

9. Delete the guide layer from the layer box.

10. Save to your computer by going to "File" from the menu bar and selecting "Save to my computer."

Tips & Warnings

• Most computer screens are 1024 x 768. If your computer is a different size, then change the image size in Step 2 to work with your specific dimensions. Print out the image to hang on your wall, or save it as your new desktop image.

• If you want to print the calendar, you may decide on a black-and-white or monochromatic photo, to conserve ink.

Resources

• Sumo Paint
• Reference Calendar
• Background Photo Used in Tutorial