Walled Garden Frame and Background Tutorial

By: ©LismibaebisCreations
27 July 2005

Skill Level: Intermediate
Knowledge of using Filters necessary
(or learn how to get started here)

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 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, width greater than height

Filters
DC special Plugin "PerssianRug", available here
(Download dc.Psych.zip)

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

Don't forget to save your work often

Frame

1) Open graphic of choice in PSP

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 440 pixels
Height = Will adjust itself
Resize all layers = Checked
(My example is 440 x 330 pixels)

4) Adjust > Sharpness > Sharpen
(if necessary)

5) Window > Duplicate twice
(We now have 3 resized images)
Minimize 2 images

6) Edit > Copy

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

8) Selections > Select All

9) Selections > Modify > Contract
Settings:
Number of pixels = 1

10) Effects > 3D Effects > Cutout
Settings:
Horizontal & Vertical = 0
Opacity = 80, Blur = 7.00
Shadow Color = Black
Fill interior with color = Not checked

11) Selections > Select None

12) Image > Add Borders
Settings:
Size in pixels = 20
Color = Any color not in image

13) Magic Wand Tool
Settings:
Mode = Replace, Match mode = RGB Value
Tolerance = 0, Sample Merged = Not checked
Contiguous = Checked
Feather = 0
Anti-alias = Checked
Outside

14) Select your new border

15) Edit > Paste > Paste Into Selection

16) Effects > Plugins > dcPsych > PerssianRug
(The plugin might appear as DCSpecial > PerssianRug)
Settings:
X Position = 255
Y Position = 255

17) Adjust > Blur > Gaussian Blur
Settings:
Radius = 10.00

18) Effects > Texture Effects > Rough Leather
Settings:
Light color = Choose medium Color from image
Leather color = Choose dark Color from image
Angle = 250, Luminance = 50
Contrast = 5, Sharpness = 30
Blur = 20
(I choose #c5dca6 and #335805)

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

20) Image > Add Borders
Settings:
Size in pixels = 30
Color = Any color not in image

21) Magic Wand Tool
Select your new border

22) Edit > Paste > Paste Into Selection

23) Effects > Reflection Effects > Kaleidoscope
Settings:
Horizontal offset = 0, Vertical offset = 0
Rotation angle = 0, Scale factor = 0
Number of petals = 10, Number of orbits = 0
Radial suction = 0, Wrap = Checked

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

25) Image > Add Borders
Settings:
Size in pixels = 5
Color = Any color not in image

26) Magic Wand Tool
Select your new border

27) Edit > Paste > Paste Into Selection

28) Effects > Plugins > dcPsych > PerssianRug
(The plugin might appear as DCSpecial > PerssianRug)

29) Adjust > Blur > Gaussian Blur

30) Effects > Texture Effects > Rough Leather

31) Effects > 3D Effects > Inner Bevel
Settings:
Bevel = #2, Width = 3
Smoothness = 0, Depth = 3
Ambience = 0, Shininess = 0
Color = White, Angle = 315
Intensity = 50, Elevation = 30

32) Selections > Select None

33) Dropper Tool (E)
Pick a medium light color as Foreground Color from the frame
(I choose #beb498)

34) Layers > New Raster Layer

35) Add Watermark(s)
If you have a watermark tube, see Step #35a)
If not, follow Step #35b)

35a) Place your tube and continue with Step #37

35b) Text Tool (T)
Create as Vector
Write your watermark

36) Layers > Convert to Raster Layer

37) Move Tool (M)
Move watermark to where you want it

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

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

40) Minimize or close the file

Brush for Background

41) Maximize one spare image

42) Effects > Reflection Effects > Kaleidoscope

43) File > Export > Custom Brush
Name = Walled Garden
(Or name of your choice)
ok

44) Close this file

Background

45) Maximize one spare image
(The one we haven't used yet)

46) Image > Resize
Settings:
Width = 250 pixels
Height = Will adjust itself
(My example is 250 x 188 pixels)

47) Layers > Promote Background Layer
(If necessary)

48) Effects > Image Effects > Seamless Tiling
Settings:
Default Setting

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

49) Adjust > Blur > Gaussian Blur

50) Layers > New Raster Layer

51) Flood Fill Tool (F)
Settings:
Match mode = None
Sample merged = Not checked
Blend mode = Normal
Opacity = 100 %

52) Flood fill new Layer with Foreground Color

53) Layers Palette
Lower opacity of Flood filled Layer to 80

54) Layers > Merge > Merge Visible

55) Effects > Image Effects > Seamless Tiling
Settings:
Default Setting

56) Paint Brush Tool (B)
Settings:
Look for the brush we just created
Size = 50, Steps = 32
Density = 100, Rotation = 0
Opacity = 100, Blend mode = Normal

57) Left click to place a few on your background
(I did 3)

If using the Foreground Color gives an unsatisfactory result:
Edit > Undo PaintBrush (repeat until you have undone them all)
Choose a slightly darker or lighter Color or other Color to your taste and apply Brush Tool again

58) File > Export > JPEG Optimizer

Letter Creator

59) Open Letter Creator

60) Header > Image
Look for the JPEG file of your frame
Alignment = Center

61) Body > Image
Look for the background JPEG file
Click on "Tile"
Choose Font and Font Size
Choose Text Color
Choose Link Color
Margins: Top 0, Left 10, Right 10

62) Footer
Your Name
Reference and link (if available) to graphic used
Name of tutorial "Walled Garden Frame Tutorial" and link to this page
Date you created the stat

63) 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, especially (in alphabetical order) Cal, Kat, Linda, Lucky, Marcee, Robin, Roni, Sabrina and Steve. I apologize if I have forgotten somebody.
Your support, help and patience made this possible.