Jagged Frame and Background Tutorial

By: ©LismibaebisCreations
23 November 2005

Skill Level: Advanced Beginner to 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
Graphic should have slightly greater width than height to avoid too much distortion

Alpha Selection
jagged_fr_as, available here

Filters
VM Instant Art (Origami Folder), 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) Download Alpha Selection and save to your computer
(I have a PSP folder in "My Documents" with Subfolders for every tutorial I do. I save the necessary files and the results to this subfolder)

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

3) Minimize for later use

4) Open graphic of choice in PSP

5) Window > Duplicate
Close original

6) Dropper Tool (E)
Pick a light color as Foreground and a dark color as Background Color
(I choose #fff5ff and #6d5c86)

7) Materials Palette
Settings:
Click in Foreground Color, click Gradient Tab and choose Foreground-background
Angle = 315, Repeat = 0
Invert = Not Checked, Style = Linear
Texture = NOT checked

8) Edit > Copy
Minimize image

9) Restore Up the (copy) Alpha Selection image

10) Layers > New Raster Layer

11) Selections > Load/Save Selection > Load Selection from Alpha Channel
Settings:
Selection #1
Replace selection = Checked
Move to upper left of canvas = Not checked
Invert image = Not checked
Load

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

13) Left click to Flood fill Selection with Gradient

14) Effects > 3D Effects > Inner Bevel
Settings:
Bevel = #2, Width = 15
Smoothness = 15, Depth = 7
Ambience = 7, Shininess = 7
Color = White, Angle = 315
Intensity = 50, Elevation = 30

15) Selections > Select None

16) Layers > New Raster Layer

17) Selections > Load/Save Selection > Load Selection from Alpha Channel
Settings:
Selection #2

18) Materials Palette
Settings:
Gradient
Angle = 180

19) Flood Fill Tool
Left click to Flood fill Selection with Gradient

20) Effects > 3D Effects > Inner Bevel

21) Selections > Select None

22) Layers > New Raster Layer

23) Selections > Load/Save Selection > Load Selection from Alpha Channel
Settings:
Selection #3

24) Materials Palette
Settings:
Gradient
Angle = 45

25) Flood Fill Tool
Left click to Flood fill Selection with Gradient

26) Effects > 3D Effects > Inner Bevel

27) Selections > Select None

28) Layers > New Raster Layer

29) Selections > Load/Save Selection > Load Selection from Alpha Channel
Settings:
Selection #4

30) Selections > Modify > Expand
Settings:
Number of pixels = 1

31) Edit > Paste > Paste Into Selection

32) Selections > Select None

33) Layers > Merge > Merge Visible

34) Magic Wand Tool
Settings:
Mode = Replace, Match mode = None
Tolerance = 0, Sample Merged =Checked
Contiguous = Checked
Feather = 0
Anti-alias = Checked
Inside

35) Select the areas inside your frame set

36) Selections > Modify > Expand

37) Edit > Paste > Paste Into Selection

38) Selections > Select None

39) Image > Resize
Settings:
Lock aspect ratio = Checked
Resolution = 72.000
Resample using = Bicubic
Width = 550 pixels
Height = Will adjust itself
Resize all layers = Checked

40) Layers > New Raster Layer

41) Add Watermark(s)
If you have a watermark tube, see Step #41a)
If not, follow Step #41b)

41a) Place your tube and continue with Step #43

41b) Text Tool (T)
Create as Vector
Write your watermark
(You might have to toggle your Colors. I used my light Foreground color)

42) Layers > Convert to Raster Layer

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

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

45) File > Export > GIF Optimizer
Settings:
Transparency:
Existing image or layer transparency colors = Checked
Partial transparency: Use full transparency for pixels below = 45 % opacity
OK

46) Minimize or close the file

Background

47) Edit > Paste > Paste as New Image

48) Layers > Promote Background Layer
(If necessary)

49) Image > Resize
Settings:
Width = 250 pixels
Height = Will adjust itself

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

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

51) Adjust > Blur > Gaussian Blur
Settings:
Radius = 25.00

52) Effects > Plugins > VM Instant Art > Origami Folder
Settings:
X-Divisions = 24, Y-Divisions = 30
Distortion = 61
Mode 1 = 255, Mode 2 = 0

53) Adjust > Soft Focus
Settings:
Default Settings

54) Layers > New Raster Layer

55) Flood Fill Tool
Flood fill new Layer with (light) Foreground Color

56) Layers Palette
Lower opacity of Flood filled Layer to 74
(Or a setting of your choice in order to make the background text friendly)

57) Layers > Merge > Merge Visible

58) Effects > Image Effects > Seamless Tiling
Settings:
Edge = Checked, Bidirectional = Checked
Width = 50, Transition = 50

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

Letter Creator

60) Open Letter Creator

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

62) 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

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

64) 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.