About Made by Lysa

Elegantly Plaid Squares Tut by Made by Lysa™
Written: September 21, 2007

This is what we are making today:

- Click the envelope to download the tutorial in imf format

Today I'm using the art of Jeff Wilkie. To use his work you will need to write to him for permission. If you would like to learn how to create legally visit this yahoo group HERE. They have an intense 6 week course where they teach you how to create legally and upon completion you will receive a graphical diploma.

Please link your results of my tutorial to my yahoo group:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mbl_tutorials/

or to make it easier for you, you can copy and paste this line into your stationery footer.
Elegantly Plaid Squares Tut © Made by Lysa™

Supplies Needed:
A Graphic (Should have colors around the edges not just one color. Darker, richer colors look best. However, there is a note after Part 3 Step 34 about images used with lighter colors.)
PSP XI (Should work in earlier versions - although some tools may be in different places)
Simple Filters - Quick Tile, Diamonds, 4 Way Average, Top Left Mirror
Bordermania - Frame #2
namesuppressed - Plaid Lite (pay filter - has trial) Optional
Horizonaus Mixed Bag (Option for those who don't have namesuppressed Plaid Lite)
Xenofex 1.1 - Baked Earth (No longer distributed by Alien Skin)

Skill Level: This tutorial assumes you have a basic knowledge of Paint Shop Pro, its tools and how to change your color palettes.

To simplify things I've broken this tutorial down into 4 sections.

Part 1: Preparation
Part 2: Making the Plaid Pattern Tile (Optional)
Part 3: Making the Frame
Part 4: Making the Sideborder Panel

Note: All settings will remain the same unless otherwise noted.

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Part 1: Preparation

1. Open your image, duplicate it, and close the original.

2. Image > Resize
Settings:
Longest should be no longer than 350 pixels. (Don't worry, it WILL get bigger. MUST use this size so the dimensions I give you later will work.)
Resample using: Bicubic
Lock aspect ratio: CHECKED
Resize all layers: CHECKED

3. Adjust > Sharpness > Unsharp Mask
Settings:
Radius: 1
Strength: 47
Clipping: 5
Luminance only: CHECKED

4. Duplicate your image again and minimize one copy.

5. Using your dropper tool, select 2 colors from your image. I usually use a light and a dark color. The light color is the one we will be using the most. The 2nd color (your dark color) may or may not be used.

6. Edit > Copy (Ctrl + C)

NOTE: If at any point in time your image isn't on your clipboard, go back to this duplicate image and copy it again.

Part 2: Making the Plaid Pattern Tile (Optional)

NOTE: Only do Part 2 if you do not have the namesuppressed Plaid Lite filter.

1. Activate one of your duplicate images. Duplicate it again, and minimize one copy.

2. Effects > Plugins > Horizonaus Mixed Bag > StripesareIn
Settings:
Default
Mixer 1: 100
Mixer 2: 100

3. Effects > Plugins > Simple > Diamonds

4. Effects > Plugins > Simple > 4 Way Average

5. Effects > Plugins > Horizonaus Mixed Bag > StripesareIn

6. Effects > Plugins > Simple > Diamonds

7. Effects > Plugins > Simple > 4 Way Average

NOTE: The reason I'm doing it twice is because the plaid is lighter. It's up to you how many times you want to do this. I liked it for the image I was using at the time.

8. Layers > Promote Background Layer

9. Layers > New Raster Layer

10. Layers > Arrange > Send to Bottom

11. Flood fill with your light color (or your dark whichever you prefer.

12. Make sure you are on your top layer. Effects > Image Effects > Offset
Settings:
Horizontal offset: 0
Vertical offset: Max it out
Edge mode: Repeat

This effect will create stripes instead of a plaid. Consider this step (step 12) optional.

