Color My World !!!!!

Ok, you guessed it - this is named after the Chicago song.  I really enjoy working with templates - especially forum style ones as I feel you can use so many more techniques to get so many different looks.

I will be posting my templates from time to time and with some I will provide a tutorial.  

Now this is IMPORTANT:  The tutorials are just a to show you some things you can do to get certain looks.  You can use them on any template or not at all.  But I am hoping that you might learn something new or discover a new filter or technique!!!!

Please take a moment to read my TOU at the top of the page regarding usage of my templates!!!!

P.S - If you enjoy forum templates - Spawn (aka Dave) has some incredible ones which you can get HERE

Thanx and happy creating!!!!

End Of The Line !!

Supplies:

Tube of choice - I am using the art of Renee Biertempfel - you can purchase her tubes at CDO

Filters:

Eye Candy 4 HSB Noise or 5 Texture Noise (settings shown for both)

L & K - Paris

VM - Square Blur

FM Tile Tools - Blend Emboss

AAA Frames - Foto Frame

Let's Begin:

Open a new image 600 x 250

Select 1 or 2 colors that are not in your tube - but compliment your tube.  If your tube comes with the full artwork - you may want to choose something from that. 

NOTE:  You can choose 1 color - 2 shades of that color - OR - 2 colors that work well together.

Foreground to light/medium - background to medium dark

Fill canvas with your f/g color

Add a new layer - fill with b/g color

Effects - Eye Candy 5 - Texture Noise OR

Eye Candy 4 - HSB Noise

EC 5

EC 4

Feel free to click the random seed button to a look you prefer

Effects - Distortion Effects - Pixelate

Effects - Edge Effects - Enhance

Effects - VM Toolbox - Square Blur

Effects - L & K - Paris 

Adjust - Brightness and Contrast

NOTE:  You may need to adjust the contrast setting depending on your color choice - or even omit this step

Layer - Merge down.

Now select 1 or 2 colors from your tube - following the same instructions as before

Add a new layer 

Follow the above steps starting at the first fill and ending with the merging of the two layers (make sure you only merge the last 2 layers you have been working on and not the first completed layer)

Copy and paste your tube - position

Now choose which layer you want as your top layer depending on what you feel looks best with the tube.

Once you have decided this - label the bottom one BG 2 and the top one BG 1

Working on BG 1 

Selection tool - set to rectangle - custom selection

Delete - deselect.

Custom selection again with these settings:

Delete - deselect

Custom selection again with these settings:

Delete - deselect

Activate BG 2 - select all - crop to selection

Merge visible 

Effects - AAA Frame - Foto Frame

Add your copyright and license information and name - merge and save !!!

Video - Traveling Wilburys - End Of the Line

The Night Has A 1,000 Eyes !!

Supplies:

Tube of choice - a close up works well.

Texture of choice - I am using one by Bunny's Attic 

1,000 eyes overlay - HERE  (optional)

Filters:

L & K Zitah

Xero - Porcelain

Filters Unlimited - Convolution - Emboss (strong)

Note:  If you need supplies - click the LINKS button at the top of the page

Let's Begin:

Open a new image 600 x 250

Set foreground to a light/medium color and background to a medium/dark color - can be from tube or complimentary ones.

Fill canvas with b/g color - add a new layer - fill with f/g color

Layer - new mask layer from image - locate your texture choice - apply.

Delete - merge group.

Effects - Filters Unlimited - Convolution - Emboss (strong) - default settings.

Blend mode to Luminance (L) or your choice - merge down.

Select all - float - defloat

Effects - L & K - Zitah 

Deselect

Add a new layer - name this layer - rectangle

Selection tool - set to rectangle - custom selection

Fill with b/g color - Do NOT deselect

Copy and paste your tube - position so that the eyes are in the rectangle.

Duplicate

Activate the top tube layer - invert - delete - deselect.

Activate the bottom tube layer - change blend mode to Luminance (L) or choice - lower opacity to around 60% or what looks best.

Xero - Porcelain - default

Activate top tube layer - apply Xero Porcelain

Activate rectangle layer - duplicate 

On duplicate layer - select all - contract by 2 - delete - deselect.

