Another Brick in the Wall SB Tutorial

By LismibaebisCreations
4 November 2007
Revised 7 April 2015

I have used one of my own photographs for this tutorial

Skill Level: Advanced Beginners & Adventurous Others

Knowledge of using Filters is necessary (or learn how to get started with my ABC Tutorials)

This tutorial is my own creation; any resemblance to another tutorial is purely coincidental

Program shortcuts will be given in parentheses

Needed

Paint Shop Pro - I used X2
(Tutorial will work with other versions)
Free 30 day trial from Corel, available here

Image

Graphic of choice
(Tutorial includes misting the image, but you could use a tube or "ready-made" mist instead)

Mask

Mask 099, available here
OR mask of your choice

Filter

LOtis Filters, Mosaic Toolkit v2.022, available here****

**** This older version is needed to do this tutorial.
The latest version for download as of April 2015 on "The Plugin Site" (Version 2.55a) no longer has the Style "Quilt".

Performance Notes

This tutorial is in 3 parts:
- Preparation
- Masked Image
- Background

The settings for different Tools and Effects will stay the same throughout the tutorial, unless new setting instructions are given

Don't forget to save your work often

Click on the arrow and drag it to mark the progress on this page.

Preparation

1) Download and install Filter if necessary
(If you install filters you need to restart PSP afterwards)

2) Download mask and save to your Mask folder

3) File > Open
Open image of choice

4) Window > Duplicate (Shift + D)
Close original

5) Layers > Promote Background Layer
(If necessary)

6) Dropper Tool (E)
Left click in image to choose a light color as Foreground Color
(I chose #f4eef4)

7) Image > Resize
Settings:
Resample using = Bicubic
Lock aspect ratio = Checked
Resize all layers = Checked
Resolution = 72.000 Pixels / Inch
Width = No greater than 400 Pixels
Height = No greater than 400 Pixels

8) Adjust > Sharpness > Unsharp Mask
Settings:
Radius = 1.00
Strength = 47, Clipping = 5
Luminance only = Checked
(Or a setting of your liking)

9) Window > Duplicate (Shift + D)
Minimize one copy

Masked Image

If using a tube or mist skip Steps #10 - 13
10) Layers > Load/Save Mask > New Mask Layer > Load Mask From Disk
Settings:
Mask = Mask 099
Source luminance = Checked
Fit to layer = Checked
Invert Transparency = Not checked
Show all mask = Checked

11) Layers > Merge > Merge Group

12) Edit > Copy

13) Minimize masked image

Do NOT close

Background

14) Restore Up the spare image (from Step #9)

15) Image > Resize
Settings:
Lock aspect ratio = Not Checked
Width = 2000 Pixels (or width of choice)
Height = Your height

16) Effects > Image Effects > Seamless Tiling
Settings:
Default Setting

If you click on the icon indicated by the hand, PSP will set it to default

If using graphic skip Steps #17 - 21 and continue with Step #22

17) Layers > New Raster Layer

18) Layers > Arrange > Move Down

19) Flood Fill Tool (F)
Settings:
Match mode = None
Sample merged = Checked
Blend mode = Normal
Opacity = 100

20) Left click to flood fill new Layer with Foreground Color

21) Layers > Merge > Merge Visible

Instructions for All:
22) Adjust > Blur > Gaussian Blur
Settings:
Radius = 8.20

23) Effects > Plugins > LOtis Filters > Mosaic Toolkit
Settings:
Click on Quilt
Cell Size pixels = 25, Contrast = -20 (Minus)
Cell Color Tweak = 200, Glow Brightness = 10
Blend = 0
Blend Options = 5.Multiply
Apply

24) Effects > Image Effects > Seamless Tiling
Settings:
Edge = Checked, Vertical = Checked
Width = 50, Transition = 50

25) Effects > Texture Effects > Polished Stone

Settings:
Blur = 3, Detail = 3
Polishing = 17
Angle = 315, Color = Your Foreground Color

Right click into Color and choose your Foreground Color

26) Adjust > Softness > Soft Focus
Settings:
Softness = 69, Edge importance = 54
Include scattered light = Not Checked
Amount = 84, Halo size = 89
Halo visibility = 64

27) Effects > Image Effects > Seamless Tiling

28) Layers > New Raster Layer

29) Flood Fill Tool
Left click to flood fill new Layer with Foreground color

30) Layers Palette
Change Blend Mode to Soft Light

31) Layers > New Raster Layer

32) Flood Fill Tool
Left click to flood fill new Layer with Foreground color

33) Layers Palette
Reduce opacity to 68
(Or a setting of your liking)

34a) If using masked image:
Edit > Paste As New Layer

34b) If using tube or mist:
- Restore Up your tube or mist
- Edit > Copy
- Activate Background
- Edit > Paste As New Layer

35) Move Tool (M)
Move image to left of background

36) Optional:
Image > Resize
Settings:
Lock aspect ratio = Checked
Resize all layers = Not checked
Width = 95 %, Height = 95 %

37) Optional:
Edit > Repeat Resize
Repeat to your liking

38) Optional:
Move Tool
Move image to left of background

39) Optional:
Effects > 3D Effects > Inner Bevel
Settings:
Bevel = #2, Width = 20
Smoothness = 0, Depth = 3
Ambience = 0, Shininess = 0
Color = White, Angle = 315
Intensity = 50, Elevation = 30

40) Effects > 3D Effects > Drop Shadow
Settings:
Vertical & Horizontal = 3
Opacity = 55, Blur = 7.50
Color = Black
Shadow on new layer = Not Checked
If using a mist, you might prefer not to use a Drop Shadow

41) Effects > 3D Effects > Drop Shadow
Settings:
Vertical & Horizontal = - 2 (Minus)
Opacity = 44, Blur = 7.50
Color = Black
Shadow on new layer = Not Checked
(Or a setting of your liking)

42) Layers > New Raster Layer

43) Add Watermark(s)

44) File > Export > JPEG Optimizer
Settings:
Set compression value to = 20 - 30
Chroma subsampling = YCbCr 1x1 1x1 1x1 (None)
Save Exif data = Not checked

You are done!
Now you can assemble the stationery in LC or OE/Windows Mail or Wikmail.
Please link the tutorial to this page.

I hope that you enjoyed doing this tutorial. If you have any questions, please email me: Lismibaebi at gmail.com
I would love to see what you create with my tutorial.

A special "Thank you" goes to the Testers of United Tut Testers who helped me to get this tutorial first released in 2007.
And I am just as grateful to my friends of my Tester Group who helped me with the revision of the tutorial in 2015.

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