Creating Leather Covers for FlipAlbums ®

Created by: WendiM

We have just become aware of some new software -FlipAlbum ® - which "is the world's first 3D page-flipping digital photo album software". When purchasing the FlipAlbum Suite 4.0 software, you may request the "Standard Design Library" CDs at no additional charge (except shipping of $ 8.95 in the US), which has album covers, templates, borders, MP3, themes and clips-art for the user.

However, why not extend the challenge by using those creative talents you have (when taking your digital photos) to making your own custom album covers. These enable you to 'individualize' your albums, and create different covers relevant to different photo collection themes.

These tutorials show you how to make Leather Covers (this page), some Photo Covers and the third one is for another Textured Cover with Text - 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 tutorial is broken into the following steps:

Creating a new colored image,
Adding a texture to your colored image,
Creating a new layer and adding a crease,
Deepening the interior color of the " crease",
Reducing the image size and applying a bevel,
Duplicating and mirroring the image.

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 #966C98.

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 = 400 Pixels,
     Height = 600 Pixels,
     Resolution = (approx) 72.0000 Pixels / inch
     Background Color = Foreground Color,
     Image Type = 16.7 Million Colors (25 Bit).

     Now 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 "cover1.psp".

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

To add a texture to your colored image:

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

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

     Color = White,
     Angle = 45 degrees,
     Blur = 30,
     Number of furrows = 35,
     Length of furrows = 10,
     Transparency = 254.

     Now click on the [OK] button to accept these settings. The
     system applies the Fine Leather 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
    "Shadow", then click on the [OK] button (accepting all of the
     other default options in this dialog box).

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 = 40,
     Top = 0,
     Bottom = 600
     Custom size & position button = selected.

     Now 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 (20 x 600 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.

     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.

     Now 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 our second drop shadow, again click on the
     Effects > 3D Effects > Drop Shadow... menu option.
     The system again 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.

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

10. [CTRL+D] to deselect your selection, then save your image
      [CTRL+S]. Your image should look like that
      shown on the left.

Layer Palette - Shadow Layer and Background Layer

Layer Palette - Background Layer promoted as Layer 2

Next we are deepen the color of the interior of the crease and merge the visible layers

To deepen the interior color of the crease:

1. Click on your Layer Palette, which should look like the top
     Layer Palette image displayed on the left.

2. Double click on the Background layer's name. The system
     displays the Promote Layer & Edit Properties dialog box.

3. Rename this layer "Leather", then click on the [OK] button
     to accept the rest of the default settings. Now look at your
     Layer Palette again - it should now look like the second
     Layer Palette image displayed on the left.

4. Now we'll reload the selection you saved to your Alpha Channel.

     To reload your selection, click on the Selections > Load from
     Alpha Channel... menu option. The system displays the
     Load from Alpha dialog box, showing your 40x600
     selection as #Selection1. Click on the [OK] button.
     The system reloads your selection.

5. Now use the Colors > Adjust > Gamma Correction menu option.
     The system displays the Gamma Correction dialog box.

6. Making sure that all your settings are the same number and that
     the Link checkbox is checked - move the sliders across
     so that the numbers now read .84 (as shown in the image on
     the left).

     Then click on the [OK] button to accept these settings.
     The system displays your selection in a darker shade than the
     rest of the leather. If you would prefer a color darker still,
     click on the [UNDO] button in the toolbar, then redo this step
     - moving the sliders even further to the left (the lower the number
     - the darker the image).

7. Deselect your selection [CTRL+D], then to Merge
     your layers (preparing for the next set of steps), click on the
     Layers > Merge > Merge Visible menu option. The system
     merges your Shadow and Leather layers, naming the merged
     layer as "Merged" (check it in the Layer Palette).

8. Save your image [CTRL+S]. Your image should look like that
     shown on the left.

Now we're going to reduce the size of the image to the standard FlipAlbum® cover size (width = 360 pixels x height = 510 pixels), then apply a light bevelled edge to it.

To reduce the image size and apply a 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 = 20,
     Bottom = 530,
     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 - 20 pixels
     from the top.

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 "coverfront.psp".

     This leaves your original image in tact, in case
     you want to colorize the leather 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 = 2.

     Image
     Smoothness = 33,
     Depth = 3,
     Ambience = 21,
     Shininess = 23,

     Light
     Color - choose a shade similar to the original color of your
     image, or white. I chose #D2BED6.
     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].

     Click on the image on the left to see the finished front cover
     at actual size (a new window will open - just close the new
     window to return here for the final step).

Mirror copy of image - to be saved as back cover

Finally 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 "coverback.psp".

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

4. Finally, save your image again [CTRL+S], then use the File >
     Save As menu option [F12] and save both images as .jpg files
     in your local (C: Drive) folder holding your FlipAlbum ®
     images and album covers.

     This is the end of the tutorial.