Warped and Chrome Frame



Welcome to my tutorial *S*

Although simple, this is for the intermediate/advanced PSP user
as I have only a few screen shots. But I also found out
that trying is the best way to learn. *S*

This tutorial was written by me and is ©momentzdesignz
Any other tutorial that looks similar is purely coincidental
and no infringement of any other artist is intended.

For this tutorial you will need the following:

PSP 8
Eye Candy 3
VM Natural - Sparkle - optional
A tube your choice
My tube is courtesy:   Top Design Tubes

1 - Open your tube and Open a new transparent image 600 x 600
2 - Copy and paste your tube on to the transparent background as a new layer - [Layer #2]
3 - Foreground color set to a dark co-ordinating color from your tube
4 - Set your Background to Null
5 - New raster layer - [Layer #3]
6 - Preset Shapes tool: set to Rectangle, antialias checked and set width to 3
7a - Draw a border around your tube - [on layer #3]
7b - Select this border with your magic wand
8 - Still on layer 3, go to Effects > 3D effects > Inner bevel
Settings: Preset Bevel #2, Width 31, Smoothness 44, depth 20, ambiance 11,
shininess 34, color - white, angle 305, intensity 45 and elevation 30
9 - Selections > Select None

10 - Back to layer 1 and close it off for now
11 - Click on 1 of the other layers - Layers > Merge Visible
12 - With your magic wand, click any where on the transparent section inside the
border, making sure you have selected all the transparent areas
13 - Flood fill inside the border with a color [lighter than your border] that compliments your image
NOTE: This will be your main background color.
14 - Effects, Plugins > Eye Candy 3 > Chrome
Softness 11, variation, 18, Contrast 69, bands 2 and light direction 342,
Base color - your chosen dark color [gives you your shadow] and Highlight Color
- Your light chosen color - [gives you your background]

NOTE: (a)You can change any of these settings as you can now see what will compliment your image.
(b) If you change your Softness and Variations amounts, you will have a more 'satiny' effect.

15 - Keep Selected
16 - Effects > Plugins > VM Natural > Sparkle
Settings: Max size 29, red 103, green and blue 255, rnd color - 231 and random seed 116
17 - If you are happy with the stars, then click ok
18 - Selections > Select none

19 - Open layer 1 and go to: Layers > Merge Visible
20 - With your Selection tool, set to rectangle, draw around the outside border of your image
21 - Image > Crop to Selection

Now for the framing and the Warp Effect

NOTE: Here, when making the borders in our chosen colors,
I set them to the chosen colors and then they don't have to be selected.

22 - Image > Add Border - 3 px, color - your light chosen color
23 - Image > Add border 10 px - your dark chosen color
24 - Image > Add Border - 25 px, color - your light chosen color
25 - Now we apply the warp on the 10 px dark border - See screen shot below for the basics of selecting 1 side.



26 - We will apply the Warp effect twice to make it close to the center of the image and
on all 4 sides separately. Also, the wider the rectangle selection, the wider the warp effect :)
So you are free to experiment or leave it as it ends up; either way it is a nice effect *S*

27 - As show in the screen shot, select your top dark border
28 - Effects > Distortion Effects > Warp
Settings: H 21, V -4, size 60 and strength -70
29 - Keep selected
30 - Repeat the Warp Effect only *changing* the H to 0
31 - Selections > Select None

32 - Continue with the other 3 sides of the border, following steps: 27, 28, 29, 30 and 31

NOTE: I had a few stray pixels on the corners of the border after applying the warp effect,
so I simply erased them :)
33 - Selections > Select none
34 - Image > Add Border - 3 px, color - your chosen dark color
35 - Selections > Select none
36 - Re-size, if necessary, add your watermark and save as a .jpg


And we are finished. I hope you have enjoyed this tutorial *S*

If you have any questions, please feel free to email me.

©momentzdesignz 1999



This tutorial was tested by my sister Dianne - Thank you! *S*
Below is her lovely result.



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