Arctic Circuit SB Tutorial

By ©LismibaebisCreations
4 February 2009

Tutorial image courtesy of Erik Žunec
Used with written permission

Skill Level: Advanced Beginner & Adventurous Others
Knowledge of using Filters 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 PSP versions, some adjustments might be necessary)
Free 30 day PSP trial from Corel, available here
Letter Creator from Incredimail (optional), available here

Image
Tube or misted image of choice

Filters
Kang's Filters 1, available here
2manekenai(tm) MezzoForce-Ice, available here
(I used the old free version 103)
Simple Filters, available here

Performance Notes
This tutorial is in 2 parts:
- Preparation
- 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

Interactive arrow-bookmark.
Click on the arrow and move it anywhere on this page to create a virtual bookmark. It will stay wherever you might put it until you close the browser(tab). Needs IE to work.

Preparation

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

2) File > Open
Open tube or mist of choice

3) Edit > Copy
Close original

4) Edit > Paste As New Image

5) 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 400
Write down new height

6) Adjust > Sharpness > Unsharp Mask
Settings:
Radius = 2.00
Strength = 10
Clipping = 5
Luminance only = Not checked
(Or a setting of your liking)

7) Edit > Copy

8) Dropper Tool (E)
Left click to choose a light to medium Foreground color

Background

9) File > New
Settings:
Width = 1280 pixels*****
Height = Your new height + 40 pixels
Resolution = 72.000 Pixels/inch
Raster Background = Checked
Color depth = RGB / 8 bits channel
Transparent = Checked
***** or width of your computer resolution, e.g. 1024 or 1680

10) Flood Fill Tool (F)
Settings:
Match mode = None
Use all layers = Not checked
Blend mode = Normal
Opacity = 100

11) Left click to Flood fill new layer with Foreground Color

12) Selections > Select All

13) Edit > Paste Into Selection

14) Selections > Select None

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

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

16) Adjust > Blur > Gaussian Blur
Settings:
Radius = 15.00

17) Effects > Plugins > kang 1 > circuit Weaver
Settings:
Break Up = 245
Weave = 165

18) Effects > Plugins > 2manekenai(tm) > MezzoForce-Ice
Settings:
Preset = StrongIce
Displ. X = 76, Displ. Y = 139
Ice = 125, Cold = 22
Diffuse = 188, Clear = 255
Embose = 255
Tone = -26 (Minus)
Color = 90

19) Effects > Plugins > Simple > Centre Tile

20) Edit > Paste As New Layer

21) Move Tool (M)
Move tube or mist to the left of the background

22) Effects > 3D Effects > Drop Shadow
Settings:
Vertical & Horizontal = 2
Opacity = 50, Blur = 5.00
Color = Black
Shadow on new layer = Not checked
(You might prefer not to use a Drop Shadow with a misted tube)

23) Effects > 3D Effects > Drop Shadow
Settings:
Vertical & Horizontal = -1 (Minus)
Opacity = 15, Blur = 5.00

24) Layers > New Raster Layer

25) Layers > Arrange > Move Down

26) Flood Fill Tool
Left click to flood fill with Foreground color

Optional
You might wish to choose a color other than your Foreground color.
I choose a much lighter color

27) Layers Palette
Reduce opacity to 46
(Or a setting of your liking)
(At 46 the stationery ends up quite heavy, so you might want to use opacity 70 instead)

28) Layers > New Raster Layer

29) Add Watermark(s)

30) File > Export > JPEG Optimizer
Settings:
Set Compression value to = 25 - 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.
Please link tutorial to this page

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.

I would like to thank the testers from Copyright Safe Tutorials who helped me make this tutorial the best it could be.

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