13. Click on your pattern layer and lower the opacity of this layer to 50.

14. Do not close out this image. You'll need it later.

Part 3: Making the Frame

1. Effects > Plugins > BorderMania > Frame #2
Settings:
Border Width: 10
Frame Width: 10
Highlight Intensity: 131
Shadow Intensity: 43
Bevel: UNCHECKED
Notch Corners: CHECKED

2. Image > Add Borders
Settings:
20 Pixels, Symmetric, Light Color

3. Selections > Select All

4. Selections > Modify > Contract by 20

5. Selections > Invert

NOTE: If you do not have the namesuppressed Plaid Lite filter, flood fill this new border with your new plaid pattern tile. Set your Angle to 0 and your Scale to 50. Then skip ahead to step 12.

6. Edit > Paste > Paste Into Selection (Ctrl + Shift + L)

7. Effects > Plugins > Simple > Quick Tile

8. Effects > Plugins > Simple > Diamonds

9. Effects > Plugins > Simple > 4 Way Average

10. Effects > Plugins > Xenofex 1.1 > Baked Earth
Settings:
Scaley Skin Preset

11. Effects > Plugins > namesuppressed > Plaid Lite
Settings:

NOTE: These are the settings that I used on my first stat. However, if you don't like the way it looks with your image, feel free to play with the settings. Change the Zoom and the Pattern. Rotate and Colors should stay the same. However, it is your stat so you choose what works for your image.

12. Effects > 3D Effects > Inner Bevel
Settings:
MBL_EPS_Bevel_1 Preset - Save this preset with this name in case you do this tutorial again.

13. Selections > Select None

14. Image > Add Borders
Settings:
1 Pixel, Symmetric, Black

15. Selections > Select All

16. Selections > Modify > Contract by 1

17. Effects > 3D Effects > Cutout
Settings:
V & H: 0
Opacity: 100
Blur: 20
Color: Black

NOTE: If the cutout is too dark on the right and on the bottom lower the opacity some. On one image, I lowered it to 83. Choose what looks best for your image.

18. Selections > Select None

19. Image > Add Borders
Settings:
10 Pixels, Symmetric, Light Color

20. Selections > Select All

21. Selections > Modify > Contract by 10

22. Selections > Invert

23. Edit > Paste Into Selection

24. Adjust > Blur > Gaussian Blur
Settings:
Radius: 15

25. Effects > 3D Effects > Inner Bevel
Settings:
MBL_EPS_Bevel_2 - Save this preset with this name as we'll be using it again. If you do this tutorial again it'll be easier if you save the preset now as well. :)

26. Selections > Select None

27. Image > Add Borders
Settings:
35 Pixels, Symmetric, Light Color

28. Selections > Select All

29. Selections > Modify > Contract by 35

30. Selections > Invert

NOTE: If you don't have the plaid filter and don't want to use (or have) the Xenofex 1.1, Baked Earth filter then again fill this selection with the plaid pattern you used. Then skip to step 37.

31. Edit > Paste Into Selection

32. Effects > Plugins > Simple > Quick Tile

33. Effects > Plugins > Simple > Diamonds

34. Effects > Plugins > Simple > 4 Way Average

NOTE: Some testers found that if they used lighter images they liked the effect they achieved if they left out steps 35 and 36.

35. Effects > Plugins > Xenofex 1.1 > Baked Earth

NOTE: For a slightly different look leave out step 36.

36. Effects > Plugins > namesuppressed > Plaid Lite

37. Effects > 3D Effects > Inner Bevel
Settings:
MBL_EPS_Bevel_3 - Save this preset with this name in case you do this tutorial again.

38. Selections > Select None

39. Image > Add Borders
Settings:
1 Pixel, Symmetric, Black

40. Image > Add Borders
Settings:
10 Pixels, Symmetric, Light Color

41. Selections > Select All

42. Selections > Modify > Contract by 10

43. Selections > Invert

44. Edit > Paste Into Selection

45. Adjust > Blur > Gaussian Blur
Settings:
Radius: 15

46. Effects > 3D Effects > Inner Bevel
Settings:
MBL_EPS_Bevel_2

47. Selections > Select None

48. Image > Resize
Settings:
Longest should be no longer than 450 pixels. (Must be this size for the rest of my directions to work.)

