Making a picture composition

[cadudesun]

Hello,

In the picture attachted there is a compostition I made through PhotoScape (I just have come from this software). I would appreciate some help to learn how to do it in PaintShop X4. My traditional-old steps:

a) First I applied in each photo picture a picture frame (like a shadow).

b) Second I join all photo picture and logos in a big picture.

c) I inserted titles (people name) bellow each photo.

d) To conclude I applied a picture frame to the big picture (in PhotoScape this frame is called “shadow border”).

Just a comment: It seems Corel PaintShop has mostly “cartoon” picture frames. I tried to find out something like “PhotoScape shadow border” without success. Is there something similar available in PaintShop? Is it possible to add new picture frames to the PaintShop library?

Many many thanks in advance,
Cadu

[LeviFiction]

Yes it is possible to add your own custom picture frames to PSP. Sadly having never done so myself I'm not overly familiar with the process. You do need to save the image in the "Frames" folder in your My Documents\Corel PaintShop Pro\14.0\ folder.

Since you're just adding a shadow to it I could suggest just using the Drop Shadow effect. So here's what you would do.

1) Create a new image the size you want the final image to be.

2) Copy each image onto the new image as its own layer

3) Position each layer where you want them.

4) Apply the drop shadow (Effects -> 3D effects -> Drop Shadow) to each layer for that framed effect.

[flagpole]

I took the liberty of doing a quick mock-up. i thought if you could see the pspimage file it might be easier to follow.

so here it is https://rapidshare.com/files/852288103/ ... o.pspimage

basically to create the border i have just enlarged the canvas, put a new white layer behind, and used drop shadow with no displacement and lots of blur on the original layer.

looking more closely your image may have a little displacement on the drop shadow too. my tip would to add drop shadow on a new layer then you can make it darker or lighter or move it if you desire.

Image3.png (70.01 KiB) Viewed 3179 times

[cadudesun]

Thanks for information and valuable help!!!

I couldn’t make all steps yet. But I would appreciate additional help to clarify some steps:

a) I save the “composition” (with layers, vectors etc.) as “PSPIMAGE” type. Is it the default file type to save this kind of project?

b) Creating “New Image”=> what is the best usual configuration to “resolution” and “color depth”?

c) In image attached (the PSPIMAGE is available at http://www.4shared.com/file/E-t2QbSl/Te ... ition.html) the size of background layer is too big. I need to adjust it reducing right side (white right part of the picture). How to do it?

d) I applied drop shadow (Effects -> 3D effects -> Drop Shadow) to the man picture. Now I want to come back to reconfigure the effect applied before. How to access the effects after have applied them?

[LeviFiction]

a) That is the default format and it's best to use that when working on these kinds of compositions because it'll maintain everything for you.

b) Resolution should be set for what you intend to do with it. Resolution is usually only useful if you intend to print the result. If you only intend to make an image for the web or something then resolution won't matter.

Color depth is default at 8-bit color. That's standard. You can do 16-bit but that's unnecessary.

c) Go to Image->Canvas Size to resize the canvas or you can use "Crop" and define the area you want and just lop off the extra areas.

d) The filters like those actually edit the layer, you cannot edit them. You can re-do them (it's best if you apply the shadow as its own layer for this reason. And if you apply the shadow on its own layer you can just move it around without having to redo the effect.

There is a second option, called Layer Styles, that allow you to use dynamic effects that you can change the values at any time. These are less powerful and less precise, also slower to render and very annoying, that you can use instead for the drop shadow.

Double-click on the layer you wnat to add the layer style to and the properties dialog should pop up (you can also right-click and select layer properties) and you'll see a "Layer Styles" tab. Select that, turn on "Drop Shadow" and use the property sliders to effect it. Drag the light source orb to adjust where the light is coming from.

[cadudesun]

c) For me "crop" worked better than resize canvas (easier to handle).

My "making a picture composition" quest is done!!!

Thanks everybody for support.

Best,
Cadu