Boynton Beach
Frame and BG Tutorial

By ©LismibaebisCreations
18 January 2007

I have used a photograph by SunsetFL for this tutorial and thank Bev for her kind permission

Skill Level: Advanced Beginner
Knowledge of using Filters necessary
(or learn how to get started here)

Please do not script my tutorials
This tutorial is my own creation, any resemblance to another tutorial is purely coincidental

Needed

Paint Shop Pro 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

Graphic
Graphic of choice, width greater than height

Texture
Texture "LB_texture2", available here

Filters
Simple Filters, available here

Performance Notes
This tutorial is in 4 parts:
- Preparation
- Frame
- Background
- Assembling stationary in LC

The settings for different Tools 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 Texture and place into Textures Folder
(I keep all "extras" in a folder in "My Documents". You can see here how I do it)

2) File > Open
Open Graphic of choice

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

4) Image > Resize
Settings:
Resample using = Bicubic
Lock aspect ratio = Checked
Resize all layers = Checked
Resolution = 72.000
Width = No greater than 400 pixels
Height = No greater than 340 pixels

5) Adjust > Sharpness > Sharpen
(if necessary)

6) Window > Duplicate
Minimize one copy of the Graphic

7) Edit > Copy

Frame

8) Layers > New Raster Layer

9) Selections > Select All

10) Effects > 3D Effects > Cutout
Settings:
Vertical & Horizontal = 0
Opacity = 75, Blur = 22.75
Color = Black
Fill interior with color = Not checked

11) Image > Add Borders
Settings:
Symmetric = Checked
Size in pixels = 1
Color = Black

12) Image > Add Borders
Settings:
Size in pixels = 5
Color = Any Color not in image

13) Magic Wand Tool
Settings:
Mode = Replace
Match mode = RGB Value
Tolerance = 0
Sample merged = Checked
Contiguous = Checked
Feather = 0
Anti-alias = Checked
Outside

14) Select new border

15) Edit > Paste > Paste Into Selection

16) Effects > Plugins > Simple > Centre Tile

17) Adjust > Blur > Gaussian Blur
Settings:
Radius = 22.75

18) Effects > 3D Effects > Inner Bevel
Settings:
Bevel = #12, Width = 5
Smoothness = 26, Depth = 41
Ambience = 81, Shininess = 23
Color = White, Angle = 315
Intensity = 30, Elevation = 50

19) Image > Add Borders
Settings:
Size in pixels = 19
Color = Any Color not in image

20) Magic Wand Tool
Select new border

21) Edit > Paste > Paste Into Selection

22) Effects > Plugins > Simple > Centre Tile

23) Adjust > Blur > Gaussian Blur

24) Effects > Texture Effects > Texture
Settings:
Texture = LB_texture2
Size = 50 %, Smoothness = 0
Depth = 3, Ambience = 0
Shininess = 0, Color = White
Angle = 315, Intensity = 50
Elevation = 30

25) Image > Add Borders
Settings:
Size in pixels = 1
Color = Black

26) Image > Add Borders
Settings:
Size in pixels = 5
Color = Any Color not in image

27) Magic Wand Tool
Select new border

28) Edit > Paste > Paste Into Selection

29) Effects > Plugins > Simple > Centre Tile

30) Adjust > Blur > Gaussian Blur

31) Effects > 3D Effects > Inner Bevel

32) Image > Add Borders
Settings:
Size in pixels = 37
Color = Any Color not in image

33) Magic Wand Tool
Select new border

34) Edit > Paste > Paste Into Selection

35) Effects > Plugins > Simple > Centre Tile

36) Adjust > Blur > Gaussian Blur

37) Effects > Texture Effects > Blinds
Settings:
Width = 7, Opacity = 45
Color = Black
Horizontal = Checked
Light from left/top = NOT checked

38) Image > Add Borders
Settings:
Size in pixels = 1
Color = Black

39) Image > Add Borders
Settings:
Size in pixels = 5
Color = Any Color not in image

40) Magic Wand Tool
Select new border

41) Edit > Paste > Paste Into Selection

42) Effects > Plugins > Simple > Centre Tile

43) Adjust > Blur > Gaussian Blur

44) Effects > 3D Effects > Inner Bevel

45) Selections > Select None

46) Image > Add Borders
Settings:
Size in pixels = 1
Color = Black

47) Layers > New Raster Layer

48) Add Watermark(s)
If you have a watermark tube, see Step #48a)
If not, follow Step #48b)

48a) Place your tube and continue with Step #50

48b) Text Tool (T)
Create as Vector
Write your watermark

49) Layers > Convert to Raster Layer

50) Move Tool (M)
Move watermark to where you want it

51) If necessary, reduce opacity of watermark layer

52) File > Export > JPEG Optimizer
Settings:
Compression = 25
Chroma subsampling = YCbCr 1x1 1x1 1x1 (None)
Save Exif data = Not checked

Do NOT close Frame

Background

53) Selection Tool (S) > Custom Selection

Settings:
Top = 60
Left = 0, Right = 50
Bottom = 380

54) Edit > Copy Merged

55) Edit > Paste > Paste As New Image

56) Image > Canvas Size
Settings:
Lock aspect ratio = Not Checked
Width = 1024*****
Height = 320
Placement = Left Middle Arrow

***** or width of your computer resolution, e.g. 1280 or 1600

57) Effects > 3D Effects > Drop Shadow
Settings:
Vertical = 0
Horizontal = 3
Opacity = 43, Blur = 5.00
Color = Black
Shadow on new layer = Not checked

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

59) Layers > New Raster Layer

60) Layers > Arrange > Send to Bottom

61) Selections > Select All

62) Restore Up the spare Graphic

63) Dropper Tool (E)
Select a light or medium light color from the Graphic as your Foreground Color (left click)
(I choose #e9ebe5)

64) Edit > Copy

65) Minimize Graphic again

66) Edit > Paste > Paste Into Selection

67) Selections > Select None

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

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

69) Adjust > Blur > Gaussian Blur

70) Effects > Texture Effects > Fur
Settings:
Blur = 40, Density = 12
Length = 76, Transparency = 22

71) Effects > Image Effects > Seamless Tiling

72) Layers > New Raster Layer

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

74) Flood fill new layer with your Foreground Color

75) Layers Palette
Lower Opacity of layer to 72
(or a setting of your liking)

76) File > Export > JPEG Optimizer
Settings:
Compression = 25

You are done!
Now you can assemble the stationery in LC*** or OE

***Letter Creator

77) Open Letter Creator

78) Body > Image
Look for the background JPEG file
Click on "Tile"
Choose Font and Font Size
Choose Text Color
Choose Link Color
Margins: Top 0, Left 60, Right 10

79) Header > Image
Look for the JPEG file of your frame
Alignment = Center

80) Footer
Your name
Reference and link (if possible) to Graphic
Name of tutorial "Boynton Beach Frame" and link to this page
Date you created this stat

81) 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.

Approved by the HootyTutTestersGroup
Special thanks to all the testers that participated:
They are: (in alphabetical order):
Hooty, Kat, Maria Rosa, Meshi, MoJo, RitaLynn and Steve