Fingerprinted Frame and Background Tutorial

By: ©LismibaebisCreations
23 September 2005

Skill Level: Intermediate
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

Pattern
Goldfill, available here
(Or a Goldpattern of your choice)

Filters
Artistic Plugin, available here
(Listed as "Artistique")
DCspecial Plugin "Ice", available here
(Download dcPro.zip)
DCspecial Plugin "Fingerprint", available here
(Download dcPsych.zip)
PaintEngine Plugin, available here

Performance Notes
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

Frame

1) Open graphic of choice in PSP

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

3) Image > Resize
Settings:
Lock aspect ratio = Checked
Resolution = 72.000
Resample using = Bicubic
Width = No greater than 400 pixels
Height = Will adjust itself
Resize all layers = Checked
(My example is 400 x 300)

4) Adjust > Sharpness > Sharpen
(if necessary)

5) Window > Duplicate
(We now have 2 resized images)
Minimize one image

6) Materials Palette
Click on Foreground Color, click Pattern Tab and find Goldpattern of choice
Settings:
Angle = 0, Scale = 100
Texture = NOT checked

7) Edit > Copy

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

9) Selections > Select All

10) Selections > Modify > Contract
Settings:
Number of pixels = 1

11) Effects > 3D Effects > Cutout
Settings:
Horizontal & Vertical = 3
Opacity = 50, Blur = 5.00
Shadow Color = Black
Fill interior with color = Not checked

12) Effects > 3D Effects > Cutout
Settings:
Horizontal & Vertical = -3 (Minus)

13) Image > Add Borders
Settings:
Size in pixels = 2
Color = Any color not in image

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

15) Select your new border

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

17) Flood fill selected border with Goldpattern

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

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

20) Magic Wand Tool
Select new border

21) Edit > Paste > Paste Into Selection

22) Adjust > Blur > Gaussian Blur
Settings:
Radius = 20.00

23) Effects > Plugins > Artistic > Dry Brush
Settings:
Brush Size = 2, Brush Detail = 8
Texture = 1

24) Effects > Plugins > dcPsych > Ice
(The plugin might appear as DCSpecial > Ice)
Settings:
Control 0 = 5

25) Effects > Plugins > dcPsych > FingerPrint
(The plugin might appear as DCSpecial > FingerPrint)
Settings:
Light Force = 0, Dark Force = 40
C (-R) Phase = 10, M (-G) Phase = 10
Y (-B) Phase = 10, C (-R) Density = 226
M (-G) Density = 226, Y (-B) Density = 226

26) Effects > 3D Effects > Inner Bevel
Settings:
Bevel #2, Width = 20
Smoothness = 10, Depth = 20
Ambience = 19, Shininess = 19
Angle = 98
Intensity = 50, Elevation = 40
Color = Medium color from your image
(I choose #6f863e)

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

28) Image > Add Borders
Settings:
Size in pixels = 2
Color = Any color not in image

29) Magic Wand Tool
Select new border

30) Flood Fill Tool
Flood fill selected border with Goldpattern

31) Selections > Select None

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

33) Add Watermark(s)
If you have a watermark tube, see Step #33a)
If not, follow Step #33b)

33a) Place your tube and continue with Step #35

33b) Text Tool (T)
Create as Vector

34) Layers > Convert to Raster Layer

35) Move Tool
Move text to where you want it

36) Layers Palette
If necessary, reduce opacity of watermark layer

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

38) Minimize or close the file

Background

39) Maximize the spare image

40) Dropper Tool (E)
Pick a fairly dark Color from your image as Foreground Color
(I choose #406726)

41) Image > Resize
Settings:
Width = 200 pixels

42) Adjust > Blur > Gaussian Blur

43) Effects > Plugins > Fantastic Machines > PaintEngine
Settings:
Push Intensity = .11, Lighten = -3.1 (Minus)
Bias = .00, Pull Intensity = .33
Lighten = 1.9, Bias = .00
Amount = 1.71, Wrap Edges = Not checked
Type = Downhill
Input = Not checked, Line = Not checked
Length = 23, Radiate = 1.00
Motion Angle = 167, Curl = 1
Operation Angle = 130, Curl = -45 (Minus)
Direction Channel = R

44) Layers > New Raster Layer

45) Flood Fill Tool
Flood fill new Layer with the Foreground Color

46) Layers Palette
Lower opacity of flood filled layer to your liking
(I reduced mine to 72)

47) Layers > Merge > Merge Visible

48) Effects > Image Effects > Seamless Tiling
Settings:
Edge = Checked
Bidirectional = Checked
Width (%) = 100
Transition (%) = 100

49) File > Export > JPEG Optimizer

Letter Creator

50) Open Letter Creator

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

52) 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 10, Right 10

53) Footer
Your Name
Reference and link (if available) to graphic used
Name of tutorial "Fingerprinted Frame Tutorial" and link to this page
Date you created the stat

54) 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 big "Thank You" to the Testers from the Hootyworkshop, especially (in alphabetical order) Cal, Claire, Debbi, Kat, Marcee, RitaLynn, Robin, Roni, Sabrina, Sherri, Steve and Sue. I apologize if I have forgotten somebody.
Your support, help and patience made this possible.