November Dreams Frame and Background Tutorial

By LismibaebisCreations
26 November 2012
Revised 7 April 2022

I have used one of my own photographs for this tutorial

Skill Level: Advanced Beginners & Adventurous Others
Knowledge of using 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 versions)
Free 30 day trial from Corel, available here

Image

Graphic of choice
(Width greater than height)

Filters

Fantastic Machines > Paint Engine, available here
Simple Filters, available here

Texture

LB_texture22, available here

Performance Notes

This tutorial is in 4 parts:
- Preparation
- Pattern Background
- Frame
- Background

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

If you use PSP X4 or higher, you can get the script for Image Flip and Mirror from creation Cassel

Since some steps are repetitive, instructions to make and use a script are part of the tutorial.

Don't forget to save your work often

Click on the arrow and drag it to mark the progress on this page.

Preparation

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

2) Download the Texture and save to your Texture Folder

3) File > Open
Open image of choice

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

5) Image > Resize
Settings:
Resample using = Bicubic
Lock aspect ratio = Checked
Resize all layers = Checked
Resolution = 72.000 Pixels / Inch
Width = 490 Pixels
(= finished width of 616 Pixels)

6) Adjust > Sharpness > Unsharp Mask
Settings:
Radius = 1.00. Strength = 47
Clipping = 5
Luminance only = Not checked
(or a setting of your liking)

7) Dropper Tool (E)
Left click to choose a light Foreground color
(I chose #e1d5cd)
Right click to choose a dark Background color
(I chose #422e22)

8) Window > Duplicate 2x
Minimize copies

9) Materials Palette
Change Foreground to Gradient
Settings:
Angle = 0, Repeats = 99
Invert = Not checked
Style = Radial
Center Point
Horizontal = 50, Vertical = 50

Pattern Background

10) Image > Resize
Settings:
Lock aspect ratio = Not checked
Width = 400 Pixels
Height = 400

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

12) Effects > Artistic Effects > Topography
Settings:
Width = 77, Density = 10
Angle = 149, Color = #c0c0c0

13) Effects > Plugins > Fantastic Machines > PaintEngine
Settings: LB_FM4
Push Intensity = 1.05, Lighten = .4
Bias = .00, Pull Intensity = .55
Lighten = .4, Bias = .00
Amount = 1.64
Wrap Edges = Not checked
Type = Slope
Input = Not checked
Line = Not checked
Length = 33, Radiate = 1.00
Motion Angle = -120 (Minus), Curl = -90 (Minus)
Operation Angle = 62
Curl = 163
Direction Channel = R

14) Edit > Repeat PaintEngine

15) Effects > Image Effects > Seamless Tiling

16) Minimize pattern
Do NOT Close

This will be known as "Pattern" for the rest of the tutorial

Frame

17) Activate minimized copy of image

18) Layers > New Raster Layer

19) Selections > Select All

20) Effects > 3D Effects > Cutout
Settings:
Vertical & Horizontal = 0
Opacity = 66, Blur = 22.00
Color = Black
Fill interior with color = Not checked

21) If Script Toolbar not already showing:
View > Toolbars > Script

22) Script Toolbar > Start Script Recording

23) Image > Add Borders
Settings:
Symmetric = Checked
Size in pixels = 1
Color = Black

24) Image > Add Borders
Settings:
Size in pixels = 4
Color = Your Background Color

25) Magic Wand Tool
Settings:
Mode = Replace
Match mode = RGB Value
Tolerance = 0
Use all layers = Not checked
Contiguous = Checked
Feather = 0
Anti-alias = Checked
Outside

26) Select new border

27) Effects > 3D Effects > Inner Bevel
Settings: November Dreams 1
Bevel = #1, Width = 3
Smoothness = 0, Depth = 3
Ambience = -25 (Minus), Shininess = 0
Color = White, Angle = 315
Intensity = 50, Elevation = 30

28) Selections > Promote Selection to Layer

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

30) Left click to flood fill selected border with Gradient

31) Adjust > Blur > Gaussian Blur
Settings:
Radius = 5.00

32) Effects > 3D Effects > Inner Bevel

33) Image > Add Borders
Settings:
Size in pixels = 1
Color = Black

34) Script Toolbar > Save Script Recording

Settings:
File Name = November_Dream
Save as type = Script Files (*.PspScript)

