The Lilacs of Pompeii
Frame and BG Tutorial

By ©LismibaebisCreations
13 January 2007

Skill Level: Beginner
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
Tube of choice, width greater than height

Texture
Texture "Plant leaves", available here

Gradient
Gradient of choice
(I used "Ocean blues", available here)

Filters
Simple Filters, available here
FM Tile Tools, Demo available here
Toadies Filters, available here

Performance Notes
This tutorial is in 4 parts:
- Preparation
- Frame
- Background
- Assembling stationary in LC

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

Preparation

1) Download the Texture and Gradient

2) Place the Texture in your Textures folder and the Gradient in your Gradients Folder (Hints available here)

3) File > Open
Open Tube of choice

4) Edit > Copy

5) Edit > Paste > Paste As New Image

6) Close original Tube

7) Image > Resize
Settings:
Resample using = Bicubic
Lock aspect ratio = Checked
Resize all layers = Checked
Resolution = 72.000
Width = No greater than 426 pixels
Height = No greater than 366 pixels
Write down your new width and height

8) Adjust > Sharpness > Sharpen
(if necessary)

9) Materials Palette
Foreground = White Color
Background = Click on Gradient Tab and choose a Gradient, which compliments your Tube
Settings:
Style = Sunburst
Repeats = Depends on Gradient***
Invert = Depends on Gradient***
Horizontal = 50, Vertical = 50
Link center and local points = Checked
Texture = Not checked

***This is how mine looks

With the "Ocean blues" Gradient:
Repeats = 0
Invert = Not Checked

Frame

10) Image > Canvas Size
Settings:
Lock aspect ratio = Checked
Width = Your graphic width*** + 60 pixels
Height = Will automatically adjust itself
Placement = Center
***The new width and height you wrote down in Step #7

11) Layers > New Raster Layer

12) Layers > Arrange > Send to Bottom

13) Layers Palette
Turn off visibility of Tube layer

14) Flood Fill Tool (F)
Settings:
Match mode = None
Sample merged = Not checked
Blend mode = Normal
Opacity = 100

15) Flood fill new layer with Gradient

16) Effects > Texture Effects > Texture
Settings:
Texture = Plant leaves
Size = 75 %, Smoothness = 0
Depth = 3, Ambience = 0
Shininess = 0, Color = White
Angle = 315, Intensity = 50
Elevation = 30

17) Layers > New Raster Layer

18) Flood Fill Tool
Flood fill new layer with Gradient

18a) Layers Palette
If you use a Gradient other than "Ocean blues", you might have to reduce the opacity of the layer to 50 - 75 in order to see the texture on the bottom layer

19) Layers > Merge > Merge Visible

20) Effects > Plugins > FM Tile Tools > Blend Emboss
Settings:
Default

21) Edit > Copy

22) Edit > Paste > Paste As New Image

23) Minimize for later use (Background)

24) Layers > New Raster Layer

25) Flood Fill Tool
Flood fill new layer with White

26) Layers Palette
Turn opacity down to 58
(or a setting of your liking)

27) Layers Palette
Select top (Tube) layer and turn on visibility

28) Effects > 3D Effects > Inner Bevel
Settings:
Bevel = #2, Width = 16
Smoothness = 40, Depth = 2
Ambience = 100, Shininess = 10
Color = White, Angle = 315
Intensity = 37, Elevation = 20

29) Effects > 3D Effects > Drop Shadow
Settings:
Vertical & Horizontal = 2
Opacity = 44, Blur = 10.00
Color = Black
Shadow on new layer = Not checked

30) Effects > 3D Effects > Drop Shadow
Settings:
Vertical & Horizontal = -1 (Minus)
Opacity = 33

31) Layers > Merge > Merge Visible

32) Selections > Select All

33) Selections > Modify > Contract
Settings:
Number of pixels = 17

34) Selections > Invert

35) Effects > Plugins > Simple > Centre Tile

36) Effects > Plugins > Toadies > Blast 'n Blur
Settings:
X-effect = 79
Y-effect = 87

37) Effects > 3D Effects > Inner Bevel

38) Selections > Invert

39) Layers > New Raster Layer

40) Effects > 3D Effects > Cutout
Settings:
Vertical & Horizontal = 0
Opacity = 80, Blur = 15.00
Color = Black
Fill interior with color = Not checked

41) Selections > Select None

42) Edit > Copy Merged

43) Optional if you use pastel colors:
Dropper Tool (E)
Select medium dark Background Color

44) Image > Add Borders
Settings:
Symmetric = Checked
Size in pixels = 1
Color = Black OR the new Background Color

45) Image > Add Borders
Settings:
Size in pixels = 30
Color = Any Color not in image

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

47) Select new border

48) Edit > Paste > Paste Into Selection

49) Selections > Select None

50) Image > Add Borders
Settings:
Size in pixels = 1
Color = Black OR the new Background Color

51) Layers > New Raster Layer

52) Add Watermark(s)
If you have a watermark tube, see Step #52a)
If not, follow Step #52b)

52a) Place your tube and continue with Step #54

52b) Text Tool (T)
Create as Vector
Write your watermark

53) Layers > Convert to Raster Layer

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

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

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

Background

57) Maximize the image we put aside earlier

58) Image > Resize
Settings:
Lock aspect ratio = Checked
Resample using = Bicubic
Width = No greater than 300
Height = No greater than 300
Resize all layers = Checked

59) Effects > Plugins > Simple > Quick Tile

60) Layers > New Raster Layer

61) Flood Fill Tool
Flood fill new layer with White

62) Layers Palette
Reduce opacity of layer to 68
(or a setting of your liking)

Optional

1) Layers > New Raster Layer

2) Dropper Tool (E)
Choose a very light version of a dominant color from your image

3) Flood Fill Tool
Flood fill your new layer with this color

4) Layers Palette
Play with the opacity of the white and the color layers until you have a result to your liking

For my background I have reduced the opacity of the white layer to 56 and the opacity of a very light pale pink layer to 46

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

Letter Creator

64) Open Letter Creator

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

66) 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

67) Footer
Your name
Reference and link (if possible) to Tube
Name of tutorial "Lilacs of Pompeii Frame" and link to this page
Date you created this stat

68) 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 special "Thank You" to the United Tut Testers that participated and who helped me make this tutorial as good as it is :)
They are:
Carisa, Chris, Debi, Erin, Heidi, Kat, Pat W, Robin, Sue and Wendy

Another special "Thank you" goes to my friend Ariane who suggested the name of the tutorial

Proud member of