FlipAlbum ®
Textured Cover with Text

Created by: WendiM

This tutorial extends the challenge of taking photos for your FlipAlbum ® by using those creative talents you have to making your own custom album covers - using a nice paper texture with text on top..

This tutorial shows you how to make a textured cover with text. We also have written two other tutorials:

- all made with PSP V7.

This tutorial, which has been written for both new and experienced users of PSP7 - has been adapted from the Leather Bound Books tutorial created by Doro Sensen and MaggieA1.

This PSP tutorial is broken into the following steps:

Creating a new colored image,
Adding a weave texture,
Creating a new layer and a crease,
Cropping your image and bevelling its edges,
Duplicating and mirroring the image,
Adding a new layer and the album name.

In this step we will create a new image filled with color. Before starting, make sure that your Foreground Color in the Color Palette
is set to your favourite (album cover) color.

For this exercise, mine was set to a goldy olive color - #8F8F6B.

To create a new colored image:

1. Click on the File > New menu option [CTRL+N]. The system
     displays the New Image dialog box.

2. Use the following New Image settings:

     Width = 360 Pixels,
     Height = 530 Pixels,
     Resolution = (approx) 72.0000 Pixels / inch
     Background Color = Foreground Color,
     Image Type = 16.7 Million Colors (25 Bit).
     then click on the [OK] button to accept these settings. The
     system displays your new image, filled with your chosen color.

3. Click on the File > Save menu option [CTRL+S], and save your
     new image as "textcover.psp".

Next we are going to add a texture to the image. The texture I chose was the Weave texture, but you can use any texture you like.

To add a weave texture to your colored image:

1. Click on the Effects > Texture Effects > Weave... menu option.
     The system displays the Weave dialog box.

2. In the Weave dialog box, change the settings as follows
     (as displayed in the image on the left):

     Gap Size = 3,
     Width = 5,
     Opacity = 61,
     Weave color = #404000,
     Gap color = #404000,
     Fill gaps checkbox = checked

     then click on the [OK] button to accept these settings. The
     system applies the Weave texture to your image.

3. Save your image [CTRL+S]. Your image should look like that
     shown on the left (except of course in a much larger size).

In this step we'll create the "crease" on the front cover of your album.

To create a new layer and add a crease:

1. Click on the Layers > New Raster Layer... menu option.
     The system displays the Layer Properties dialog box.

2. In the Layer Properties Name field, type your new layer name as
     "crease", then click on the [OK] button (accepting all of the
     other default options in this dialog box). Your Layer Palette
     should now look like that shown on the left.

3. Double click on your Selection tool. The system displays the
     Select Area dialog box.

4. Use the following Select Area settings:

     Left = 20,
     Right = 25,
     Top = 0,
     Bottom = 530
     Custom size & position button = selected.

     then click on the [OK] button to accept these settings. The
     system displays a long narrow selection down the side of
     your image.

     This will be the crease area (5 x 530 pixels).

     If you want your crease a little wider/narrower, use the
     Undo button, and adjust the Select Area settings
     in the previous step.

     Your "Selection" should look like that displayed on the left.

5. Now we're going to save your selection to an alpha channel
     (memory), so that we can use the same selection again later.

     Click on the Selections > Save to Alpha Channel... menu
     option, then click on the [OK] button twice (to accept the default
     options).

6. To apply our first drop shadow to give the crease some depth,
     click on the Effects > 3D Effects > Drop Shadow...
     menu option. The system displays the Drop Shadow
     dialog box.

7. Use the following Drop Shadow settings:

     Offset Vertical = 0,
     Offset Horizontal = -6,
     Opacity = 41,
     Blur = (approx.) 11.1
     Color = Black.

     Note - if Black is not the default colour, click on
     the color box and select Black (top right) from the
     Basic Colors in the Color dialog box, then click
     on the [OK] button to accept this setting.

     then click on the [OK] button to accept these settings. The
     system displays a drop shadow down the left side of
     your selection.

8. To apply a drop shadow on the right of our selection, click on
     the Effects > 3dEffects > Drop Shadow menu option again. The
     system displays the Drop Shadow dialog box.

9. Use the previous Drop Shadow settings (which remain in the
     dialog box from your previous Drop Shadow), except
     change the following setting:

     Offset Horizontal = 6.

     then click on the [OK] button to accept these settings. The
     system displays the second drop shadow down the right side of
     your selection.

10. With your selection still active, now click on the Selections >
       Invert menu option [SHIFT+CTRL+I], then again click on the
       Effects > 3dEffects > Drop Shadow menu option again. The
       system displays the Drop Shadow dialog box.

