Blinds - Emboss - Sandstone Effects Created by: Prof  
              

In this tutorial, we will cover three of the 'Textures': Blinds, Emboss and Sandstone. These textures are among a number of specialty textures. They add a particular type of texture to an image or picture.

These 'textures' are very easy to use. They also have interesting features which allow creating very unique effects. We will first explore 'Blinds', then the 'Emboss' and finally the 'Sandstone' effect.

These textures are found on the context menu when one uses Effects || Texture Effects || .....

The download is the photograph I am using in this tutorial.

THE BLINDS EFFECT

We will use two images: (1) A plain background color (of your choice or white); and, (2) The Download of a picture of horses in the woods at a stream (or one of your choice).

SOLID COLOR BACKGROUND:
– 1. New Canvas -- 300 x 300 pixels, White, 16 M colors
– 2. Use: Effects || Texture Effects || Blinds
– 3. Click on the Default Button (Bottom Right Button next to the 'Help' button).

PICTURE:
– 1. Use: Effects || Texture Effects || Blinds
– 2. Click on the Default Button (Bottom Right Button next to the 'Help' button).

COMMENTS:
This effect must be applied to an existing image or picture. On a background color it creates the blind effect with a shadow and the background color. On a picture, or other graphic image, it creates a blind effect with the picture showing through.

OPTIONS:

1. Width has a range of 2 to maximum width of canvas. If one wants a symmetrical number of blinds, the Width value needs to divide into the maximum width of the canvas. Often, a low value for width is used to create a type of background effect on images.

2. Opacity has a range of 1 to 100. As opacity is decreased the darkness of the shadow decreases.

3. Color selected from the Color Wheel will give the shadow a colored effect. Often color used to compliment the image will create a very nice effect.

4. Blinds are able to run in either in a 'Horizontal' or a 'Vertical' line.

5. The light will either be at 'Top' or 'Bottom' for the 'Horizontal' effect or 'Left' or 'Right' for the 'Vertical' Effect.

Using and exploring the options one can create interesting effects.

EXAMPLES:

Tip #1: Use Colors || Colorize on this canvas and you can create other colored blind effects.

Tip #2: Use Colors || Adjust Brightness with Brightness = minus 120 and Contrast = 80 and change the darkness of the blinds effect.

B. Horse Picture

1. Start with the Default Setting for an effect of blinds partially open allowing one to look through the window to see a bit of the outside.

2. Change the 'Opacity' = 60 for an similar effect with more of outside shown.

3. Change to a 'Vertical' Blind effect with Light from the Right for a different type of blinds over a window.

Tip #1: Before using the Blinds Effect, click on the 'Dropper' tool. Then Set the Blinds but do not click on the 'OK' button yet.
– Width = 10
– Opacity = 60
– Horizontal = Unchecked
– Light = Unchecked

Then, use the 'Dropper' tool on the picture and pick up a color. Experiment with different colors from the picture. The color I chose is a light tan (179, 173, 156).

Now add some drapes to this canvas for a nice picture window effect.

ANOTHER EXAMPLE:

1. 300 x 300 White 16 M colors.

2. Click on Selection Tool -- Set to Rectangle
-- Double Click again on Selection Tool with these values:
-- Left = 60
-- Right = 240
-- Top = 40
-- Bottom = 260
-- Click on OK

3. New Layer Labeled 'Front Cover' and Flood Fill with Grey (192, 192, 192)

4. New Layer Labeled 'Top Page'

5. Double Click on Selection Tool
-- Left = 60
-- Right = 220
-- Top = 40
-- Bottom = 60

6. Flood Fill with White

7. Use: Effects || Texture Effects || Blinds
-- Width = 2
-- Opacity = 60
-- Color = Grey (128, 128, 128)
-- Horizontal = Checked
-- Light = Checked
-- Click on Ok

8. New Top Layer Labeled 'Right Side Page'

9. Double Click on Selection Tool
-- Left = 220
-- Right = 240
-- Top = 60
-- Bottom = 260

10. Flood Fill with White

11. Use: Blinds again and Uncheck Horizontal, then click on OK

12. Deselect [Control+D]

13. Turn off the Bottom Background Layer

14. Highlight the Top Page Layer

15. Use: Deformation Tool
-- Click on top/middle handle and Press Shift Key.
-- Hold down Mouse button.
-- Drag to the right so top right corner ending at top right light grey corner.
-- Click on Apply

16. Highlight the Right Side Page Layer

17. Use: Deformation Tool again
-- Click on left/middle handle and Press Shift Key.
-- Hold down Mouse button.
-- Drag up to the top right corner ending at top right light grey corner.
-- Click on Apply.

