Birds Unmasked

Supplies
PSP
Letter Creator (optional)
FM Tile Tools

Supplies Here

I do not know the origin of either the mask or the graphic. If they belong to you,
I will gladly give you credit or remove them from this site at your valid request. 

The purpose of this tutorial is to make you comfortable
using masks with graphic patterns.  

Open the graphic and mask in PSP

Place a dark color from the graphic in the background 
materials box. I used #7D6E5B
Place a light color from the graphic in the foreground
materials box. I used #EFDBB8

Open a new trasnparent image 340 X 500
Flood fill with the dark color.

Layer > New Raster Layer
Flood fill with the light color.

Layers > New Mask Layer> From Image>
browse to the Summer_mask_2>check the mask data inverted
and then click OK .

Layers > Merge > Merge Group 

Layers > Merge> Merge visible

With your magic wand set to:
Add (shift) Match Mode-RGB Value Tolerance 12
Sample merge and anti-alias not checked Feather 0
Click inside the rectangle with the light color.
Be sure to click inside the parts separated by the tree branch.

Layer > New Raster Layer.
Copy the graphic and Paste into Selection.
Depending on your preferences:
1. Leave as is with the colors showing.
2. Set the blend mode to Luminance Legacy (My example)
3. Go to Image > Greyscale >
Back to Image >Increase color depth to 16 million >
Adjust > Colorize.
Play around with this and see what you can do.

Selections > Select none.

When you are happy with what you do
Layers > Merge > Merge All (flatten.)

Image > Add Borders > 5 symmetric with your foreground color.
Select the border with the magic wand. > Effects > 3D Effects >
Inner Bevel. Any round bevel will do. Chose the one you like best.

Duplicate your image. 
Resize to 350 X350. Make sure lock aspect ration is unchecked
All layers checked. It will be all squeezed together. 

Effects > Image Effects > Seamless tiling and the default setting.

Effects > Plugins > FM Tile Tools> Blend Emboss.
Repeat emboss.

In the foreground materials box, place it on Pattern
and find the pattern you just made. 

Using your original masked image > Promote Background Layer
Image > Canvas Size > 1024 (or what you use) X 535 (the length of your image plus 25.)

At this point, I used my deformation tool to make my image a bit smaller.
I like mine to be no wider than 340 pixels. I also made it about 10 pixels
shorter in length. This is purely personal preference. 

Effects > 3D Effects > Drop Shadow
V & H = 2; O = 65; Blur = 10; Color = Black 

Layer > New raster Layer
Layer > Arrange > Send to bottom 
Flood fill with your light background color
Layer > New Raster Layer.
Flood fill with your foreground pattern scale 100. angle 0

Effects > Image Effects > Seamless tiling at Edge and Vertical
let the numbers set themselves.  
Lower the opacity of this layer to somewhere between 14 and 25, or
whatever you need to make it text friendly. 

Layer > New Raster Layer > Place your mark on the border.

Layers > Merge > Merge All (flatten)

Export your image through the .JPEG Optimizer and save.

Open Letter Creator and create your letter.

This tutorial is just a guide. What you do with it is your choice.
Please do not make changes and then claim it as your own.
It is strictly the results of my playing in PSP and using techniques
I have learn through lessons and experimentation. Any resemblance
to another tutorial written by another is purely coincidental.

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