Diagonal Background Tutorial

PSP X

*NOTE*
Sometimes the links for filters change, it's difficult (and a lot of work) to
keep changing them on individual pages, so I have created a page with
links to filters and programs that I have used in my tutorials.
That way it is easier for me, because when there are changes I will
only have one page to update and hopefully better for you, because I'm
less likely to miss a page out when doing the updates :)

You will find links to filters/programs used in this tutorial Here
the link will open in a new window

Filters and programs used in this tutorial :-
Paint Shop Pro
Simple - Half Wrap

Supplies:-
A Font of your choice, I used Chopin Script available from DaFont
Gradient and tube I used Here alternatively you can use your own

Some images have been made smaller to shorten file size

Please Note*
My tutorials were written for people to learn
from, so PLEASE DO NOT SCRIPT THEM.

Step 1.
Open a new image 300 X 300 transparent
In your Foreground and Stroke Properties box choose Gradient
You can use a gradient of your choice, I've used one called
sg_sweet-pastels, which is in my supplies zip
these are the settings that I used:-
Foreground-Background
Angle=45
Repeats=2
Invert=unticked
Style=Linear

Flood fill your image with the gradient

Go to Effects...Edge Effects...Enhance More...
you won't see a lot of difference, but it makes
some of the lines stand out a bit more.

Step 2.
Go to Layers...Duplicate...
Image...Mirror...
On the layers palette change the blend mode to Lighten
(or change it to Darken if you prefer).

Go to Layers...Merge...Merge visible...
Go to Effects...Image Effects...Seamless Tiling...
Use the default setting

Step 3.
Use the Pen Tool with these settings
Mode=Draw Lines and Polygons
Connect segments= unticked
Show Nodes= ticked
Create on Vector= ticked
Line Style=Solid
Anti-alias= it doesn't matter if it's ticked, or not
Line Width=1, or 2
Use a foreground colour which will show up against your
background, once the text is in place the line will be hidden

Draw a diagonal line across your image by clicking at the bottom
left corner, then the top right (or you can do it from top left
to bottom right, depending which way you want the text to go).

Choose the Text Tool and create as Vector
Change the background on you palette to the colour you want
your text to be (I used white), make the foreground transparent.

Move your cursor close to the middle of the line until you
see the letter A then click and the text entry box should appear.
Choose the font and font size you want and type in your text.
If you highlight your text in the text entry box you can try
out different fonts and font sizes, to see what looks best.
I used a font called Chopin Script in size 100 pixels (the size needed
will vary depending on what version of psp you are using, what font
you use and how much text you enter, so you will need to experiment.

Your text should follow your diagonal line, if it doesn't and runs
straight across the page, just click Cancel and try again.
Don't worry if your text isn't quite central

On the layers pallete click the little + sign next to the Vector
layer, this will open up the two sub layers containing the text
and the diagonal line. On the sub layer with the line (New Path)
click the eye to hide that layer.

That will hide the line under the text
Go to Layers...Convert to Raster Layer
You could also create more than one line of text like this

Step 4.
You could add an inner bevel, to your text or apply something
like an SBP preset, or Eye Candy glass preset.
I just added a drop shadow with these settings
Vertical and Horizontal Offsets = 2
Opacity = 40
Blur = 7

My text is not quite in the centre of the image. I left
it like that, but you can use the mover tool to make
your text more central if you want to

Go to Effects...Plugins...Simple...Half Wrap...

Step 5.
Open your tube in psp
Go to Edit...Copy...
you can close, the tube now
Back on your main image go to
Edit...Paste as New Layer...
You may need to resize your tube layer and use
the mover tool to reposition it into a space
I added a drop shadow, using the same settings as previously

This is another example, the text on this one didn't leave
much space in the centre of the image, for putting the tube,
so I placed it in the space bottom right, then duplicated
it and placed the copy at the top left.

Resize if necessary
For the background on this page I resized my
image by 50% resample using bicubic

Step 6.
As a slight variations try changing the blend mode of the tube layer
in the layer palette. The results will vary depending on the tube and
the gradient colours used, here I changed the blend changed to Screen

It gave this pale delicate butterfly, so if you feel like some
experimenting try the different Blend modes to see what happens

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial.
To see my other tutorials click Here

If you wish to contact me you can find an email address to use included on my Site Map
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