Memory Photo

For this tutorial you will need:
a family photo
some coordinating background patterns
tubes for decorating

This tutorial was written in PSP 9 but I didn't use any effects that aren't found in earlier versions

Please do not claim my tutorials as your own. Feel free to link to them but please no hot-linking and no scripting. Feel free to send through your group but please send as a link, do not email my tutorials. Thank You!

Let's get started!

1. open a transparent canvas 500 x 500 and flood fill the first layer with white

2. new raster layer

3. activate your selection tool and click on custom selection - it looks like this:

use these settings:

4. flood fill with one of your patterns

5. while still selected modify - contract 6 - invert selection - hit your delete key

6. new raster layer - custom selection with these settings:

7. flood fill with a coordinating pattern - while selected go to modify - contract by 6 - invert selection - delete

8. new raster layer - custom selection with these settings:

flood fill with your first pattern - modify, contract 6 - invert & delete again

9. new raster layer - custom selection with these settings:

flood fill with your second pattern - while selected - modify - contract by 6 - invert & delete

10. hide your first layer (white background) select one of the pattern layers - right click - merge - visible

11. unhide your background - activate your merged layer and lower the opacity until it is soft and muted - mine is at 50 - this is what you should have:

12. new raster layer - pick your selection tool again but this time pick your circle shape- no feather and draw out a circle large enough for your photo

don't worry if it isn't centered, we'll fix that soon - flood fill with white - deselect - now you can click on your move tool and center (I know there is a "center in canvas" feature under Objects/Align, but no matter what I do, mine is grayed out and unavailable so I eyeball it!)

13. while still on your circle layer choose select all - selection float - then create a new raster layer - flood fill this layer with a 3rd coordinating pattern - while selected go to modify - contract by 6 - invert & hit the delete key - now lower the opacity between 50-80 depending on the intensity of the colors in your pattern - you should have something like this:

14. now we're ready for your photo - open your picture - use your selection tool set to circle & you can set it to feather or not depending on whether you prefer a clean edge or a misted one - I set it to feather by 6 - pull a circle out around your image - copy - activate the image we're working on & paste as a new layer - center

*note* my selected area was larger than my patterned circle so I just resized it - how much edge you leave is up to you - if you are going to embellish the edge and still want to see the pattern, you will need to leave more of an edge than if you are going to leave the photo as

15. if your photo seems too bright, lower the opacity on it as well - I lowered mine to 85 because it seemed to brash against the soft muted background

16. from this point on it is up to you how you would like to embellish your Memory Photo - use tubes of flowers, lace, buttons & ribbon - you can use planes or ships if they were in the service or something pertaining to their occupation or hobbies - get creative!

17. after you have finished decorating add whatever text & effects you like
now that you have finished with the final pretty touches, we will frame our Memory Photo

18. merge all - flatten - add border symmetric size 2 - select with magic wand and use Blade Pro, Ulead Art Texture, or flood fill with a gold pattern

19. add drop a shadow H & V 2 Opacity 60 Blur 9 then again with H & V -2 - deselect

20. add a border of 10 - select with magic wand - fill with a color from one of your patterns - go to effects - texture effects -texture and choose a texture you like - this was my choice:

deselect

21. add a border of 2 apply the same gold setting previously used - deselect

22. add a border of 20 & flood fill with the color from your pattern - apply an inner bevel with Eye Candy Bevel Boss or these settings:

23. resize and your done! I chose a simple framing method because I don't have the patience for all that add a border, add a border, add a border! You may love to makes frames, in which case, have a blast!

I hope you enjoyed making your Memory Photo!

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Lady Christmas tested this tutorial for me. Hers turned out so beautifully. Thank you!