Sinedots Mask Frame Tutorial PSP 7 This tutorial was created 14th January 2002©Copyright Artwork by EssexGirl please do not copy it, or put it anywhere else without my written permission. *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

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