Happy Bird Frame and BG Tutorial

By ©LismibaebisCreations
2 November 2006

I have used art by Carolyn Shores-Wright for this tutorial

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

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

Preparation

1) Download the gold pattern and open 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) File > Open
Open image of choice

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

4) 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

5) Adjust > Sharpness > Sharpen
(if necessary)

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

7) Edit > Copy

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

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

Frame

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

11) Selections > Select All

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

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

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

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

16) Select new border

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

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

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

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

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

22) Magic Wand Tool
Select new border

23) Edit > Paste > Paste Into Selection

24) Effects > Plugins > Simple > Quick Tile

25) Effects > Plugins > Simple > 4 Way Average

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

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

28) Magic Wand Tool
Select new border

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

30) Effects > Texture Effects > Polished Stone

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

32) Selections > Select None

33) Layers > New Raster Layer

34) Add Watermark(s)
If you have a watermark tube, see Step #34a)
If not, follow Step #34b)

34a) Place your tube and continue with Step #36

34b) Text Tool (T)
Create as Vector
Write your watermark

35) Layers > Convert to Raster Layer

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

37) If necessary, reduce opacity of watermark layer

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

Background

39) Maximize second graphic

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

41) Effects > Plugins > Simple > Centre Tile

42) Effects > Plugins > Simple > 4 Way Average

43) Layers > New Raster Layer

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

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

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

Letter Creator

47) Open Letter Creator

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

49) 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

50) 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

51) 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.