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Brushed Metal Effect
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You can create the brushed metal effect and the riveted plaque shown above using Paint Shop Pro filters.
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First create a new image: 200 x 200 pixels, white background, 16 million colors.
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Now we'll use the Noise filter to add a dot pattern to the image. Go to Image || Noise || Add, set as follows:
% Noise = 70
Random = checked
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Now we'll use one of the Blur filters to create the "brushed" effect. Go to Image || Blur || Motion Blur. Set as follows:
Direction = 45 degrees
Intensity = 20 pixels
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Of course, aluminum would not be multicolored like this. We could convert the image to greyscale, but most PSP filters don't work unless the image is 16 million colors. So instead, we'll just take the color out with the colorize feature. Go to Colors || Colorize and set the Saturation to 0 to remove all the color.
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Now let's create a metal plate. Click on the Selection tool, set as follows:
Selection Type = Rectangle
Feather = 0
Antialias = checked
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Create a large rectangular selection, then go to Image || Effects || Drop Shadow, set as follows:
Color = black
Opacity = 100
Blur = 8
Vertical/Horizontal Offset = 2
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Now add a second plate on top of the first. Go to Selections || Modify || Contract and set the value to 15.
Repeat the Drop Shadow with the same settings, then deselect by right-clicking into the image.
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Now we need to create a new layer for our rivets. Hold down the Shift key and click on the New Layer button in the layer palette.
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Return to the Selection tool and change the Selection Type to Circle, leave the rest of the settings the same.
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Create a small, circular selection in one corner.
Add a drop shadow: Go to Image || Effects || Drop Shadow, same settings as before for the plates. Deselect by right-clicking into the image.
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Go to Edit || Copy (Ctrl+C), then to Edit || Paste || As New Selection (Ctrl+E). Before deselecting, position the new rivet in another corner.
Repeat this procedure until all four corners of both plates are riveted.
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Now we're going to add some engraved text to our plaque. Click on the Text tool, then click in the center of the top plate and set as follows:
PSP 5:
Antialias = checked
Floating = unchecked |
PSP 6:
Create as = Selection
Antialias = checked |
Choose a narrow font (I had Arial) and enter some text (I typed "PSPUG founded 1997"). Then click on OK to create an empty selection.
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Go to Image || Effects || Cutout and set as follows:
Fill interior with color = unchecked
Shadow Color = black
Opacity = 50
Blur = 3
Vertical/Horizontal Offset = 1
Click on OK and deselect by right-clicking into the image.
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Now let's flatten our image: Go to Layers || Merge || Merge All.
This image is a little too soft and fuzzy for metal, so let's use a filter to sharpen it up: Go to Image || Sharpen || Sharpen.
We're just about there. We only need a small adjustment to the brightness and contrast: Go to Colors || Adjust || Brightness/Contrast, and set the Brightness to -15 and the Contrast to 30.
PSP 6: Set the Brightness to -30 and the Contrast to 30.
There, our riveted, aluminum plaque is finished. You can crop it down if you like, or leave it mounted on the aluminum background.
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