Sea Urchin's Promise SB Tutorial

By ©LismibaebisCreations
7 April 2009

Tutorial image:
Created using artwork by Gail & Trina
Purchased and used according to TOU

Skill Level: Advanced Beginner & 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 PSP versions, some adjustments might be necessary)
Free 30 day PSP trial from Corel, available here

Image
Tube of choice, ideally with a bold design
(not small or intricate pattern)

Filter
Ormente 2, available here

Performance Notes
This tutorial is in 2 parts:
- Preparation
- 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 filter if necessary
(If you install filters you need to restart PSP afterwards)

2) File > Open
Open tube of choice

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

4) 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 390
Write down new height

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

6) Dropper Tool (E)
Left click to choose a light/medium Foreground color
(I choose #fcfcac)
Background color = very light version of your Foreground color
(I choose #fefede)

7) Window > Duplicate
Minimize copy

8) Edit > Copy

Background

9) Image > Canvas Size
Settings:
Lock aspect ratio = Not checked
Width = 1700 Pixels
Height = Height of your tube + 35
Placement = Middle

10) Layers > New Raster Layer

11) Layers > Arrange > Send to Bottom

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

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

14) Layers > Merge > Merge Visible

15) Edit > Paste As New Layer

16) Move Tool (M)
Move Tube to the left of the canvas

17) Edit > Paste as New Layer

18) Move Tool
Move Tube to the left (between original and first copy)

If your tube is wider than the one I used, they might overlap.
Make sure the middle tube does NOT touch the others

19) Layers > Merge > Merge Down

20) Layers > Duplicate

21) Move Tool
Move the tubes to the right side of the canvas

22) Layers > Merge > Merge Visible

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

24) Effects > Geometric Effects > Circle
Settings:
Wrap = Checked

25) Effects > Plugins > Ormente's Filters > Artistic
Settings:
Frequency = 8, Level = 8
Cut Level = 120

26) Effects > Art Media Effects > Charcoal
Settings:
Detail = 88, Opacity = 41

27) Effects > Image Effects > Seamless Tiling

28) Adjust > Softness > Soft Focus
Settings:
Softness (%) = 20
Edge importance (%) = 40
Include scattered light = Checked
Amount (%) = 40
Halo size (%) = 20
Halo visibility (%) = 40

29) Effects > Image Effects > Seamless Tiling

Optional:

30) Layers > Duplicate

31) Effects > Illumination Effects > Sunburst
Settings:
Color = White
Light Spot
Brightness = 100, Horizontal = 0
Vertical = 15
Rays
Density = 80, Brightness = 70
Circles
Brightness = 42

32) Layers Palette
Reduce opacity of the Layer to 65

33) Layers > New Raster Layer
Settings:
Blend mode = Soft Light
Opacity = 100, Link set = 0
Highlight in layers palette = Not checked
Layer is visible = Checked
Lock transparency = Not checked

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

35) Layers > New Raster Layer
Settings:
Blend mode = Normal

36) Flood Fill Tool
Left click to flood fill new layer with Foreground Color

37) Layers Palette
Reduce opacity of the Layer to 75

38) Layers > New Raster Layer

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

40) Layers Palette
Reduce opacity of the Layer to 44

Layers Palette should look like this:
Without Sunburst effect

With the Sunburst effect

If necessary, adjust the visibility of the flood filled layers in order to still see the pattern, but also to have a text friendly background

41) Edit > Paste As New Layer

If the tube is no longer on the clipboard, go back to the minimized copy of tube and Edit > Copy

42) Move Tool (M)
Move tube to the left of the background

43) Layers > Duplicate

44) Effects > 3D Effects > Inner Bevel
Settings:
Bevel = #2, Width = 15
Smoothness = 7, Depth = 5
Ambience = 7, Shininess = 12
Color = White, Angle = 315
Intensity = 32, Elevation = 50

45) Layers Palette
Reduce opacity of layer to your liking

46) Layers > Merge > Merge Down

47) Effects > 3D Effects > Drop Shadow
Settings:
Vertical & Horizontal = 2
Opacity = 50, Blur = 5.00
Color = Black
Shadow on new layer = Not checked

48) Layers > New Raster Layer

49) Add Watermark(s)

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

If you use the Sunburst effect:
Do NOT close the file until you are happy with the finished stationery (in case you need to go back and adjust the layer in Step #32 further, so that your background tiles nicely)

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