Elsie's Garden Frame and BG Tutorial

By LismibaebisCreations
6 May 2010

I have used one of my own photographs for this tutorial

This tutorial is dedicated to Elsie Hinch (June 1916 - April 2010), much loved by all who knew her.

Skill Level: Advanced Beginner
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

Filters
Xero (freeware filters Rel 5 - Oct 2009), available here

Texture
LB_texture34, available here
(or a Texture of your choice)

Performance Notes
This tutorial is in 3 parts:
- Preparation
- 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) Download and install filters if necessary
(If you install filters you need to restart PSP afterwards)

2) Download the Texture and save to your Texture Folder

3) If you do not have the Rulers showing:
View > Rulers

4) File > Open
Open image of choice

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

6) 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 350

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

8) Dropper Tool (E)
Left click to choose a light Foreground color
(I chose #f0f7ad)
Right click to choose a dark Background color
(I chose #2b4e0c)

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

10) Window > Duplicate
Minimize

11) Edit > Copy

Frame

12) Selections > Select All

13) Effects > 3D Effects > Cutout
Settings:
Vertical & Horizontal = 0
Opacity = 75, Blur = 25.00
Color = Black
Fill interior with color = Not checked

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

15) Image > Add Borders
Settings:
Color = Foreground Color

16) Image > Add Borders
Settings:
Color = Background Color

17) Image > Add Borders
Settings:
Color = Foreground Color

18) Selections > Select All

19) Selections > Modify > Contract
Settings:
Number of pixels = 3

20) Selections > Invert

21) Effects > 3D Effects > Inner Bevel
Settings:
Bevel = #1, Width = 2
Smoothness = 0, Depth = 5
Ambience = 0, Shininess = 0
Color = White, Angle = 315
Intensity = 32, Elevation = 50

22) Image > Add Borders
Settings:
Color = Black

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

24) 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

25) Select new border

26) Edit > Paste Into Selection

27) Adjust > Blur > Gaussian Blur
Settings:
Radius = 27.00

28) Effects > Texture Effects > Texture
Settings:
Texture = LB_texture34
Size = 25%, Smoothness = 0
Depth = 3, Ambience = 0
Shininess = 0
Color = White
Angle = 315, Intensity = 50
Elevation = 30

29) Effects > 3D Effects > Cutout
Settings:
Opacity = 40

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

31) Image > Add Borders
Settings:
Color = Foreground Color

32) Image > Add Borders
Settings:
Color = Background Color

33) Image > Add Borders
Settings:
Color = Foreground Color

34) Selections > Select All

35) Selections > Modify > Contract

36) Selections > Invert

37) Effects > 3D Effects > Inner Bevel

38) Image > Add Borders
Settings:
Color = Black

39) Image > Add Borders
Settings:
Size in pixels = 34
Color = Any color not in image

40) Magic Wand Tool
Select new border

41) Edit > Paste Into Selection

42) Adjust > Blur > Gaussian Blur

43) Effects > Plugins > Xero > Fritillary
Settings:
Granularity = 4
Aggression = 81
Tesselation = 35
Variation = 32

44) Effects > 3D Effects > Inner Bevel
Settings:
Bevel = #2, Width = 25
Smoothness = 7, Depth = 5
Ambience = 7, Shininess = 12
Color = White, Angle = 315
Intensity = 32, Elevation = 50

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

46) Image > Add Borders
Settings:
Color = Foreground Color

47) Image > Add Borders
Settings:
Color = Background Color

48) Image > Add Borders
Settings:
Color = Foreground Color

49) Selections > Select All

50) Selections > Modify > Contract

51) Selections > Invert

52) Effects > 3D Effects > Inner Bevel
Settings:
Bevel = #1, Width = 2
Smoothness = 0, Depth = 5
Ambience = 0, Shininess = 0
Color = White, Angle = 315
Intensity = 32, Elevation = 50

53) Image > Add Borders
Settings:
Color = Black

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

55) Magic Wand Tool
Select new border

56) Edit > Paste Into Selection

57) Adjust > Blur > Gaussian Blur

58) Effects > Texture Effects > Texture

59) Effects > 3D Effects > Cutout

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

61) Image > Add Borders
Settings:
Color = Foreground Color

62) Image > Add Borders
Settings:
Color = Background Color

63) Image > Add Borders
Settings:
Color = Foreground Color

64) Selections > Select All

65) Selections > Modify > Contract

66) Selections > Invert

67) Effects > 3D Effects > Inner Bevel

68) Image > Add Borders
Settings:
Color = Black

69) Selections > Select None

70) Layers > New Raster Layer

71) Add Watermark(s)

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

Do NOT Close Frame

Background

73) Selection Tool (S) > Custom selection

Settings:
Top = 80
Left = 0, Right = 77
Bottom = 400

Adjust the settings if necessary

74) Edit > Copy Special > Copy Merged

75) Edit > Paste As New Image

76) Image > Canvas Size
Settings:
Lock aspect ratio = Not Checked
Width = 1700 Pixels****
Height = Your image height
Placement = Left Middle Arrow
Left = 10
*****or preferred width

77) Effects > 3D Effects > Drop Shadow
Settings:
Vertical & Horizontal = 0
Opacity = 50, Blur = 15.00
Color = Black
Shadow on new layer = Not checked

78) Effects > Image Effects > Seamless Tiling
Settings:
Corner = Checked
Vertical = Checked
Vertical offset (%) = 0
Transition (%) = 50

79) Layers > New Raster Layer

80) Layers > Arrange > Send to Bottom

81) Selections > Select All

82) Maximize the copy of your image

83) Edit > Copy

84) Minimize image

85) Activate Background Canvas by clicking on its Title Bar

86) Edit > Paste Into Selection

87) Selections > Select None

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

89) Adjust > Blur > Gaussian Blur

90) Effects > Texture Effects > Texture

91) Effects > Image Effects > Seamless Tiling

92) Layers > New Raster Layer

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

94) Right click to flood fill new layer with Background color

95) Layers Palette
Reduce opacity of layer to 30
(or a setting of your liking)

96) Layers > New Raster Layer

97) Flood Fill Tool
Left click to flood fill new layer with Foreground color

98) Layers Palette
Reduce opacity of layer to 40
(or a setting of your liking)

99) File > Export > JPEG Optimizer

You are done!
Now you can assemble the stationery in LC or OE/Windows Mail.
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 United Tut Testers who participated and who helped me make this tutorial as good as it is.

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