18. Click on Front Cover Layer

19. Double Click on Selection Tool
-- Left = 60
-- Right = 224
-- Top = 56
-- Bottom = 264
-- Click on OK

20. Use: Selections || Invert and then the Delete Key

21. Use: Selections || Invert and then Flood Fill selection again with White. Deselect [Control+D]

22. Drag to Top

23. Then use: Effects || Texture Effects || Fine Leather
-- Color = Dark Brown (96, 48, 0)
-- Angle = 135
-- Blur = 10
-- Number Furrows = 1000
-- Length Furrows = 6
-- Transparency = 250
-- Click on OK

24. Use: Effects || Blur || Soften and then Deselect [Control+D]

25. Duplicate the Front Cover Layer and Label 'Back Cover'

26. Use: Deformation Tool
-- Click on the Shift Key and then the Right Arrow key about 21 times
-- Click on the Shift Key and then the Up Arrow Key about 21 times
-- Click on Apply

27. Drag this Back Cover Layer to just above the Background (bottom) Layer.

Although we need to make a binding, we have in part created a book using the Leather and the Blinds Effect. At this point you might finish it with a back binding and then add some text.

The key point of this exercise is to illustrate how the Blinds effect creates a page look and how other PSP effects are able to enhance images.

Another option when using blinds is once you have a blind setting you like, try adding another texture. Use a texture that is very light. You will be able to create some interesting results when combining different effects.

The EMBOSS EFFECT

Use: Effects || Texture || Emboss

That's all there is to it and the result is quick and nice. Also, try the 'Emboss' on various images and photographs.

The 'Sandstone' effect will work in different ways on different images or photographs. Thus, it is always useful to explore the effect on various types of images.

As usual, explore the Preset values first. Dependent upon the image used the presets will give you an idea of how this effect works. Some results are a colored embossed effect, while some are very interesting variations on the original image.

In this lesson we will use the Horses photograph and just explore the basics of using this effect. I will also exhibit some variations on a weave image I created for some illustrations of different effects.

EXPLORING THE OPTIONS

COLOR OPTION:

Often, it is best to use the Color option after you have set other options.

ANGLE OPTION:

LUMINANCE OPTION:

BLUR OPTION:

DETAIL OPTIONS;

COMBINATION OF VALUES

Begin with these Values:
– Blur = 0
– Detail = 1
– Luminance = 10
– Angle = 0
– Color = White

The result is a more white detailed picture which in and of itself is a nice effect.

If we set the Color to a rich brown (160, 96, 0) we add a nice brown textured outline to the photograph.

If we start to increase blur by a value of 1 we begin to soften the result. At a value of 6, the result is a nicely outlined and colored effect.

If we then begin to increase the Detail by a value of 1 we begin to darken and soften more the effect. At a value of 20 we have a very dark bronze effect. And, if we again reduce Blur to zero (0) we have a very interesting bronze effect that almost replicates a sculpture effect.

Now, if we begin to increase Luminance by a value of 1 we again lighten our effect though still maintaining the bronze appearance. At a value of 15 we have golden bronze outlines on a grey blue background.

Now, change the Color back to White. Increase luminance to maximum (20). Increase Blur to maximum (100) for a layered sand effect. Then increase Detail to 80 for a more detailed sand effect. And set Angle = 135 for more lines in the sand effect.

If you want more of the horses outline as a main object, reduce the Blur value to around 50. If you want some color in the sand effect change your Color to an 'orange' (255, 160, 32).