Creating an Image with Layers - Part 2 of the Layers Series

You can download this tutorial for offline viewing.
[The Basics of Layers] [Creating An Image With Layers]
[Manipulating Layers] [All 3 Tutorials in One Download]

This is Part 2 of the Layers Series. In this tutorial we will make a simple image with several layers. The layers will be manipulated in Part 3 of the tutorial to illustrate the power of layers.


finished-product-part-2
The Image we will be making. It is a three layer image that is the start of a picture frame that can be made into a tube or used as is. In part 3 of this series you will use this image to apply a raised frame effect, and put shadows in to make the mat look 3-D. Because it is in layers, you will be able to slip a photo or other image into the white opening.

image2-1
STEP 1 - Open a New Image.

  1. In the menu bar click File then New

    On the New Image Window:

    Width = 300 Pixels
    Height = 300 Pixels
    Resolution = 72 Pixels/Inch
    Background Color = transparent
    Image Type = 16.7 Million Colors (24 Bit)

  2. Click on the OK button in the New Image Window

layers/image2-2
1

image2-3
2

4image2-4       image2-5


STEP 2 - Set the Foreground and Background colors

  1. Move your mouse over the foreground color picker. Your mouse picture will turn to an eyedropper. Click once to open the Color Palette window.

  2. Select a beige color by typing in the following red, green, blue values to replace the ones that are displayed:

    Red = 220
    Green = 213
    Blue = 204

  3. Click on OK to set the color.

  4. Move your mouse over the background color picker. Your mouse picture will turn to an eyedropper. Click once to open the Color Palette window.

  5. Select a dark brown color by typing in the following red, green, blue values to replace the ones that are displayed:

    Red = 92
    Green = 52
    Blue = 42

  6. Click on OK to set the color.

image2-6
1 - PSP 6

image2-7
1 - PSP 5

image2-8
2


STEP 3 - Add new layers for the mat and the frame

  1. For PSP 6 - If your Layers Palette is not open, right click anywhere in the Tools Bar and click on Layer Palette.

    For PSP 5 and 6 - In the top menu click on View then Toolbars. Click on Layers Palette to checkmark it. Click on Close or Ok to close the dialogue box.

  2. Click on the add new layer icon on the Layers Palette. In PSP 6 it is located in the top left corner. In PSP 5 it is at the bottom of the layers palette.

  3. Fill in the layer properties as follows: The layers dialogues for PSP 5 and 6 are slightly different. The instructions below are for PSP 6. Both palettes will come up with default settings. The only thing you need to do is give the layer a name, and leave the rest of the settings at the default.

        Name = mat
        Blend Mode = Normal
        Opacity = 100
        Group = 0
        Layer is visible = checked
        Lock Transparency = unchecked
        Mask Enabled = checked
        Mask is Locked with Layer = checked

  4. Repeat the above step and call the layer frame.

    You should now have 3 layers in total, in the order shown below. The layer called frame should be highlighted in the Layers Palette, indicating that it is the active layer. If your layers are in a different order, you can click and drag on a layer name and move it up or down in the list of layers. The order of the layers is important for this image.

    image2-9

image2-10
3

image2-11
4

image2-13
5

image2-14
7
STEP 4 - Create the mat.

  1. Make the layer called mat the Active layer by left clicking on it in the Layers Palette. It will become highlighted.

  2. Double click on the Selections Tool to open the precise selections dialogue. A note - if you have your mouse set for smart placement (to automatically go to the default button on dialogue boxes), double clicking on the Selection Tool will not work. You will need to close down the Tools Dialogue box before double clicking.

  3. Put the following settings into the selections dialogue box, then click the OK button. The coordinates will draw out a square that is the size of the opening through which your picture will show.

    Left = 50
    Right = 250
    Top = 50
    Bottom = 250

  4. You should see a marquee (marching ants) outlining a square in the middle of the image. If you do not see the marquee, check to see if it is toggled off by going to the menu and clicking on Selections, then Hide Marquee.

  5. In the menu click on Selections then Invert. This will invert the selection and place the marquee around the entire mat area and center hole.

  6. Click on the Flood Fill Tool to activate it. Set the Flood Fill Tool to

        Fill Style = Solid color
        Blend Mode = Normal
        Paper Texture = None
        Match Mode = RGB
        Tolerance = 20
        Opacity = 100
        Sample Merged = Not checked

    The flood fill dialogue boxes for PSP 5 and 6 are slightly different. The settings above are for PSP 6. the important thing for this tutorial is to use a solid color and no texture or pattern.

  7. Left click inside the matted area to flood fill it with pale beige.

image2-15
STEP 5 - Save your image in psp format

  1. In the menu click on File

  2. Click on Save

  3. 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 layers-part-2

image2-16
4

image2-17
5

image2-18
7
STEP 6 - Create the frame.

this step is the same as step 4, but for creating the dark brown frame.
  1. Make the layer called frame the Active layer by left clicking on it in the Layers Palette. It will become highlighted.

  2. Double click on the Selections Tool to open the precise selections dialogue. A note - if you have your mouse set for smart placement (to automatically go to the default button on dialogue boxes), double clicking on the Selection Tool will not work. You will need to close down the Tools Dialogue box before double clicking.

  3. Put the following settings into the selections dialogue box, then click the OK button. The coordinates will draw out a square that is the size of the opening through which your picture will show.

    Left = 20
    Right = 280
    Top = 20
    Bottom = 280

  4. You should see a marquee (marching ants) outlining a square in the middle of the image. If you do not see the marquee, check to see if it is toggled off by going to the menu and clicking on Selections, then Hide Marquee.

  5. In the menu click on Selections then Invert. This will invert the selection and place the marquee around the entire mat area and center hole.

  6. Click on the Flood Fill Tool to activate it. Set the Flood Fill Tool to

        Fill Style = Solid color
        Blend Mode = Normal
        Paper Texture = None
        Match Mode = RGB
        Tolerance = 20
        Opacity = 100
        Sample Merged = Not checked

    The flood fill dialogue boxes for PSP 5 and 6 are slightly different. The settings above are for PSP 6. the important thing for this tutorial is to use a solid color and no texture or pattern.

  7. Right click inside the frame area to flood fill it with dark brown.

image2-15
STEP 7 - Save your image in psp format

  1. In the menu click on File

  2. Click on Save

Now it's on to part 3 of the tutorial. In part three you will learn to manipulate layers, copy them, use then to make flexible drop shadows, and see how layers will let you experiment.


[Layer Basics]    [Creating an Image With Layers]    [Manipulating Layers]