11. Use the previous Drop Shadow settings (which remain in the
       dialog box from your previous Drop Shadow), and click [OK]
       (this applies a shadow to the interior of your crease,
       as displayed on the left). [CTRL+D] to deselect your selection.

12. Click on the Layers > Merge > Merge Visible menu option. The
       system merges your Background and crease
       layers, naming the merged layer "Merged".

13. Now save your image [CTRL+S]. Your image should look like
       that on the left.

Now we need to crop the image and apply a bevel to its outer edges.

To crop the image and apply an Inner Bevel:

1. Double click on the Selection tool. The system displays the
     Select Area dialog box.

2. Use the following Select Area settings:

     Left = 0,
     Right = 360,
     Top = 10,
     Bottom = 520,
     Custom size & position button = selected.

     Click on the [OK] button to accept these settings. The system
     places a selection around a portion of your image - 10 pixels
     from the top, and 10 pixels from the bottom.

3. To crop the image to this size, click on the Image > Crop to
     Selection menu option [SHIFT+R]. The system crops your
     image to the specified size.

4. Use the File > Save As menu option [F12], and save your
     image as "textcoverfront.psp".

     This leaves your original image in tact, in case
     you want to colorize the weave or apply some other effects.

5. Now use the Selections > Select All menu option [CTRL+A],
     then click on the Effects > 3D Effects > Inner Bevel... menu
     option. The system displays the Inner Bevel dialog box.

6. Change the Inner Bevel dialog box settings as follows:

     Bevel
     Bevel = As displayed - top row 3rd from left of bevel types
     (click on the down-arrow beside the image to view these).
     Width = 3.

     Image
     Smoothness = 33,
     Depth = 3,
     Ambience = 21,
     Shininess = 44,

     Light
     Color - choose a shade similar to the original color of your
     image, or white. I chose #E9E9E1.
     Angle = 45 degrees,
     Intensity = 50,
     Elevation = 30.

     After making these settings, click on the [OK] button.
     The system applies an Inner Bevel to the outside edges of your
     front cover.

7. Deselect your selection [CTRL+D], then save your image
     [CTRL+S].

Mirror copy of image - to be saved as back cover

Next we are going to duplicate and mirror the image, then save it as your back cover.

To duplicate and mirror your image:

1. Hold down the SHIFT key and press the D key (SHIFT+D]. The
     system places a copy of your image over the top of your original.

2. Click on the File > Save menu option [CTRL+S], and save this
     duplicated image as "/tutorial/html/tutphoto/textcoverback.jpg".

3. To mirror this image, select the Image > Mirror menu option
     [CTRL+M]. The system mirrors your image, placing the
     crease on the right hand side, and the bevel on the top and left
     hand side, as shown in our image on the left.

4. Finally, save your image again [CTRL+S].

5. Now switch back to your "textcoverfront.psp" image (the front
     cover) so that we can add some text to it.

In this last step, we are going to add a new layer, and add an album name.

To add a new layer and the album name:

1. Click on the Layers > New Raster Layer... menu option. The
     system displays the Layer Properties dialog box. Name this
     layer "textshadow", then click on the [OK] button.

2. Click on the Text Tool, then click once on your image. The
     system displays the Text Entry dialog box.

3. Make the following settings:

     A suitable font (mine was Black Chancery),
     Font size = 20,
     Fill color = white,
     Click on the Standard Text button,
     Create as Floating button = checked,
     Antialias button = checked.
     In the Enter Text Here box, click on the "Center Align" button
     above it,
     Type your text (I typed "Family Photo Album").

     After making these entries, click on the [OK] button. The system
     applies your text as a floating selection over your image.

4. Click on the Edit > Cut menu option [CTRL+X], then click on
     the Edit > Paste > As New Layer menu option [CTRL+L].
     The system pastes your text as a new layer - right in the
     middle of your cover!.

5. Click on the Selections > Select All menu option, then click on
     the Selections > Float menu option (the system re-selects
     your text).

6. Now, using your Layer Palette, click on the "textshadow" layer,
     then click on the Effects > 3DEffects > Drop Shadow menu
     option. The system displays the Drop Shadow dialog box.

7. Change the settings as follows:

     Vertical Offset = 1,
     Horizontal Offset = 1,
     Opacity = 100,
     Blur = 1,
     Color = Black.

     After making these settings, click on the [OK] button. The
     system applies the drop-shadow to your text (if you zoom in,
     your text and shadow should look like that displayed on the left).

8. Now you can deselect [CTRL+D], then use the File >
     Save Copy As... menu option [F12], saving your image as
     "/tutorial/html/tutphoto/textcoverfront.jpg". You now have both front and back covers
     to use with your album.

     This is the end of this tutorial.

FlipAlbum ®Textured Cover with Text

FlipAlbum ®
Textured Cover with Text