35) Image > Add Borders
Settings:
Size in pixels = 9
Color = Any Color not in image

36) Magic Wand
Select new border

37) Activate minimized copy of image

38) Edit > Copy

39) Activate your Frame
Edit > Paste Into Selection

40) Effects > Texture Effects > Texture
Settings:
Texture = LB_texture22
Size = 60%, Smoothness = 0
Depth = 3, Ambience = 0
Shininess = 0,
Color = White
Angle = 315, Intensity = 50
Elevation = 30

41) Effects > 3D Effects > Cutout

42) Script Toolbar > Select Script

Settings:
Category = All
Select Script = November_Dream.PspScript
Toggle Execution Mode

Run Selected Script

If you get a prompt:
Cancel Running of Script and click on Toggle Execution Mode

43) Image > Add Borders
Settings:
Size in pixels = 36
Color = Any Color not in image

44) Magic Wand
Select new border

45) Edit > Paste Into Selection

46) Effects > Plugins > Simple > Top Left Mirror

47) Effects > Plugins > Simple > Zoom Out and Flip

48) Effects > Plugins > Simple > Diamonds

49) Selections > Select None

50) Layers > Duplicate

51) Effects > Artistic Effects > Topography

52) Effects > Plugins > Fantastic Machines > PaintEngine

53) Layers > Duplicate Layer

54) Effects > Plugins > Simple > 4 Way Average

55) Layers Palette
Reduce opacity to 72
(or a setting of your liking)

56) Selections > Select All

57) Selections > Modify > Contract
Settings:
Number of Pixels = 36

58) Edit > Clear

59) Layers Palette
Activate Copy of Background

60) Edit > Clear
(You should now be able to see your image and the new frame)

61) Layers > Merge > Merge Visible

62) Selections > Invert

63) Effects > 3D Effects > Inner Bevel
Settings: November Dreams 2
Bevel = #2, Width = 20
Smoothness = 10, Depth = 10
Ambience = -25 (Minus), Shininess = 20
Color = White, Angle = 315
Intensity = 60, Elevation = 40

64) Script Toolbar > Select Script
Settings:
Select Script = November_Dream.PspScript
Run Selected Script

65) Selections > Select None

66) Layers > New Raster Layer

67) Add Watermark(s)

68) File > Export > JPEG Optimizer
Settings:
Set compression value to = 20 - 25
Chroma subsampling = YCbCr 1x1 1x1 1x1 (None)
Save Exif data = Not checked

Do NOT Close Frame

Background

69) Selection Tool (S) > Custom Selection

Settings:
Top = 50
Left = 0, Right = 48
Bottom = 450

70) Edit > Copy Special > Copy Merged

71) Edit > Paste As New Image

72) Image > Mirror

73) Image > Canvas Size
Settings:
Width = 2500 Pixels (or width of choice)
Height = 400
Placement = Left Middle Arrow
Left = 10

74) Effects > 3D Effects > Drop Shadow
Settings:
Vertical = 0, Horizontal = 0
Opacity = 60, Blur = 15.00
Color = Black
Shadow on new layer = Not checked

75) Effects > 3D Effects > Drop Shadow
Settings:
Vertical = 0, Horizontal = 5

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

77) Materials Palette
Change Background to Pattern
Settings:
Pattern Background
Angle = 0, Scale = 50

78) Layers > New Raster Layer

79) Layers > Arrange > Send to Bottom

80) Flood Fill Tool
Right click to flood fill with Pattern

81) Effects > Image Effects > Seamless Tiling

82) Materials Palette
Change Foreground from Gradient to Color

83) Dropper Tool
Left click to choose a dominant color from your frame
(I picked #b1dcec)

84) Layers > New Raster Layer

85) Flood Fill Tool
Left click to flood fill with Color

86) Layers Palette
Reduce opacity to 89
(Or a setting of your liking)

87) File > Export > JPEG Optimizer

You are done!
Now you can assemble the stationery in email program of choice.

I hope that you enjoyed doing this tutorial.
If you have any questions, please email me: Lismibaebi at gmail.com
I would love to see what you create with my tutorial.
Please link the tutorial to this page.

A special "Thank you" goes to my Tester Group.
Your help, support and patience has made all the difference