Sinedots Mask Frame
Tutorial

PSP 7

*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
Dragonfly's Sinedots II
VM Toolbox

Materials :-
My sg_spiral1.cfg Here
(Unzip .cgf file into the folder you have made for Sinedots II)
A picture to put into the frame, if you haven't got anything suitable
and you want to use my cat picture you can download it Here

some images have been made smaller to shorten file size

step 1.
open a new image 75 x 200 transparent,
flood fill with black. (this is just to make
the image easier to see)Add a new layer.

Go to Effects...Plugins...Sinedots...
and open the sg_spiral1.cfg choose the spiral1 preset.
if you are new to sinedots and don't know how to open
the .cfg file click HERE for more information

Some presets use different 'blend' settings and it is
important for this tutorial to make sure that the blend
in the sinedots setting is set to 'screen' like this:-

Go to Edit...Copy...this image can now be closed

Step 2.
open a new image 400 x 400 transparent
flood fill with black
Add a new layer, then go to
Edit...Paste...and paste as a
new selection at co-ordinates 0,0

De-select

Step 3.
Go to Layers...Duplicate...then Image...Flip...

Turn off the visibility of the background layer by
going to the layers palette and clicking the glasses
Layers...Merge...and merge visible. For the screenshots,
I have turned the background visibility back on after
the merges, it's not absolutely necessary but if
you do this, make sure the you turn it off again,
before each merge visible.

Step 4.
Go to Layers...Duplicate...then Image..Mirror...
Layers...Merge...and merge visible

Step 5.
Layers...Duplicate...then Image...Rotate...
and rotate by 90° (either direction)

Layers...Merge...and merge visible
Keep the background visibility turned off this time

If you want to save this sinedots frame as a mask to
use again, carry on with the next step.
If you don't want to keep the mask and are only using it
for this tutorial it can be applied from the
current image, so go to step 7

Step 6.
With the background visibility turned off and the merged
layer active go to Masks...New...From Image...use source
opacity and tick the invert mask data box

Go to Masks...Save to disk...give it a name and save
in the folder you use for your masks. Close the image.

Step 7.
Open a new image 400 x 400 transparent.
Flood fill with black, then add another layer
and flood fill this with #FFFFC0 (pale yellow)
The bottom colour (black) will show through the sinedot
when the mask is applied. By reversing the colours you
can have a yellow sinedot on black

If you saved your mask to disk go to step 9
if not follow step 8

Step 8.
Go to Masks...New...From Image...
put the name of your sinedots frame in the
box mine was image 2 (image 1 was the first
sinedots shape) use source opacity and tick
the invert mask data box.

You should have the same image as my step 9 screenshot
Go to step 10

Step 9.
Go to Masks...Load from disk...and choose the saved mask

The next screenshot shows the result you get if you
fill the black and the yellow layers the opposite way round

Step 10.
Add a new layer and using the Selection Tool
type=circle make a circle from the centre
200,200 to 75,75. Flood fill the selection.
I used #004040 (dark blueish green).
De-select

Step 11.
Open the picture you are going to put in your frame.
This is mine

The co-ordinates I am going to use will need to be adjusted
for a different size picture, so make a duplicate of your
picture by holding down the shift key and pressing d and
close the original, (this way you can experiment with
the copy without any risk of the original being spoilt).

You will have to try resizing and/or using different
co-ordinates but as a guide the circular selection that
I will use from my picture measures approximately
200 pixels across (use undo when needed)

My cat picture measures 300 x 300 for a similar picture
Use the Selection Tool to make a circle from
co-ordinates 150,150 to 50,50

Step 12.
Go to Effects...Plugins...VM Toolbox...Softborder
Using the default settings

If you find that the 'softborder' fades out too
much of your picture try applying it before
making the selection, or lower the transition number.
Use undo to take you back if you want to try again.

Step 13.
While still selected go to Edit...Copy...
The picture is no longer needed
Go back to the sinedots frame, on the top layer
Paste as a new layer

Go to the layer with the green circle.
On the tool options for the Magic Wand tick the
'sample merged' box this will allow you to make
the next selection from what is visible in the
image as if we had merged the layers.

On the layer with the green circle click on
the green ring around your picture you should
get two rows of marching ants like this screenshot

Go to Selections...Modify...Expand...
and expand the selection by 1 pixel

Step 14.
Go to Effects...3D Effects...Inner Bevel...
Using these settings

Then go to Selections...Modify...Contract...
and contract by 1 pixel. Next go to
Effects...3D Effects...Drop Shadow...
and apply a small drop shadow with these settings.
Then de-select

Step 15.
To finish off
Go to Layers...Merge...and Merge all, then go to
Image...Add Borders...add a symetrical border of 20
Click on border with the Magic Wand tool to select it
flood fill the selection with #004040 (as used for circle)
Apply the same Drop Shadow and Inner Bevel as in Step 14.

You can get lots of different results by
varying the flood fills you use in step 7.

In this last picture I flood filled the first layer
with a gradient (psp's autumn) and the second layer
with dark green as a further variation I used Blade
Pro instead of the inner bevels on the inner circle
and outer frame. You can also use different sinedot
presets and I have included two extra ones in the
sg_spiral1.cfg for you to play with.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial.
Thankyou to my great 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
Home