Metallized Lace SB Tutorial

By ©LismibaebisCreations
23 September 2008

I have used one of my own photographs for this tutorial

Skill Level: Intermediate & Adventurous Others
Knowledge of using Filters and Masks necessary
(or learn how to get started with my ABC Tutorials)

This tutorial is my own creation, any resemblance to another tutorial is purely coincidental

Program shortcuts will be given in parentheses

Needed

Paint Shop Pro - I used X2
(Tutorial will 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

Image
Graphic of choice
Ideally with a central focus

Mask
lbm41, available here
or mask of choice

Filters
Mezzoforce "2manekenai", MetallEaser 2, available here
(I am using the free "Lite" version)
FM Tiles Tools, Blend Emboss****, available here

**** Blend Emboss is a working filter in the free to download Demo version

Performance Notes
This tutorial is in 4 parts:
- Preparation
- Masked Image
- Texture
- Sideborder

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

Don't forget to save your work often

Interactive arrow-bookmark.
Click on the arrow and move it anywhere on this page to create a virtual bookmark. It will stay whereever you might put it until you close the browser(tab). Needs IE to work.

Preparation

1) Download and install filters if necessary
(If you install filters you need to restart PSP)

2) Download the mask and save it to your mask folder

3) File > Open
Open image of choice

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

5) Layers > Promote Background Layer
(If necessary)

6) Image > Resize
Settings:
Resample using = Bicubic
Lock aspect ratio = Checked
Resize all layers = Checked
Resolution = 72.000 Pixels / Inch
Width = No greater than 375 Pixels
Height = No greater than 375
Write down your new Height

7) Adjust > Sharpness > Unsharp Mask
Settings:
Radius = 1.00, Strength = 47
Clipping = 5
Luminance only = Checked
(Or a setting of your liking)

8) Dropper Tool (E)
Left click to choose a light to medium Foreground color
(I chose #dcc7be)

9) Window > Duplicate (Shift + D) twice
Minimize two copies

Masked Image

10) Layers > Load/Save Mask > Load Mask From Disk
Settings:
Mask = lbm41 or mask of choice
Source luminance = Checked
Fit to canvas = Checked
Invert transparency = Not checked
Hide all mask = Checked

Minimize masked image
Do NOT close

Texture

11) Maximize a copy of the image

12) Effects > Image Effects > Seamless Tiling
Settings:
Default

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

13) Effects > Plugins > 2manekenai > MezzoForce-MetallEaser 2 Lite
Settings:
MetallEaser = 178
Reflections = 255, Brushed = 120
Saturation = 128, Relief = 255
Brightness = -43 (Minus)
Deeping = 78

14) Layers > New Raster Layer

15) Layers > Arrange > Send to Bottom

16) Flood Fill Tool (F)
Settings:
Match mode = None
Use all layers = Not Checked
Blend mode = Normal
Opacity = 100

17) Left click to flood fill new Layer with Foreground Color

18) Layers > Merge > Merge Visible

19) Effects > Plugins > FM Tile Tools > Blend Emboss
Settings: (Default)
Horiz. Offset = -1.000, Vert. Offset = -1.000
Intensity = 0.250, Gray Level = 64
Red Blend = 0.938, Green Blend = 0.938
Blue Blend = 0.938, Edge Wrap = Checked

20) Edit > Repeat Blend Emboss

21) Effects > Image Effects > Seamless Tiling

22) Image > Greyscale

23) Layers > Merge > Merge All (Flatten)

24) File > Save As
Save your Texture as a (*bmp) file into your Texture folder
Write down name of saved file
Minimize the Texture

Important
Depending on the TOU (Terms of Use) for the Art you use to do this tutorial, you might have to delete the Texture from your Texture folder after finishing this tutorial.
(You might not be allowed to use it in any other work without giving credit to the artist)

Sideborder

25) Maximize your third copy of the image

26) Image > Resize
Settings:
Lock aspect ratio = Not Checked
Width = 1280 pixels*****
Height = Your new height + 40 pixels

*****or width of your computer resolution, e.g. 1024 or 1600

27) Effects > Image Effects > Seamless Tiling

28) Adjust > Blur > Gaussian Blur
Settings:
Radius = 100.00

29) Layers > New Raster Layer

30) Materials Palette
Change Background Color to White
Texture = Not checked

31) Flood Fill Tool
Right click to flood fill new layer with Background Color

32) Materials Palette
Background Color
Settings:
Texture = Checked
Find the Texture you created in Step 24
Angle = 0, Size = 75

33) Layers > New Raster Layer

34) Flood Fill Tool
Right click to flood fill new layer with Background Texture

Don't worry, you can't see this step at the moment, it will all come together in the end

35) Materials Palette
Foreground Color
Choose a lighter shade of your Foreground Color by changing the Luminance (L:) setting to a higher number

Settings:
Texture = Checked
Find the Texture you created in Step 24
Angle = 0, Size = 75

36) Layers > New Raster Layer

37) Flood Fill Tool
Left click to flood fill new layer with Foreground Texture

You should have 4 layers

38) Maximize masked image

39) Edit > Copy Merged

40) Activate your Background Canvas by clicking on its Title Bar

41) Edit > Paste As New Layer

42) Move Tool (M)
Move masked image to the left on your background canvas

43) Effects > 3D Effects > Drop Shadow
Settings:
Horizontal & Vertical = 3
Opacity = 60, Blur = 5.00
Color = Your Foreground Color
Shadow on new layer = Not checked
(Or a setting of your liking)

44) Effects > 3D Effects > Drop Shadow
Settings:
Horizontal & Vertical = -3 (Minus)
(Or a setting of your liking)

45) Layers Palette
Reduce the opacity of your flood filled layers to a setting of your liking in order to make your background text friendly

This is how I have it:
(From Top to Bottom)
- Masked Image
- Foreground Color with Texture = 71
- Background Color with Texture = 75
- Background Color without Texture = 10
- Image

It will really depend on your image and your preferences as to what settings are right for you.
Feel free to play!

46) Layers Palette
Turn off visibility of masked image layer

47) Making sure that one of the other layers is highlighted:
Layers > Merge > Merge Visible

48) Effects > Image Effects > Seamless Tiling
Settings:
Corner = Checked, Vertical = Checked
Vertical offset (%) = 0, Transition (%) = 50

49) Layers Palette
Click on eye to restore visibility of masked image layer

50) Layers > New Raster Layer

51) Add Watermark(s)

52) File > Export > JPEG Optimizer
Settings:
Set Compression value to = 20
Chroma subsampling = YCbCr 1x1 1x1 1x1 (None)
Save Exif data = Not checked

You are done!
Now you can assemble the stationery in LC or OE
Please link tutorial to this page

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.

I would like to thank the testers from Copyright Safe Tutorials who helped me make this tutorial the best it could be.

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