Another Brick in the Wall SB Tutorial

By ©LismibaebisCreations
4 November 2007

I have used one of my own photographs for this tutorial

Skill Level: Advanced Beginner

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

Needed

Paint Shop Pro - I used 9
(Tutorial should work with other PSP versions, some adjustments might be necessary)
Free 30 day PSP trial from Corel, available here
Letter Creator from Incredimail (optional), available here

Image
Graphic of choice
(Tutorial will also work with a tube)

Mask
Mask 099, available here
OR mask of your choice

Filter
LOtis Filters, Mosaic Toolkit, available here

Performance Notes
This tutorial is in 4 parts:
- Preparation
- Masked Image
- Sideborder
- Assembling stationery in LC

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

Preparation

1) Download the mask and open in PSP
Minimize mask

2) File > Open
Open image of choice

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

4) Layers > Promote Background Layer
(If necessary)

5) Dropper Tool (E)
Left click in image to choose a light color as Foreground Color
(I chose #cfc1c8)

6) Image > Resize
Settings:
Resample using = Bicubic
Lock aspect ratio = Checked
Resize all layers = Checked
Resolution = 72.000 Pixels / Inch
Width = No greater than 375 pixels
Height = No greater than 375 pixel
Write down your new Height

7) Adjust > Sharpness > Unsharp Mask
Settings:
Radius = 10.00
Strength = 20
Clipping = 7
Luminance only = Not checked
(Or a setting of your liking)

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

Masked Image

If using a tube skip Step #9

9) Layers > New Mask Layer > From Image
Settings:
Source window = Mask 099
Source luminance = Checked
Invert Mask Data = Not checked

10) Edit > Copy Merged
(Edit > Copy if using a tube)
Minimize masked image
Do NOT close

Sideborder

11) Restore Up the spare Graphic

12) Image > Resize
Settings:
Lock aspect ratio = Not Checked
Width = 1280 pixels*****
Height = Your new height + 30 pixels

*****or width of your computer resolution, e.g. 1600

13) Effects > Image Effects > Seamless Tiling
Settings:
Default

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

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you have chosen a tube:

a) Layers > New Raster Layer

b) Layers > Arrange > Move Down

c) Flood Fill Tool
Left click to flood fill new Layer with Foreground Color

d) Layers > Merge > Merge Visible

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

14) Adjust > Blur > Gaussian Blur
Settings:
Radius = 8.20

15) 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 = 50
Blend Options = 5.Multiply
Apply

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

17) 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

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

19) Effects > Image Effects > Seamless Tiling
Settings:
Default

20) Layers > New Raster Layer

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

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

23) Layers Palette
Double click on the flood filled Layer to open up Layer Properties
Settings:
Blend mode = Soft Light

24) Layers > New Raster Layer

25) Flood Fill Tool
Left click to flood fill new Layer with Foreground Color

26) Layers Palette
Reduce opacity of Layer to 66

27) Edit > Paste > Paste as New Layer

If your masked image is no longer on the clipboard, go back to it and Edit > Copy Merged
OR
Edit > Copy if you used a tube

28) Move Tool (M)
Move masked image to the left of your background canvas

29) Effects > 3D Effects > Inner Bevel
(Optional)
Settings:
Bevel = #2, Width = 20
Smoothness = 0, Depth = 3
Ambience = 0, Shininess = 0
Color = White, Angle = 315
Intensity = 50, Elevation = 30
(Or a setting of your liking)

30) Effects > 3D Effects > Drop Shadow
(Optional)
Settings:
Horizontal & Vertical = 3
Opacity = 55, Blur = 7.50
Color = Black
Shadow on new layer = Not checked
(Or a setting of your liking)

31) Effects > 3D Effects > Drop Shadow
(Optional)
Settings:
Horizontal & Vertical = - 2 (Minus)
Opacity = 44
(Or a setting of your liking)

32) Layers Palette
Adjust opacity of flood filled Layers to suit your image

33) Layers > New Raster Layer

34) Add Watermark(s)

If you have a watermark tube, see Step #34a)
If not, follow Step #34b)

34a) Place your tube and continue with Step #36

34b) Text Tool (T)
Settings:
Create as = Vector
Direction = Horizontal and Down
Font = Arial or similar
Size = 10 - 14 (do not make it too big)
Stroke width = 0
Anti-alias = Sharp
Write your watermark

35) Layers > Convert to Raster Layer

36) Move Tool
Move watermark to where you want it

37) Layers Palette
Reduce opacity of watermark layer if necessary

38) File > Export > JPEG Optimizer
Settings:
Set Compression value to = 25
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

***Letter Creator

1) Open Letter Creator

2) Body > Image
Look for the background JPEG file
Click on "Tile"
Choose Font and Font Size
Choose Text Color
Choose Link Color
Margins:
Top = 10
Left = 10 - 20 to right of masked image
Right = 10
Line spacing = 18 - 20

3) Footer
Your name
Reference and link (if possible) to art used
Name of tutorial "Another Brick in the Wall" and link to this page
Date you created this stat

4) Finish
Choose Letter Name and Collection Name
Save Project
Add to Incredimail

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

A special "Thank you" to the United Tut Testers that participated and who helped me make this tutorial as good as it is.
They are (in alphabetical order):
Debi, Erin, Heidi J., Jacq, Kat, Kathleen, Pat, Paula, Robin, Sue F. and Wendy M.

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