Holding a Cake SB Tutorial

By: ©LismibaebisCreations
15th April 2005

Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Knowledge of using masks and filters necessary
(or learn how to get started on my website)

Please do not script my tutorials
This tutorial is my own creation; any resemblance to another tutorial is purely coincidental

Needed

Paint Shop Pro 8 (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

Graphic
Graphic of choice

Filters
Simple Filters, available here
Andrew’s Filters 23, available here

Mask
Mask of choice
(I used 20-20, available here)

Let's Start

1) File > Open
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 350 pixels
Height = Will adjust itself
Resize all layers = Checked

4) Adjust > Sharpness > Sharpen
(if necessary)

5) Dropper Tool (E)
Choose a very light color as Foreground color (left click) and a very dark color as Background (right click) color
The Foreground color will be used later to flood fill and the Background color will be used for the watermark

6) Edit > Copy
Minimize the grapic

7) File > New (Ctrl + N)
Settings:
Width = 1024 pixels
Height = Height of your graphic + 30 pixels
Resolution = 72.000
Raster Background = Checked
Color depth = 16 Million Colors (24 bit)
Transparent = Checked

8) Selections > Select All (Ctrl + A)

9) Edit > Paste > Paste into Selection

10) Selections > Select None (Ctrl + D)

11) Effects > Image Effects > Seamless Tiling
Settings:
Default Setting

If you click on the icon indicated by the hand, PSP will set it to default

12) Effects > Plugins > Simple Filters > 4 Way Average

13) Adjust > Softness > Soft Focus
Settings:
Default Setting

14) Effects > Plugins > Andrew Filter 23 > Holding a Cake to the Sun
Settings:
Mix 1 = 117, Mix 2 = 54
Red = 17, Green = 42
Blue 48

15) Layers > New Raster Layer

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

17) Flood fill new layer with Foreground color (Left mouse click)

18) Layers > Arrange > Send to Bottom

19) Layers Palette
Lower opacity on the patterned layer down to 30 - 50 (depending on your graphic and preferences)

20) Layers > Merge > Merge visible

21) Effects > Image Effects > Seamless Tiling

22) Minimize this background image

23) Maximize the spare graphic

24) Layers > Promote Background Layer (if necessary)

25) Layer > Load / Save Mask > Load Mask from Disk
Settings:
Mask of choice
Source luminance = Checked
Fit to Canvas = Checked
Invert transparency = Depends on mask used, you want to be able to see most of the graphic
Hide all Mask = Checked

26) Layers > Delete
Click "yes" to "Would you like this mask merged into the layer below it"

27) Edit > Copy

28) Minimize masked graphic

29) Maximize background image

30) Edit > Paste > Paste as New Layer

31) Move Tool (M)
Move masked graphic to the left of the background image

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

34) Layers > Convert to Raster Layer

35) Move Tool
Move text to where you want it

36) 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

Letter Creator

38) Open Letter Creator

39) Body > Image
Look for the JPEG file
Click on "Tile"
Choose Font and Font Size
Choose Text Color
Choose Link Color
Margin: Top 10, Left 10 - 20 to the right of your graphic, Right 10

40) Footer
Your Name
Reference and link (if available) to graphic used
If appropriate link to mask (some creators wish a link to their website)
Name of tutorial "Holding a Cake" and link to this page
Date you created the stat

41) 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.
Without you and Hooty's KnT Lessons I would never have got this far.