Fairytale

page 2

*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

The image I have used is ©Joan Pelaez, www.sqpinc.com
under licence from www.creativeimagelicensing.com

Filters and programs used in this tutorial :-
Paint Shop Pro
Flaming Pear's SuperBladePro
Xero

Materials :-
The header image that you created on page 1
sg_silver SBP preset (as used on page 1)

some images have been made smaller to shorten file size

Step 1.
You should have your image from page 1
of the tutorial still open in PSP.
Go to File...Export...JPG Optimizer...
I usually use a compression value somewhere between 10 and 20,
you can vary it, higher values will give a lower file size, but
the quality starts to deteriorate, lower values give better quality,
but higher file sizes. It's a case of striking a balance that suits
you. You don't want your letter to be too heavy, but it's a shame
to ruin a beautiful peice of work by compressing too much.

Give it any name you want, I called mine 'fairytale-header'
You can save your jpg in any folder that you want, as long as you
remember where to find it when you create your letter.

We are going to use part of the shape in the middle of
the image, to create the side border.
Using the Selection Tool
Selection type = Rectangle
Mode = Replace
Feather= 0
Anti-alias = unticked
Select the top half of the shape as shown in the following screeshot

Go to Edit...Copy...
Edit...Paste As New Image...
You should have something similar to this

Step 2.
Go to Image...Canvas Size...
The width should be kept the same as the original dimensions
You can see the original dimensions in the top section
The height should be made twice the original height
(mine was 78 pixels so I changed it to 156 pixels)
In the Placement section choose one of the top boxes

Go to Layers...Duplicate...
Image...Flip...
Layers...Merge...Merge Visible...

Step 3.
Go to Image...Canvas Size...
Add 5 pixels to the width
The height should be kept the same
In the placement section choose one of the left boxes

Select the transparent strip that has been added to
the right side of the image, add a new layer and flood fill
the selection with white and apply the same SuperBladePro
preset that was used on page 1 of the tutorial.

Go to Effects...3D Effects...Drop Shadow...
Vertical = 0
Horizontal = -2 (minus 2)
Opacity = 75
Blur = 5
Delelect

To make sure this strip tiles seamlessly, go to
Effects...Image Effects...Seamles Tiling...
Edge Method = Corner
Direction = Vertical
Vertical offset = 0
Transition = 50

Go to Layers...Merge...Merge Visible...

Step 4.
Go to Image...Canvas Size...
Change the width to 1024 pixels
The height should be kept the same
In the placement section choose one of the left boxes

Go to Effects...3D Effects...Drop Shadow...
Vertical = 0
Horizontal = 2
Opacity = 75
Blur = 5
Delelect

Go to Layers and add a new raster layer
Layers...Arrange...Send to Bottom...
Flood fill the layer with your background colour
(or another light colour from your image)

You can either leave this layer as it is, or go to
Effects...Plugins...Xero... Fratillery...
Granualrity = 6
Aggression = 30
Tesselation = 26
Variation = 18

If you used the Xero fratillery plugin you will need to
seamlessly tile the layer.
Effects...Image Effects...Seamless Tiling...
I didn't get very good results with the setting we used
previously, but the following settings worked better
Tiling method = Corner
Direction = Bidirectional
Horizontal and Vertical Offsets = 80
Transition = 94
Corner Style = Linear

Text might be difficult to read against the background,
So open the layer palette and lower the transparency of
the layer to about 70 (or to your taste)

Step 5.
If you want to make a button open a new image 175 x 50
Flood fill with your background colour
Apply an inner bevel of your choice
These are the settings that I used
Bevel=2
Width=20
Smoothness=15
Depth=1
Ambience=50
Shininess=10
Angle=354
Intensity=50
Elevation=20

Step 6.
Activate the Text Tool
Use a font of your choice
The size will depend on the font you use
Alignment=Center
Create as Vector
On the palette change the background to the colour that you want
to use for your text. Make the palette foreground transparent

Click the centre of the button image and Type
'Letter by' or 'Created by' and your name
(not mine I only wrote the tutorial, this is your creation)
When you are happy with the size and position of your text
Go to Layers...Convert to Raster Layer
You can add a small drop shadow to your text if you wish
I used Vertical and Horizontal=1, Opacity=50, Blur=5

Export as a jpg into the same folder as your header and background
I called mine 'fairytale-button'

Step 7.
This letter was put together in the same way as my Candykisses tutorial
so if you don't know how to put it into IM Letter Creator you can follow
the instructions from Step 10 in that tutorial Here

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial.
Thankyou to my very helpful testers
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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