Move layer to top

Duplicate - on bottom frame layer - add drop shadow

 Adjust - Blur - Gaussian blur - 3.00

Optional :

Copy and paste overlay  - Or you can add your own brushes if you like.

If using my overlay - you can colorize if you like and even change the blend mode.

Add drop shadow

Add a new layer - fill with b/g color - select all - contract by 2 - delete - deselect.

Adjust - Add noise - Uniform - 60%

You can also add this to the top frame layer if you like as shown on the bottom tag.

Add copyright and license information and name.  Merge and save!!!

Video link - Bobby Vee - The Night Has a 1,000 Eyes - 

HERE

Music and PSP

To those that are very perceptive - you may have noticed that I name my tuts after songs - either the title or a line from one.  Some people need silence to concentrate, create and ponder - I need MUSIC!!!!  So I have decided that from now on - each tut will have the link to the video that inspired the title of the tut - you don't have to click on it - but you might enjoy it.  I am truly a retro person in many aspects, my family and friends always tease me that I should have been a teenager in the 1960's or 1970's.  I love the music, the fashions, the TV shows - well just about everything from those eras.  So that's the music I listen to when creating - sorry you won't find any rap here - there may be an occasional 80's or 90's song from when I was a toddler and had dreams of being a dancer - oh admit it, didn't we all at that age???  LOL

*hugs & smiles*,

Annie !!!

Juke Box Hero !!!

Updated - 11/13 - Thanx Meshi for informing me of some things that weren't clear or mistakes I made.  I value your input!!!!

Note:  I updated the decos so they can be used in all versions of PSP.

Supplies:

Tube of choice - I am using the art of ©Stan Dudin 

PI2 Juke Box Hero Decos - here 

You can create your own decos - or use something from a scrap kit if you prefer!!!

Mask of choice

Texture of choice - if you need a texture - there are some links to sites under the LINKS tab at the top of the page.

Filters:

No outside filters used!!!

Let's Begin:

Open a new image 600 x 600

Selection tool - custom selection with this setting:

Choose a light/med color for foreground and a med/dark color for your background

Set foreground to gradient with this setting:

Add a new layer - fill with gradient - do NOT deselect

Open your texture - copy - add a new layer -you can either paste into selection - OR - paste as a new layer - invert and delete. Do NOT deselect.

Add a new layer - fill with any color you wish - this will be the thin frames around the solid rectangles.

Contract by 2 - delete - deselect.

Activate your texture layer - change blend mode to your preference - merge down.

Activate your frame layer - with arrow keys - move frame up slightly and to the left slightly.

Duplicate - now with arrows move this frame layer down and to the right slightly.  See my example for an idea of how you want it positioned.

Activate top frame layer and merge down. Duplicate. On bottom frame layer - adjust - blur - gaussian blur set to 2.

Activate the top frame layer

Open Juke Box Hero Decos - copy one of the decos you would like to use - paste and position onto your frame.  With the change to target brush - color the deco with one of your color choices.

Duplicate the deco as many times as you like - and position them to your liking.  You can also choose another deco and follow the same steps.

Copy and paste your tube - resize and position. Add drop shadow of choice.  You may want to adjust some of the decos at this time.

X-Out your tube layer

Merge visible all layers - duplicate - position the top rectangle as you wish.

Activate the bottom layer.

Fill with a color choice - or a paper from a scrap kit.  Apply your mask  - delete - merge group.

Open your tube layer.

I merged all my layers together - except the mask layer and resized the merged layer by 85% and then resized the entire canvas to 500 x 500.  You do not have to do this - just telling you so you will understand why it might look different.

Add your copyright and license info and your name.  PLEASE read any TOU that the texture creator might have and abide by their terms !!!!

Merge and save!!!!

Shine On You Crazy Diamond !!!!

