Carpet of Hope Frame and BG Tutorial

By ©LismibaebisCreations
24 October 2009

I have used one of my own photographs for this tutorial

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

Image
Graphic of choice
(colorful, ideally no large pale or very dark areas)

Filters
FM Tiles Tools, Blend Emboss****, available here
UnPlugged Tools, available here
Xero Filters, Set 3, available here

**** Blend Emboss is a working filter in the free to download Demo version

Performance Notes
This tutorial is in 4 parts:
- Preparation
- Pattern
- Frame
- 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) Install filters if necessary
(If you install filters you need to restart PSP afterwards)

2) File > Open
Open image 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 Pixels / Inch
Width = No greater than 450 Pixels
Height = No greater than 370

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

6) Dropper Tool (E)
Left click to choose a dark Foreground color
(I chose #61071b)

7) Window > Duplicate twice
Minimize 2 copies

8) Edit > Copy

Pattern

9) Image > Resize
Settings:
Lock aspect ratio = NOT Checked
Width = 125 Pixels
Height = 125

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

11) Effects > Reflection Effects > Kaleidoscope
Settings:
Horizontal Offset (%) = 38
Vertical Offset (%) = -14 (Minus)
Rotation Angle = 144
Scale factor = -51 (Minus)
Number of petals = 12
Number of orbits = 0
Radial suction = 10
Edge mode = Reflect

12) Effects > Plugins > FM Tile Tools > Blend Emboss
Settings: (Default)
Horiz. Offset = -1.000
Vert. Offset = -1.000
Intensity = 0.250
Gray Level = 64
Red Blend = 0.938
Green Blend = 0.938
Blue Blend = 0.938
Edge Wrap = Checked

13) Effects > Image Effects > Seamless Tiling

14) Materials Palette
Change Background to Pattern
Settings:
Pattern: Pattern you just created
Angle = 45, Scale = 75
Texture = Not checked

15) Minimize pattern
Do NOT close

This will be known as Pattern for the rest of the tutorial

Frame

16) Activate copy of image

17) Layers > Merge > Merge All (Flatten)
(if necessary)

18) Selections > Select All

19) Effects > 3D Effects > Cutout
Settings:
Vertical & Horizontal = 0
Opacity = 60, Blur = 16.00
Color = Black
Fill interior with color = Not checked

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

21) Image > Add Borders
Settings:
Size in pixels = 3
Color = Foreground Color

22) Image > Add Borders
Settings:
Size in pixels = 7
Color = Any color not in image

23) Magic Wand Tool
Settings:
Mode = Replace
Match mode = RGB Value
Tolerance = 0
Use all layers = Not checked
Contiguous = Checked
Feather = 0
Anti-alias = Checked
Outside

24) Select new border

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

26) Right click to flood fill selected border with Pattern

27) Effects > 3D Effects > Inner Bevel
Settings:
Bevel = #2, Width = 10
Smoothness = 7, Depth = 5
Ambience = 7, Shininess = 12
Color = White, Angle = 315
Intensity = 32, Elevation = 50

28) Effects > 3D Effects > Cutout
Settings:
Opacity = 30

29) Image > Add Borders
Settings:
Size in pixels = 3
Color = Foreground Color

30) Image > Add Borders
Settings:
Size in pixels = 40
Color = Any Color not in image

31) Magic Wand Tool
Select new Border

32) Edit > Paste Into Selection

33) Adjust > Blur > Gaussian Blur
Settings:
Radius = 7.00

34) Effects > Plugins > UnPlugged Tools > Wavemaker
Settings:
Y Amplitude = 78, Y Frequency = 27
Y Freq. finetune = 69, Y Offset = 56
X Amplitude = 98, X Frequency = 45
X Freq. finetune = 93, X Offset = 52

35) Effects > Plugins > Xero > Lineart
Settings:
Style:
Sketch = Checked
Tone = 68
Colouration:
Colour = Checked
Outlining:
Enhanced = Checked
Line intensity = 9
(The colors do not need to be adjusted)

36) Effects > Distortion Effects > Curlicues
Settings:
Grid Settings:
Number of columns = 12, Number of rows = 12
Symmetric = Checked
Curlicues settings:
Radius (%) = 74, Strength = 74
Clockwise = Not checked

37) Effects > 3D Effects > Inner Bevel
Settings:
Bevel = #2, Width = 25
Smoothness = 20, Depth = 6
Ambience = 0, Shininess = 0
Color = White, Angle = 315
Intensity = 30, Elevation = 64

38) Effects > 3D Effects > Cutout
Settings:
Opacity = 100

39) Image > Add Borders
Settings:
Size in pixels = 3
Color = Foreground Color

40) Image > Add Borders
Settings:
Size in pixels = 7
Color = Any color not in image

41) Magic Wand Tool
Select new border

42) Flood Fill Tool
Right click to flood fill selected border with Pattern

43) Effects > 3D Effects > Inner Bevel
Settings:
Bevel = #2, Width = 10
Smoothness = 7, Depth = 5
Ambience = 7, Shininess = 12
Color = White, Angle = 315
Intensity = 32, Elevation = 50

44) Effects > 3D Effects > Cutout
Settings:
Opacity = 30

45) Image > Add Borders
Settings:
Size in pixels = 3
Color = Foreground Color

46) Selections > Select None

47) Raster > New Raster Layer

48) Add Watermark(s)

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

Do NOT Close Frame

Background

50) Selection Tool (S) > Custom Selection

Settings:
Top = 73
Left = 0, Right = 66
Bottom = 425

Make sure to select about half a swirl top and bottom. Adjust settings if necessary

51) Edit > Copy Merged

52) Edit > Paste As New Image

53) Image > Canvas Size
Settings:
Lock aspect ratio = Not Checked
Width = 1700 Pixels
Height = Your image height
Placement = Left Middle Arrow

54) Effects > 3D Effects > Drop Shadow
Settings:
Vertical = 0, Horizontal = 4
Opacity = 50, Blur = 14.00
Color = Black
Shadow on new layer = Not checked

55) Effects > Image Effects > Seamless Tiling
Settings:
Mirror = Checked
Vertical = Checked
Vertical offset (%) = 0
Width (%) = 50
Transition (%) = 50

56) Layers > New Raster Layer

57) Layers > Arrange > Send to Bottom

58) Selections > Select All

59) Maximize the remaining copy of your image

60) Edit > Copy

61) Minimize image

62) Activate Background Canvas by clicking on its Title Bar

63) Edit > Paste Into Selection

64) Selections > Select None

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

66) Adjust > Blur > Gaussian Blur

67) Effects > Plugins > UnPlugged Tools > Wavemaker

68) Effects > Plugins > Xero > Lineart

69) Effects > Image Effects > Seamless Tiling

70) Layers > New Raster Layer

71) Flood Fill Tool
Left click to flood fill new layer with foreground color

72) Layers Palette
Reduce opacity of layer to 88
(Or a setting of your liking)

73) File > Export > JPEG Optimizer

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.

A special "Thank you" goes to the testers.
They are (in alphabetical order):
Jane, Janet and Paula.
Thanks also to Ariane for yet another great tut title.

Proud member of

and