Gail's Garden Frame & BG Tutorial

By LismibaebisCreations
26 July 2010

Tutorial image courtesy of Erik Žunec
Used with written permission

This tutorial is dedicated to Gail Cole († 6 April 2010), much loved by all who knew her.
The picture is of lake "Crno jezero" in Slovenia.
Gail very much enjoyed hiking holidays in Slovenia.

Skill Level: Intermediate and 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

Filters
Simple Filters, available here
VM (Visman) Extravaganza Filters, available here
FM Tile Tools, Blend Emboss, available here ****

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

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

Since some steps are repetitive, instructions to make and use a script are part of the tutorial.

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 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 350

5) Adjust > Sharpness > Unsharp Mask
Settings:
Radius = 10.00, Strength = 20
Clipping = 7
Luminance only = Not checked
(or a setting of your liking)

6) Dropper Tool (E)
Left click to choose a light Foreground color
(I chose #d6cfca)
Right click to choose a medium/dark Background color
(I chose #4c4f37)

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

8) Window > Duplicate
Minimize

9) Edit > Copy

Frame

10) Selections > Select All

11) Effects > 3D Effects > Cutout
Settings:
Vertical & Horizontal = 0
Opacity = 63, Blur = 30.00
Color = Black
Fill interior with color = Not checked

12) If Script Toolbar not already showing:
View > Toolbars > Script

13) Script Toolbar > Start Script Recording

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:
Size in pixels = 2
Color = Background Color

17) Image > Add Borders
Settings:
Size in pixels = 1
Color = Foreground Color

18) Selections > Select All

19) Selections > Modify > Contract
Settings:
Number of pixels = 4

20) Selections > Invert

21) Effects > 3D Effects > Inner Bevel
Settings:
Bevel = #1, Width = 4
Smoothness = 0, Depth = 3
Ambience = 33, Shininess = 13
Color = White, Angle = 315
Intensity = 30, Elevation = 50

22) Image > Add Borders
Settings:
Color = Black

23) Script Toolbar > Save Script Recording

Settings:
File Name = GailsGardensmall
Save as type = Script Files (*.PspScript)

24) Script Toolbar > Start Script Recording

25) Image > Add Borders
Settings:
Size in pixels = 12

26) Layers > New Raster Layer

27) Selections > Select All

28) Edit > Paste Into Selection

29) Adjust > Blur > Gaussian Blur
Settings:
Radius = 17.50

30) Effects > Plugins > Simple > 4 Way Average

31) Effects > Texture Effect > Fur
Settings:
Blur = 45, Density = 67
Length = 44, Transparency = 30

32) Effects > Art Media Effects > Brush Strokes
Settings:
Softness = 33, Bristles = 133
Width = 7, Opacity = 53
Length = 13, Density = 42
Angle = 18
Color = Foreground Color

33) Selections > Modify > Contract
Settings:
Number of pixels = 12

34) Edit > Clear

35) Effects > 3D Effects > Drop Shadow
Settings:
Vertical & Horizontal = 5
Opacity = 50, Blur = 15.00
Color = Black
Shadow on new layer = Not checked

36) Effects > 3D Effects > Drop Shadow
Settings:
Vertical & Horizontal = -5 (Minus)

37) Script Toolbar > Save Script Recording
Settings:
File Name = GailsGarden12

38) Script Toolbar > Select Script

Settings:
Category = All
Select Script = GailsGardensmall.PspScript

39) Run Selected Script

If you want to use the script with other colors, you can make changes to settings with every prompt you get.

To get a prompt OR to stop getting a prompt:
Click on Toggle Execution Mode

40) Image > Add Borders
Settings:
Size in pixels = 35
Color = Any color not in image

41) 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

42) Select new border

43) Effects > Plugins > VM Extravaganza > James Bondage
Settings:
Calibre = 128, Spin = 128
Hole = 0

44) 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

45) Layers > New Raster Layer

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

47) Right click to flood fill new layer with Background Color

48) Layers Palette
Change Blend Mode to Soft Light

49) Layers > Duplicate

50) Layers Palette
Change Blend Mode to Normal
and
Reduce opacity to 47
(Or a setting of your liking)

51) Layers > Merge > Merge All (Flatten)

52) 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

53) Effects > 3D Effects > Cutout
Settings:
Opacity = 33

54) Script Toolbar > Select Script
Settings:
Select Script = GailsGardensmall.PspScript

55) Script Toolbar > Select Script
Settings:
Select Script = GailsGarden12.PspScript

56) Script Toolbar > Select Script
Settings:
Select Script = GailsGardensmall.PspScript

57) Selections > Select None

58) Layers > New Raster Layer

59) Add Watermark(s)

60) 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

61) Selection Tool (S) > Custom selection

Settings:
Top = 0
Left = 0, Right = 82
Bottom = 82

62) Edit > Copy Merged

63) Edit > Paste As New Image

64) Effects > Plugins > Simple > Top Left Mirror
Will be called Square

65) Activate Frame

66) Selection Tool > Custom selection
Settings:
Top = 100
Left = 0, Right = 82
Bottom = 340

67) Edit > Copy Merged

68) Edit > Paste As New Image
Will be called Border

69) Effects > Plugins > Simple > Top Left Mirror

70) Image > Resize
Settings:
Lock aspect ratio = NOT checked
Width = 44 Pixels
Height = 240

71) Adjust > Sharpness > Sharpen

72) Image > Canvas Size
Settings:
Lock aspect ratio = Not Checked
Width = 100 Pixels
Height = 240
Placement = Middle

73) Effects > 3D Effects > Drop Shadow
Settings:
Vertical & Horizontal = 0
Shadow on new layer = Checked

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

75) Layers > Merge > Merge Visible

76) Activate Square

77) Edit > Copy

78) Activate Border

79) Edit > Paste As New Layer

80) Adjust > Sharpness > Sharpen

81) Effects > 3D Effects > Drop Shadow
Settings:
Shadow on new layer = NOT checked

82) Layers > Merge > Merge Visible

83) Image > Canvas Size
Settings:
Lock aspect ratio = Not Checked
Width = 1700 Pixels or preferred width
Height = 240
Placement = Left Middle Arrow
Will be called Background

84) Layers > New Raster Layer

85) Layers > Arrange > Send to Bottom

86) Selections > Select All

87) Activate original image

88) Edit > Copy

89) Activate Background

90) Edit > Paste Into Selection

91) Selections > Select None

92) Effects > Image Effects > Seamless Tiling
Settings: (Default)
Corner = Checked
Bidirectional = Checked
Horizontal offset (%) = 0
Vertical offset (%) = 0
Transition (%) = 50
Linear = Checked

93) Adjust > Blur > Gaussian Blur

94) Effects > Texture Effect > Fur

95) Effects > Plugins > Simple > 4 Way Average

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

97) Layers > New Raster Layer

98) Flood Fill Tool
Left click to flood fill new layer with Foreground Color

99) Layers Palette
Change Blend Mode to Soft Light

100) Layers > Duplicate

101) Layers > New Raster Layer

102) Right click to flood fill new layer with Background Color

103) Layers > Arrange > Move Down

104) Layers Palette
Reduce opacity to 44
(Or a setting of your liking)

105) 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 Testers who participated and who helped me make this tutorial as good as it is.

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