Happy Bird Frame and BG Tutorial

By ©LismibaebisCreations
2 November 2006

Skill Level Beginner
Knowledge of using Filters necessary
(or go here on my website to learn how to install plugins and get them to work)

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 also 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

Filters
Simple Filters, available here

Graphic
Graphic of choice, mine is available here

Pattern
Gold Pattern "Arguld 10", available here

Performance Notes
The settings for different Tools will stay the same throughout the tutorial, unless new setting instructions are given

The tutorial is in 4 parts:
- Preparation
- Frame
- Background
- Assembling stationery in LC

Don't forget to save your work often

I have used art by Carolyn Shores-Wright for this tutorial
If you use this graphic for any of your creations, please give credit to the artist

Preparation

1) Download the gold pattern and the graphic (if wished) and open them both in PSP
(I make a new subfolder for every tutorial I do in a folder called "PSP2006" - on 1st January 2007 I will start a new folder called "PSP2007" - in "My Documents" and save everything I need for a tutorial into that folder. And of course save the results into that subfolder as well)

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

3) If you use a graphic other than the one provided:
Image > Resize
Settings:
Lock aspect ratio = Checked
Resolution = 72.000
Resample using = Bicubic
Width no greater than 450
Height no greater than 400
Resize all layers = Checked

4) Adjust > Sharpness > Sharpen
(if necessary)

5) Window > Duplicate (Shift + D)
(we now have 2 copies of the graphic)
Minimize one copy

6) Edit > Copy

7) Dropper Tool (E)
Choose light color as Foreground Color
(I chose #e6f1f7)

8) Materials Palette
Set Background to gold pattern
Settings:
Angle = 0, Scale = 100
Texture = Not checked

Frame

9) Image > Add Borders
Settings:
Symmetric = Checked
1 pixels
Color = Black

10) Selections > Select All

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

12) Effects > 3D Effects > Cutout
Settings:
Horizontal & Vertical = 0
Opacity = 65, Blur = 16.50
Shadow color = Black

13) Image > Add Borders
Settings:
8 pixels
Color = Any Color not in graphic

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 new border

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

17) Flood fill selection with gold pattern (right click)
(keep selected)

18) Effects > Texture Effects > Polished Stone
Settings:
Blur = 6, Detail = 199
Polishing = 19, Angle = 42
Color = #ebb84b

19) Image > Add Borders
Settings:
1 pixels
Color = Black

20) Image > Add Borders
Settings:
40 pixels
Color = Any color not in graphic

21) Magic Wand Tool
Select new border

22) Edit > Paste > Paste Into Selection

23) Effects > Plugins > Simple > Quick Tile

24) Effects > Plugins > Simple > 4 Way Average

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

26) Image > Add Borders
Settings:
9 pixels
Color = Any Color not in graphic

27) Magic Wand Tool
Select new border

28) Flood Fill Tool
Flood fill selection with gold pattern
(keep selected)

29) Effects > Texture Effects > Polished Stone

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

31) Selections > Select None

32) Layers > New Raster Layer

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
Write your watermark

34) Layers > Convert to Raster Layer

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

36) If necessary, reduce opacity of watermark layer

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

Background

38) Maximize second graphic

39) Image > Resize
Settings:
Lock aspect ratio = Not checked
Resample using = Bicubic
Width = 250
Height = 250
Resize all layers = Checked

40) Effects > Plugins > Simple > Centre Tile

41) Effects > Plugins > Simple > 4 Way Average

42) Layers > New Raster Layer

43) Flood Fill Tool
Flood fill new layer with Foreground color

44) Layers Palette
Reduce opacity of layer to 78
(or a setting of your liking)

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

Letter Creator

46) Open Letter Creator

47) Header; Image; look for the JPEG file of your frame,
Align Center, hit "Enter" once

48) 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

49) Footer; Your name
Reference and link (if possible) to graphic
Name of tutorial "Happy Bird Frame" and link to this page
Date you created this stat

50) 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" goes to my testers. I couldn't do it without your help and support.