Supplies:

Tube of choice 

I am using the art of ©Enys Guerrero available at CDO

Forum Style Mask of choice

I am using one from Moonbeams and Spiderwebs - Here

My Diamond template - Here

Filters:

Mehdi - Weaver - available Here

Carolaine and Sensibility CS-Ldots - Here

Let's Begin:

Install filters if you don't already have them

Open your tube

Open Diamond Template

Open a new image - 600 x 250

From tube - select a medium color for your foreground and a darker color for your background

Fill canvas with foreground color

Select all

Copy tube

Paste into selection - deselect

Effects - Image Effects - seamless tiling - default settings

Effects - Mehdi - Weaver:

Effects - Carolaine & Sensibility - CS LDots:

Add a new layer - fill with background color - apply mask - delete - merge group - change blend mode to overlay or what looks best.

Merge down.

Open Diamond template - copy - paste as a new layer on canvas.

Select all - float - defloat - add a new layer - fill with foreground color - add bevel:

Deselect

Delete template layer

Activate diamond layer  - with arrow keys position on left hand side of canvas

Duplicate diamond layer - on bottom diamond - apply Effects - edge effects - enhance more

Effects - distortion effects - wind

Activate top diamond layer - merge down

Duplicate - Image - Mirror

Copy and paste your tube - position in the middle - add drop shadow of choice

Activate bottom layer - select all - crop to selection

Activate top layer - add a new layer - fill with on of your color choice - select all - contract by 1 - delete - fill with other color choice - contract by 1 - delete - fill with first color choice - contract by 1 - delete - invert - apply same bevel as before - deselect.

Add copyright and license information and name - merge and save.

Here is another one I made:

I hope you enjoyed !!!

Too Shy, Shy

Supplies Needed:

Tube of choice

VM Distortion - Vision Impossible

VM Instant Art - Tripolis

Let's Begin:

Open a new image 600 x 300

From tube - choose 2 colors - a light/med for your fg and a medium/dark for background.

Set foreground to gradient

Fill canvas with gradient

Apply VM Distortion - Vision Impossible

Selection tool set to rectangle - feather at 0 - select the area shown below:

Promote selection to layer - DO NOT DESELECT

Textures - Weave

VM Instant Art - Tripolis

Deselect

With arrow key - move this layer to far right side

Add drop shadow

Activate bottom layer - with custom selection tool with the settings of top and left - zero  - right and bottom 300 - promote layer to selection - deselect - image - mirror

Paste your tube - resize and position - add drop shadow of choice

Add a new layer - fill with one of your color choices - select all - modify - contract by 2 - fill with other color choice - contract by 2 - fill with first color choice - contract by 2 - delete - apply cut out

Deselect.

Add copyright and license info and name - save!!!

Thriller !!!!!

I have tons of scrap kits and so with them I enjoy making Cellphone and Tablet wallpapers.

These were created using the Book of Spells by Tiny Turtle Designs (I treated myself and got her BMS - which is an incredible deal)

You can find her kits - HERE

Please read my TOU at the top of the page - thanx !!!!

(to save - click on image - right click and save)

TABLET:

CELLPHONE:

Rockin' Robin

Supplies:

Tube of choice 

Texture of choice - I am using one by Vix - you can get her pack HERE

Please check out her entire blog - HERE

Mask of choice - I am using 792 by Rachel Designs - HERE

She has some excellent masks !!!

If you choose your own mask - please select one that has a solid center with just the edges being "masked".

Filter Factory F - Guess Who

Some versions of FF don't include this particular filter - if you need it - you can get it HERE

Mura Meister - Copies

Let's Begin:

Open a new canvas 600 x 600

Copy and paste your tube - resize if you like

Apply Mura Copies - Wallpaper (Rotate) - default settings. Adjust the top number to get complete coverage of your canvas.

Adjust - Blur - Radial Blur

Add a new layer - fill with a complimentary color from your tube.

Apply Filter Factory F - Guess What

Add a new layer - select all - copy your texture and paste into selection- deselect.

Activate the Guess What layer - select all - float - defloat.  Activate your texture layer - invert - delete - deselect.

Change blend mode to Luminance(L) or your preference.  You may wish to lower the opacity.

Merge down.

Activate your bottom layer (the blurred one) and apply your mask - delete - merge group.

Activate the next layer up (the merged texture one) and apply same mask - delete - merge group.

Copy and paste your tube - resize as needed and position.

Add copyright and license info and name.

Save !!!