The Final Product
1) Click File then New
On the New Image Window:
Width = 300 Pixels
Height = 250 Pixels
Resolution = 72 Pixels/Inch
Background Color = white
Image Type = 16.7 Million Colors (24 Bit)
1) Click on the foreground color box.
On the Color Dialog Window:
Red = 141 Green = 170 Blue = 165 for pale green
2) Click on the background color box.
On the Color Dialog Window:
Red = 255 Green = 255 Blue = 255 for white
In this example we will use pale green
1) Click on the Flood Fill tool to activate it.
2) Set the Floodfill Tool to
Fill Style = Solid color
Blend Mode = Normal
Paper Texture = None
Match Mode = RGB
Tolerance = 20
Opacity = 100
Sample Merged = Not checked
3) Left click on the background layer to floodfill it with pale green.
If you are not used to working in layers, this is a perfect chance to start. You actually need to use a new layer for this technique. If you don't, when you do the fade step, your background color will disappear.
1) If your Layers Palette is not open, click on the Layers Palette toggle button in the top toolbar
2) Click on the add new layer icon on the Layers Palette.
3) Fill in the layer properties as shown in the Layers Properties dialog box on the left
1) In the menu click on File
Click on Save
2) A new window will open that allows you to give the file a name and specify the format.
From the picklist, choose the format called Paint Shop Pro image
Call the file faded-edges
What you are doing: You are going to copy the photo as a new selection onto the layer called photo. By copying it as a selection, it will be outlined with the marquee (or marching ants) ready to start the fading process.
How to do it:
1) Keep the file called faded-edges.psp open.
2) Open the photo from this tutorial
3) Click in the title bar of the photo to make sure it is the active image.
4) In the menu choose Edit | Copy A copy of the photo has now been placed on your computer's clipboard.
5) Click on the title bar of the image called faded-edges to make it the active image.
6) In the menu choose Edit | Paste | As a new selection
7) The photo will be copied to exactly the centre of your new image. Do not move the mouse (it will move the position of the image). Click once to anchor the photo on the new image. The photo will be copied as a floating selection.
8) Defloat it by choosing from the menu Selections | Defloat.
1) You first need to select the area that you want to stay sharp. This will be inside the current selection. The width of the fade is your choice, but in this exercise we will use 10 pixels. That means we need to select an area 10 pixels smaller all around the edges than the current selection. To make the current selections smaller:
2) From the menu choose Selections | Modify | Contract.
3) A window will open asking how much to contract by. Choose 10. The marquee will move inside the photo.
1) From the menu choose Selections | Modify | Feather.
2) A window will open asking how much to feather by. Choose 10. The marquee will grow by 10 pixels.
3) From the menu choose Selections | Invert. The marquee will change to form a frame around your photo. Inside the frame will stay sharp. In the border will be the fade.
1) Press the delete key. The edges will fade. To get more of a faded edge, press the delete key several times.
Pressing the delete key removes the image area inside the framed portion. Because the framed portion is defined as feathered, the removed portion goes away gradually, like it is being dissolved.
1) Apply any special effect you like to make the frame. I've used BladePro with a setting of 1Button7 from Snake.