Trees are Beautiful SB Tutorial

By: ©LismibaebisCreations
16 June 2005

This tutorial is dedicated to my Dad

Skill Level: Beginner
No outside filters

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 also 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
Graphic of choice

Mask
Mask of choice
(I used Mask 204, available here)

Performance Notes
The settings for different Tools remain the same for the whole tutorial, unless different instructions are given

Let's Start

1) Open graphic of choice

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

3) Image > Resize
Settings:
Lock aspect ratio = Checked
Resolution = 72.000
Resample using = Bicubic
Width = No greater than 350 pixels
Height = No greater than 300 pixels
Resize all layers = Checked
(My example is 327 x 300)
Write down the height of your resized graphic

4) Adjust > Sharpness > Sharpen
(if necessary)

5) Dropper Tool (E)
Pick a light Color from your graphic as Foreground and a dark Color as Background Color
The Background color is for the watermark. If you use a tube to make your watermark, you don't need to select a Background color
(I choose #839f62 and #375c20)

6) Edit > Copy

7) Minimize image

8) File > New
Settings:
Width = 1024***** pixels
Height = Height of your image + 20 pixels
Resolution = 72.000
Raster Background = Checked
Transparent
(My example is 1024 x 320 pixels)

*****or width of your computer resolution e.g. 1280 or 1600

9) Selections > Select All (Ctrl + A)

10) Edit > Paste > Paste into Selection

11) Selections > Select None

12) Effects > Image Effects > Seamless Tiling
Settings:
Mirror = Checked
Bidirectional = Checked
Horizontal offset = 0
Vertical offset = 0
Width = 50

13) Adjust > Blur > Gaussian Blur
Settings:
Radius = 10

14) Adjust > Softness > Soft Focus
Settings:
Default Setting

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

15) Effects > Texture Effects > Texture > Blue spruce
Settings:
Size = 100 %, Smoothness = 0
Depth = 1, Ambience = 0
Shininess = 0, Angle = 315
Intensity = 50, Elevation = 30
Color = Click in the color and choose a complimentary color from your graphic
Then choose a much lighter version of it from anywhere from the square within the color circle
See screenshot below

I used #f9eeeb for my example

16) Layers > New Raster Layer

17) Flood Fill Tool (F)
Settings:
Match mode = None
Sample merged = Unchecked
Blend mode = Normal
Opacity = 100 %
Flood fill new layer with Foreground Color

18) Layers Palette
Lower opacity of flood filled layer to 75 or whichever looks best for you

19) Layers > Merge > Merge visible

20) Layers Palette
Lower opacity of merged layer to 90 or a setting of your liking

When I am not sure about the opacity, I will go to Layers > Merge > Merge All (Flatten) and check out the current setting
Then I simply go back one step (Ctrl + Z), either to continue with the tutorial or to try out different settings
You want to see something of the pattern, but a text friendly background is the main priority

21) Effects > Image Effects > Seamless Tiling

22) Minimize background tile

23) Maximize the spare image

24) Layers > Promote Background Layer
(if necessary)

25) Layers > Load / Save Mask > Load Mask from Disk
Settings:
Mask of choice
Source luminance = Checked
Fit to Canvas = Checked
Invert transparency = Depends on mask used, you want to be able to see most of the graphic
Hide all Mask = Checked

26) Edit > Copy Merged

27) Minimize image with mask applied

28) Maximize background tile

29) Edit > Paste > Paste as New Layer

30) Move Tool (M)
Move your image with applied mask to the left side of your background tile

31) Effects > 3D Effects > Drop Shadow
Settings:
Vertical & Horizontal = 3
Opacity = 55, Blur = 5.00
Color = Black
Shadow on New Layer = Unchecked
Or Settings of your choice

32) Effects > 3 D Effects > Drop Shadow
Settings:
Vertical & Horizontal = -2 (Minus)
Opacity = 20, Blur = 5.00
Color = Black
Shadow on New Layer = Unchecked
Or Settings of your choice

33) Layers > New Raster Layer

34) Add Watermark(s)
If you have a watermark tube, see Step #34a)
If not, follow Step #34b)

34a) Place your tube and continue with Step #36

34b) Text Tool (T)
Create as Vector

35) Layers > Convert to Raster Layer

36) Move Tool
Move text to where you want it

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

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

Letter Creator

39) Open Letter Creator

40) Body > Image
Look for the JPEG file
Click on "Tile"
Choose Font and Font Size
Choose Text Color
Choose Link Color
Margin: Top 10, Left 10 - 20 to the right of your graphic, Right 10

41) Footer
Your Name
Reference and link (if available) to graphic used
If appropriate link to mask (some creators wish a link to their website)
Name of tutorial "Trees are Beautiful SB Tutorial" and link to this page
Date you created the stat

42) 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 big "Thank You" to the Testers from the Hootyworkshop.
Without you and Hooty's KnT Lessons I would never have got this far.