49. Adjust > Sharpness > Unsharp Mask

50. Activate your selection tool. Activate your custom selection.
Settings:
Top & Left: 0
Right & Bottom: 100

51. Edit > Copy (Ctrl + C)

52. Edit > Paste As New Image (Ctrl + V)

53. Image > Canvas Size
Settings:
Width & Height: 200
Placement: Top Left Arrow

54. Effects > Plugins > Simple > Top Left Mirror

55. Image > Resize
Settings:
40% (80 x 80 Pixels)

56. Adjust > Sharpness > Unsharp Mask

57. Edit > Copy (Ctrl + C)

NOTE: Do not close out your square, we will need it again later.

58. Back onto your frame. Selections > Select None

59. Edit > Paste As New Layer (Ctrl + L)

60. Move your square to the top left corner of your frame. Leave no space between the edges. See my example for placement.

61. Effects > Plugins > Simple > Top Left Mirror

NOTE: Do NOT merge your frame.

62. Layers > New Raster Layer

63. Apply the artist's watermark

64. Layers > New Raster Layer

65. Apply your watermark

66. Save your image, then export as a jpg. Again, do NOT merge your image.

Part 4: Making the Sideborder Panel

1. Duplicate framed image. (Shift + D)

2. Delete watermark layers and square layer.

3. Activate your custom selection tool again.
Settings:
Top: 80
Left: 0
Right: 74
Bottom: 280

4. Image > Crop to Selection (Shift + R)

5. Layers > Promote Background Layer

6. Image > Canvas Size
Settings:
Width: 1600
Height: 200
Placement: Left Middle Arrow, then change left to 20

7. Effects > 3D Effects > Drop Shadow
Settings:
Vertical: 0
Height: 3
Opacity: 68
Blur: 7
Color: Black
Shadow on new layer: UNCHECKED

8. Effects > Image Effects > Seamless Tiling
Settings:
Default, then change bidirectional to vertical

9. Activate your square image, copy square to clipboard (Ctrl + C)

10. Back to your background panel now. Edit > Paste as new layer

11. Effects > Image Effects > Offset
Settings:
Horizontal: -743 (minus 743)
Vertical: 0
Wrap

NOTE: If your square does not seem centered (which it won't if you use an image that is taller than wide) over your side bar, then activate your mover tool, click on your square. Then using your arrow keys on your keyboard, make minute adjustments to the left or the right. Doing it this way will keep it perfectly centered top and bottom.

12. Layers > New Raster Layer

13. Layers > Arrange > Send to Bottom

14. Flood fill with your light color

15. Layers > New Raster Layer

NOTE: For those of you that don't have the namesuppressed Plaid Lite filter or the Xenofex 1.1 Baked Earth filter, flood fill this layer with your plaid pattern. Then skip ahead to step 26.

16. Selections > Select All

17. Activate your duplicate image from before, and copy it to your clipboard (Ctrl + C).

18. Back onto your sideborder panel, Edit > Paste Into Selection

19. Selections > Select None

20. Effects > Plugins > Simple > Quick Tile

21. Effects > Plugins > Simple > Diamonds

22. Effects > Plugins > Simple > 4 Way Average

23. Effects > Plugins > Xenofex 1.1 > Baked Earth

24. Effects > Plugins > namesuppressed > Plaid Lite

25. Effects > Image Effects > Seamless Tile
Settings:
Default

26. Lower the opacity of this layer to 25.

NOTE: If at this time you don't like the look of the light color on the bottom layer feel free to change to your dark color, or any other color you think would look good.

27. Layers > New Raster Layer

28. Layers > Arrange > Bring to Top

29. Apply your watermark

30. Save your image, and export it as a jpg.

You're all done! :) Great job - I hope you like it. Put it all into Letter Creator and you're all set. :)

Please link your results of my tutorial to my yahoo group:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mbl_tutorials/

or to make it easier for you, you can copy and paste this line into your stationery footer.
Elegantly Plaid Squares Tut © Made by Lysa™

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Thank you for taking the time to try my tutorial. I hope you had as much fun trying it as I did writing it. :)

Thank you to the Tenacious Tut Testers for testing this tutorial for me. Without their help and encouragement, this would not have been possible.

Any similarity to other tutorials is completely coincidental.
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