I have been fascinated with cutout graphics since I followed a link to Web Graphics on a Budget. Mardi's site offers instructions for cutout graphics for web pages and much more.  If you like cutouts, I recommend you visit this site and learn how to create them from the tutorials you find there. This site is also listed in the Archived tutorials at FlyByNightGraphics.com, which is a great place to find tutorials for almost anything you may want to create using Jasc Paint Shop Pro software.  The inspiration for this frame comes from a tutorial listed at FlyByNightGraphics.com "Dimensions with Masks" by Whisper.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You will need a working knowledge of PSP to do this tutorial.

Remember to save your work as you go !!

For this tutorial you will need:
Jasc Paint Shop Pro (I used Ver.7) 30 Day trial
Meroitic Ding Font Fontfile Dingbats Pg 25 Merohie (or your choice of ding)
Image of your choice
Background texture or color of your choice

LOL, I guess this means "do it your way"

You may use the bg below made from a tutorial found at FBN Graphics.  Just right click and save to your hard drive or click and drag to your PSP button on your task bar to maximize PSP then drop it in the PSP work space. Colorize to compliment your image. (I used PSP Effects/Edge/Enhance to give it more texture, if you use the tutorial to make your own.  It's a great/quick tutorial !!)

Maeve's Quick Linen

 

 

There are not any screen shots, (cuz I'm lazy) so I fixed the bg so you can see the end result as you go.

All righty then ~ ~ here we go :)

  1. Start with a 400 x 300 transparent canvas or whatever size is needed to accommodate your image.
  2. Layer/New Raster Layer
  3. Fill with the texture or color of your choice.
  4. Selections/Select All
    Selections/Modify/Contract by 15
    Selections/Invert
  5. Layer/New Raster Layer
  6. Effects/3D Effects/Cut out
    Vertical 6 ~ Horizontal 9
    Opacity 40 ~ Blur 20 ~ Shadow Black
    Fill Interior unchecked
    (if you want the darker cutout  ~ duplicate this layer)
    Select none 
  7. Turn off the visibility on Layer 1 and your
    texture layer
    Layers/Merge/Merge visible the cutout layers
    Turn visibility on for all layers
  8. Layers/New Raster Layer
  9. Make foreground & background any color
  10. Text Tool ~ Font ~ Meroitic Ding ~ size 36
    letter ~ small v ~ as selection
    antialias checked ~ don't click standard text
    Set the width in the Tool Optons - Text  to 5

    type 6 letter v's.
    (don't worry about where the selection is on your canvas as long as it is all visible, we will move it later.)
  11. Effects/3D Effects/Cutout  Same setting as 6
    V 6 ~ H 9 ~ Opacity 40 ~ Blur 20
    Keep selected
  12. Layer/New Raster Layer
  13. Effects/3D Effects/Drop Shadow
    V 1 ~ H 1 ~ Opacity 100 ~ Blur 1
    Color White
    Select None
  14. Turn off visibility on all layers except text cutout and drop shadow layers
    Merge/Merge Visible
    Select none
    (If you want the darker cutout, duplicate this layer and Merge Visible these two layers)
  15. Turn on visibility for all layers
  16. Use your Mover Tool to place your Text Layer near the top of your graphic
  17. Layer/Duplicate your merged text layer
    Image/Flip
    Use your Mover Tool to adjust if required 

 

Comment:
If you select "Standard Text" you will get a smaller selection and a cutout that looks more like carved or chiseled in stone.  You can change the settings on the "Drop Shadow" layer to V 0 ~ H 0 ~ Opacity 100 ~ Blur 0 or lower the opacity on the "Drop Shadow" layer.  Play with the settings on the cutout to achieve the look that's right for you :)

Standard Text w/same cutout & drop shadow

Standard Text with Effects/3D Effects/Chisel
Size 3  Transparent selected

Non Standard Text w/Opacity lowered on drop shadow layer

Back to Work :)

Cutting out image area and adding
your image:

  1. Selection Tool ~ rectangle ~ feather 0 ~ antialias checked
    (or again your choice of shape <g>)
  2. Select an area in the center of your image large enough to accomadate your image.
  3. Open your Layer Palette and select your textured layer
    Hit your Delete Key
    Select none
  4. On the same Texture Layer
    Effects/3D Effects/Drop Shadow
    V 1 ~ H 1 ~ Opacity 100 ~ Blur 1
    Color Black
    Repeat Drop Shadow with V  -1 ~  H  -1

    (If you like the kinda under glass look ~ click on the opening again with the Magic Wand ~ Selections/Modify/Expand 2 and add a New Layer.  Use the same Cutout settings V 6 ~ H 9 ~ Opacity 40 ~ Blur 20
    Add another New Layer and repeat the Cutout with V  -6 ~ H -9  Move these layers down under the Texture Layer.  Add a New Layer and use the Paint Brush to put some white highlights in the corners and apply a Gaussian Blur of 5 of 6.


Comment (sorry) :
I merged layers after the Step 4 drop shadows and saved as .pfr to use as a picture frame.  However, it didn't work as well as I thought it would.  It was distortated with the wrong size image.  If you know how to save it as a frame, you might want to give it a try !!
I did the UNDO merge layers and continued to add my image.

Adding image:

  1. On your Texture Layer ~ use your Magic Wand Tool and click inside the deleted shape area.
    Selections/Modify/Expand 4
    Keep selected
  2. Layers/New Raster Layer
  3. Open and copy the image you want to use
  4. Back on your working image
    Edit/Paste/Into Selection
  5. Layers/Arrange/Send to bottom
    Select none
  6. Use your Mover Tool or resize your pasted selection to position it if needed.
  7. Save in .psp format for future use or to colorize or change texture or image.
  8. When you have it the way you want it, Merge all and save in your format of choice.

hmmmmm....I think that's about it !! <whew>

I hope you have arrived at an image that pleases you and have enjoyed this tutorial.  I would love to see your results and hear your comments.

Some Variations

 

 

 

 More Tutorials

"Plaid n' Petals" Tutorial

 

Floating Frame