BRUSHED HALO BACKGROUND

This tutorial is my own creation. Any resemblance to another is purely co-incidental. Please do not copy, translate or place on any other site. You are more than welcome to use this tutorial in a group setting, but please link to this page only.

Tools needed to complete this tutorial:

PSP 8

A graphic of your choice.
I would like to thank Sharon George for allowing me to use wonderful artwork in my tutorials.

FM Tile Tools

prc edge3.mask

If you have everything you need, let's begin.

1. Open your graphic and resize so that the width is no bigger than 350 pixels.
   
2. Shift + D to duplicate your image and close the original.

3. Edit copy.

4. Right click in your layer palette and promote background layer.

5. Layers, Load/Save Mask, Load mask from disc, and using your dropdown menu search for prc edge3.mask with Invert transparency and Fit to canvas checked.

6. Layers, Merge, Merge group.

7. Image, Mirror.

8. Layers, Load/Save Mas, Load mask from disc, and apply the mask again.

9. Layers, Merge, Merge group.

10. Image, Mirror.

11. Image, Canvas size, and use the following settings:-
    • Width:nbsp;     1024
      
    • Height:nbsp;     Height of your graphic.
      
    • Placement:nbsp;     Left middle arrow.

12. In your layer palette duplicate the Group – Group – Layer 1.

13. Using your mover tool, move the duplicated layer over towards the left of your transparent image so that it is just about touching the edge.

14. Layers, arrange, Send to bottom.

15. Effects, Art Media Effects, Brush strokes and use the following settings:-
    • Softness:nbsp;      45
      
    • Bristles:nbsp;     241
      
    • Width:nbsp;     8
      
    • Opacity:nbsp;     53
      
    • Length:nbsp;     2
      
    • Density:nbsp;     85
      
    • Angle:nbsp;     259
      
    • Color:nbsp;     White

16. Highlight the top layer.

17. Effects, 3D Effects, Drop Shadow and use the following settings:-
    • Vertical:nbsp;     0
      
    • Horizontal:nbsp;     18
      
    • Opacity:nbsp;     45
      
    • Blur:nbsp;     15
      
    • Color:nbsp;     Black
      
    • Shadow on new layer:nbsp;     Unchecked.

18. Effects, 3D Effects, Drop Shadow and use the following settings:-
    • Vertical:nbsp;     0
      
    • Horizontal:nbsp;     -5 (minus)
      
    • Opacity:nbsp;     45
      
    • Blur:nbsp;     5
      
    • Color:nbsp;     Black
      
    • Shadow on new layer:nbsp;     Unchecked.

19. Selections, select all.

20. Add a new layer.

21. Edit, paste into selection.

22. Deselect.

23. Layers, arrange, send to bottom.

24. Effects, Art Media Effects, Brush Strokes and use the same settings as before.

25. Edit, repeat Brush strokes.

26. Adjust, Softness, Soft Focus and use the following settings:-

    FOCUS

    • Softness:nbsp;      100
      
    • Edge importance:nbsp;     40
      
    • Include scattered light:nbsp;     Checked

    HALO
    • Amount:nbsp;     100
      
    • Halo size:nbsp;      50
      
    • Halo visibility:nbsp;     100

27. Effects, Image Effects, Seamless tiling and use the following settings:-
    • Corner checked
      
    • Bidirectional checked
      
    • Horizontal offset:nbsp;     0
      
    • Vertical offset:nbsp;     0
      
    • Transition:nbsp;     100
      
    • Curved checked.

28. High light the top layer.

29. Effects, FM Tile Tools, Seamless tiling and use the following settings:-
    • Border width:nbsp;     0.125
      
    • Stretch Control:nbsp;     0.090
      
    • Vertical checked.

30. Highlight the middle layer in your layer paletter.

31. Edit, repeat Seamless Tile.

32. Add a new layer. Layers, arrange, bring to top.

33. Add your watermark.

34. Merge all, flatten.

    
    
    © An Aushorty Design – March 2005