This tutorial is my own creation. Any resemblance to another is purely coincidental. Please do not copy, translate or place on another site without my written permission.
The graphic I’ve used for this tutorial is used by permission from the very talented Stephanie Pui-Mun who has very kindly allowed me to use her wonderful artwork in my tutorials.
Simple Filter
I know longer give links to filters as the sites tend to change fairly regularly. If you do a Google search you will find links for downloading.
FRAME
Open your graphic of choice.
Selections, select all.
Selections, modify, contract and contract by 10.
Selections, invert.
Effects, Art Media Effects, Brush strokes and use the following settings:-
Softness: 10
Brush:
Bristles: 160
Width: 5
Opacity: 50
Strokes:
Length: 10
Density: 25
Lighting:
Angle: 102
Color: #505050
Effects, 3D effects, Inner bevel and use the following setting:-
Bevel: Pie
Width: 8
Smoothness: 0
Depth: 2
Ambience: 0
Shininess: 0
Colour: White
Angle: 315
Intensity: 50
Elevation: 30
Deselect.
Selections, select all.
Selections, modify, contract and contract by 75.
Hit Ctrl + C to copy the selection.
Hit Ctrl + V to paste the selection as a new image.
Back to the original graphic, Selections, select none.
With the smaller graphic, edit, copy.
Back to the original and edit, paste as new layer.
Selections, select all.
Selections, float.
Selections, defloat.
Selections, modify, contract by 10.
Selections, invert.
Effects, Art Media Effects, Brush strokes and use the same settings as before.
Effects, 3D Effects, Drop shadow and use the following settings:-
Vertical & Horizontal: 2
Opacity: 55
Blur: 5
Color: Black
Shadow on new layer: Unchecked.
Selections, select none.
Merge Visible.
Window, Duplicate.
Image, Resize and resize by 50%.
Making sure the original is the active graphic, Image, Canvas size and use the following settings:-
(This will depend on the size of your graphic)
Width: 700
Height: Height of your graphic + 20
Placement: Left middle arrow
Using your mover tool, move the graphic away just a little from the left hand side.
Selecting the smaller graphic, edit copy.
Back to the main graphic, edit, paste as new layer.
Position the graphic where you would like it to be, and in the layer palette, drag the layer to the bottom.
I rotated my smaller image at an angle of 35.
Edit, paste as new layer again.
Drag this layer to the top of your layer palette.
Position it where you would like it to be.
I rotated the same as the first and then resized by 85%
Click on your text tool if you are going to add some text to the graphic.
Set it to Vector.
Type you text and move it to where you want it place.
Effect, 3D Effects, Drop shadow and add the same drop shadow settings used previously.
Add the same drop shadow to each layer.
Using your crop tool, crop away some of the transparent image, leaving enough to add the background.
Once you are happy with the placements of your graphics and text, merge visible.
Windows, duplicate.
BACKGROUND
With your duplicated image, click on the layer palette and duplicate.
Image, mirror.
Lower the opacity of the top layer to 50%
Merge all flatten.
Effects, Plugins, Simple, Quick tile.
Lower the opacity if needed.
Save as your background. Edit copy and minimize for now.
FINISHING
Back to our original graphic.
Add a new raster layer and drag it to the bottom.
Select all.
Edit, paste into selection.
Deselect.
Image, add border and add a 10 pixel border using a dark colour from your graphic.
Select the border with your magic wand.
Effects, 3D Effects, Inner bevel and use the same settings as before.
Selections, select all.
Selections, modify contract by 3
Add a new raster layer and flood fill with a lighter colour from your graphic.
Selections, modify, contract by 1.
Hit the delete key.
Selections, select none.
Add a new raster layer for your watermark.
Merge all flatten.
You can now put it all together in Letter Creator.
