Manipulating - Part 3 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 3 of the Layers Series. In this tutorial we will take the basic image created in part 2, manipulate the layers, and create a finished picture frame. If you did not do part 2 of the tutorial, you can grab the unfinished picture frame psp file by clicking [here].


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The finished frame.

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STEP 1 - Open the Image.

Open the image you created in part 2, or if you downloaded the psp file, open it now.

  1. In the menu bar click File then Open

  2. Locate your file in the list and double click on it to open it.

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STEP 2 - Duplicate the frame layer

  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. Right click on the layer named Frame, in the Layers Palette. This will make frame the active layer, and open a dialogue box. Click on Duplicate to create a duplicate copy of the frame layer. The new layer will automatically be made the active layer, and will be called Copy of Frame.

  3. Right click on the layer named Copy of Frame, in the Layers Palette. Click on Properties. It will open a dialogue box that allows you to rename the layer. Rename the layer to Frame 2.

We are going to use the copied layer to apply an effect to the frame. The reason we don't do it on the original frame layer, is to preserve that layer for easy selection afterward. With the original frame layer untouched, it is easy to reselect the dark brown and recolor it to a new color, or try a different frame effect. This is a simple way to reselect a non antialiased area, without having to use alpha channels. You can create many copies of a layer. So for example, we could try 3 different frame effects before saving the image to place on your web page.

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STEP 3 - Apply a frame effect.

  1. If your frame area is still selected from doing the last step in part 2, that's great. If not, here is an easy way to select and area by color.

  2. Click on the Magic Wand to open the color selections dialogue. Fill in the settings as:

    Match Mode = RGB
    Tolerance = 0
    Feather = 0

    Using a tolerance of 0 means the magic wand will select an exact match for the color picked.

  3. Click on the dark brown area of your image. It should become surrounded by the marquee. If not, make sure you are on the proper layer. The layer called Frame 2 needs to be the active layer.

  4. If you are using PSP 6 this step applies. For PSP 5, this menu option does not exist. You can jump down to Step 4.

    From the Menu choose Image then Effects then Inner Bevel.

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A dialogue box will open with a whole bunch of settings to create different bevel or frame effects. The image below shows the main part, with the settings for this particular picture frame. Feel free to play around with different bevel styles. Everything shown in the image below is adjustable to various settings.

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If you click on the Auto Proof setting, it will automatically show you the effect. Or you can change settings, then click on the Proof button at the bottom to see what it will look like before saving it.

When you have found a setting you like, click OK at the bottom of the dialogue box.

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STEP 4 - Now would be a good time to save your image. Make sure you save it in PSP format so the layers stay in tack.

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STEP 5 - Put shadows on the Mat

  1. Create a duplicate copy of the mat layer, using the same technique as in step 3-parts 1, 2 and 3. The marquee should now be around the whole mat area.

  2. Make the copy of mat layer the active layer.

  3. From the Menu choose Image then Effects then Drop Shadow. A dialogue box will open.Use these settings:

    Opacity = 100
    Blur = 10
    Vertical Offset = 5
    Horizontal Offset = 5

    Click on the OK button.

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STEP 6 - Turn off the Marquee and save your image.

  1. In the menu click on Selections then Select None

  2. Save your image.

    If you want to put a picture in it, create a new layer between the layers called Layer1 and mat. Copy a picture onto that layer and move it around until it is positioned nicely in the frame.

You can rearrange layers by dragging a layer in the Layer Palette to a position above or below it.

You can temporarily hide a layer by clicking on the eyeglasses next to the layer name.

Get into the habit of using layers when adding each new piece in an image. It will make things easier, and encourage you to experiment.


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