Mossy Dreams of the Past SB Tutorial

By ©LismibaebisCreations
23 May 2009

Tutorial image courtesy of Erik Žunec
Used with written permission

Skill Level: Intermediate & Adventurous Others
Knowledge of using Masks and Filters 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

Image
Graphic of choice

Mask
Mask 191, available here
or mask of choice

Filters
Xero Filters, available here
(xl Rel 1 - Dec 2007 and Set 4)
Fantastic Machines > Paint Engine
(I have used the old free version, available here)

Performance Notes
This tutorial is in 3 parts:
- Preparation
- Masked Image
- Background

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 wherever 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 afterwards)

2) Download the mask and save it to a folder you can easily find again

3) File > Open
mask191
Minimize mask

4) File > Open
Open image of choice

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

6) Layers > Promote Background Layer
(If necessary)

7) Image > Resize
Settings:
Resample using = Bicubic
Lock aspect ratio = Checked
Resize all layers = Checked
Resolution = 72.000 Pixels / Inch
Width = No greater than 400 Pixels
Height = No greater than 430
Write down new height

8) Adjust > Sharpness > Unsharp Mask
Settings:
Radius = 10.00, Strength = 20
Clipping = 7
Luminance only = Not checked
(Or a setting of your liking)

9) Dropper Tool (E)
Left click to choose a light Foreground color
(I chose #e0e7d5)
Right click to choose a medium to dark Background color
(I chose #6d813a)

10) Window > Duplicate
Minimize copy

Masked Image

11) Layers > New Mask Layer > From Image
Settings:
Source window = mask191
Source luminance = Checked
Invert mask data = Not checked

12) Edit > Copy Merged
Minimize masked image
Do NOT close

Background

13) Restore the second copy of the image

14) Image > Resize
Settings:
Lock aspect ratio = Not checked
Width = 1700 Pixels
Height = Height of your image and 10

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

16) Adjust > Blur > Gaussian Blur
Settings:
Radius = 22.00

17) Effects > Plugins > xero > Porcelain
Settings:
Porcelain effect:
Softness = 71, Strength = 78
Channel tuning:
Red = 0, Green = 0
Blue 100
Compensation:
Exposure = 14, Contrast = 22
Saturation = 0

18) Effects > Art Media Effects > Brush Strokes
Settings:
Softness = 22
Bristles = 172, Width = 13
Opacity = 62
Length = 6, Density = 86
Angle = 290
Color = Your background color

19) Effects > Plugins > Fantastic Machines > PaintEngine
Settings: DebsMosaic
Push Intensity = .55, Lighten = -1.0
Bias = .47, Pull Intensity = .55
Lighten = 1.9, Bias = .03
Amount = 1.39
Wrap Edges = Not checked
Type = Hue 2
Input = Not checked
Line = Not checked
Length = 37, Radiate = 1.00
Motion Angle = -12, Curl = -108
Operation Angle = -85, Curl = 3
Direction Channel = R

20) Effects > Edge Effects > Enhance

21) Effects > Plugins > xero > Fritillary
Settings:
Granularity = 10
Aggression = 113
Tessalation = 68
Variation = 60

22) Effects > Image Effects > Seamless Tiling

23) Layers > New Raster Layer

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

25) Right click to flood fill new layer with Background Color

26) Layers Palette
Change Blend Mode to Soft Light
and
Reduce opacity to 91

27) Layers > New Raster Layer

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

29) Layers Palette
Reduce opacity to 57

30) Layers > New Raster Layer

31) Left click to flood fill new layer with Foreground Color

32) Layers Palette
Change Blend Mode to Soft Light

33) Layers > New Raster Layer

34) Left click to flood fill new layer with Foreground Color

35) Layers Palette Reduce opacity to 57

36) Edit > Paste As New Layer

If your masked image is no longer on the clipboard, go back to it and Edit > Copy

37) Move Tool (M)
Move masked image to the left hand side of your background tile

38) Effects > 3D Effects > Drop Shadow
Settings:
Vertical & Horizontal = 3
Opacity = 50, Blur = 5.00
Color = Black
Shadow on new layer = Not checked

39) Effects > 3D Effects > Drop Shadow
Settings:
Vertical & Horizontal = -3 (Minus)
Opacity = 20

40) Layers Palette
Change opacity of the flood filled layers to suit your image and liking The background pattern should be visible, but it should also be textfriendly

41) Layers > New Raster Layer

42) Add Watermark(s)

43) 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.

Proud member of

and