| :: Blurred Waves Tut

Blurred Waves Tut © Made by Lysa™
Written: June 4, 2005
Revised: October 7, 2008
Updated: July 17, 2011

- Click on the envelope to download the IMF copy of this tut.
This is what we are making today:

I'm using artwork by Maryline Cazenave. View her artwork HERE. To use her
work you must have a license which you can purchase HERE.

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

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

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Skill Level: Intermediate

Supplies Needed:
Tube (one taller than wide works best as this is a sideborder tutorial)
PSP XI (Should work in earlier and later versions although some tools may be in
different places.)
DSB Flux - Bubbles & Linear Transmission
Mehdi - Sorting Tiles (password if needed is "Mehdi")
Alien Skin Eye Candy 5: Textures: Texture Noise (Optional - No longer available
for purchase.)

NOTE: All settings will remain the same unless otherwise specified.

Ok, now that we have our supplies, let's begin. :)

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1. File > Open
Your tube of choice

2. Window > Duplicate (Shift + D)

3. Image > Resize (Shift + S)
Settings:
Resample using = Bicubic
Lock aspect ratio = Checked
Resize all layers = Checked
Width = 400 Pixels (unless it's already this or smaller)
Height = Let it set itself automatically

4. Adjust > Sharpness > Unsharp Mask
Settings:
Radius = 1.00
Strength = 47
Clipping = 5
Luminance only = Checked
If needed

5. Image > Canvas Size
Settings:
Lock aspect ratio = Checked
Width & Height = No longer than 500 Pixels
Placement = Middle Box
This will give us room to work. :)

6. Layers > Duplicate

7. Dropper Tool (E)
Left Click for the foreground color
Right click for the background color

8. Layers Palette
Highlight your bottom layer and hide the top layer by clicking on the eye

9. Effects > Plugins > Mehdi > Sorting Tiles
Settings:
Block Settings = 0-50
Block = 8
Mosaic = Selected

10. Effects > Plugins > dsb flux > Bubbles
Settings:
Bubbles = 30
Density = 19
Frequency = 63
Tune = 66

NOTE: Whichever color you have for your background color is used in this next
effect. After this next effect you can switch your foreground and background
colors if you want.

11. Effects > Plugins > dsb flux > Linear Transmission
Settings:
Slice Size = 3
Offset = 24
Blend = 50
Direction = Vertical

12. Adjust > Add/Remove Noise > Add Noise
Settings:
Gaussian = Checked
Noise = 25%
Monochrome = Checked

13. Adjust > Blur > Motion Blur
Settings:
Angle = 135
Strength = 30

14. Layers Palette
Highlight the top layer, and make it visible (by clicking on the eye).

15. Image > Resize
Settings:
Width = 93 Percent
Height = 93
Make sure it says Percent not pixels.
Resize all layers = Unchecked

16. Effects > 3D Effects > Inner Bevel
Settings:

17. Effects > 3D Effects > Drop Shadow
Settings:
V&H = 6
Opacity = 65
Blur = 11.00
Color = Black
Shadow on new layer = Unchecked

NOTE: Some of the testers found that this shadow was too strong for their chosen
tube. If you find it is too strong for you, try these settings instead.

V&H = 3
Opacity = 45
Blur = 6.00

18. Effects > 3D Effects > Drop Shadow
Settings:
V&H = -2 (minus 2)
Opacity = 65
Blur = 11.00

NOTE: If you use the alternative drop shadow settings, use the settings below.

V&H = -2 (minus 2)
Opacity = 45
Blur = 6.00

19. Crop Tool
Snap crop rectangle to = Merged Opaque

Now you want to bring in the top and bottom of your selection so it's cutting out
the part of the image made by the linear transmission effect that is almost
invisible.

You can see by my example below what I mean.

To actually apply the crop you can either click on the checkmark above or you
can double click inside the box.

In this preview I'm using artwork by Suzanne Woolcott. View her artwork HERE. To use her
work you must have a license which you can purchase HERE.

20. Layers > New Raster Layer

21. Layers > Arrange > Send to Bottom

22. Image > Canvas Size
Settings:
Lock aspect ratio = Unchecked
Width = 2500
Height = Original Dimensions (see the original dimensions at the top of the
window)
Placement = Middle left box

23. Flood Fill (F)
Settings:
Match mode = None
Blend mode = Normal
Opacity = 100
Use all layers = Unchecked

Fill your bottom layer with either your foreground or your background color.

NOTE: If you have Eye Candy 5: Textures then do the steps in BLUE. If you don't,
do the steps in RED. Everyone groups back together when the steps are in
GREEN again.

Start HERE if you have Eye Candy 5: Textures, remember do the steps in BLUE
NOT RED.

24. Effects > Plugins > Alien Skin Eye Candy 5: Textures > Texture Noise
Settings:

25. Edit > Repeat Texture Noise

Start HERE if you DON'T have Eye Candy 5: Textures. Remember you are doing
the steps in RED NOT BLUE.

26. Adjust > Add/Remove Noise > Add Noise
Settings:
Noise = 50%

27. Adjust > Blur > Motion Blur
Settings:
Angle = 90
Strength = 45

28. Effects > Image Effects > Seamless Tiling
Settings:
Default

OK, Now everyone regroups back here now! :) We are in GREEN again. :)

29. Optional
Adjust > Automatic Saturation Enhancement
Settings:

NOTE: You may have to right click on your toolbar and click on customize.

You could also try sharpening this layer again. Adjust > Sharpness > Unsharp
Mask.

30. Layers Palette
Make the middle layer the active one.

31. Effects > Image Effects > Seamless Tiling
Settings:

32. Layers > New Raster Layer

33. Layers > Arrange > Bring to Top

34. Add the artist's watermark

35. Layers > New Raster Layer

36. Add your watermark

37. File > Save As
Settings:
Choose your file name that you want
Save As Type = pspimage

NOTE: The reason I ALWAYS save my images as pspimages first is that if I need
to go back and fix things I can. I also NEVER merge the layers unless I
absolutely have to.

38. File > Export > JPEG Optimizer
Settings:
Set compression value to = 10 - 15
Chroma subsampling = YCbCr 1x1 1x1 1x1 (None)
Save Exif data ( only available with Standard format ) = Unchecked
Format = Standard

You are done! You've survived! :) Congratulations! :) Now you can put it in
Letter Creator and send it to all your friends. :)

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