How are these background effects created?

[RickDawson]

Hi.
This is my first post here.

I have collected a selection of various backgrounds. (www.richarddawson.co.uk/background graphics)
I am looking to create some similar backgrounds myself, for the new design of one of my sites.

I have PaintShopPro v7.
How would I go about doing these / similar background effects in psp v7 ?

Rick.

[jamesmc]

Hi and Welcome to the PSP Forum!

I'm not sure if I would call those backgrounds as I would banners. The banners do have backgrounds of course.

If you will look at some of them closely, they are made up of several components. They have:

I edited this and added the banner so you can see it can be done in PSP.
Instructions to follow...

• a rounded corner rectangle
• a linear or gradient fill
• a pattern mixed with the fill
• some artwork on the fill

Okay, let's start with the rounded corner rectangle. This may be for the benefit of others who may not know how to do this even though you might.

Select the rectangle tool, and then on the toolbar select the horizontal radius and the vertical radius to an equal number. It my example below is it six.
I will post next on gradient and linear fills. But have to do some other things first, so will be back later.

[jamesmc]

Now, let's learn how to make our own personalized gradient fills. If you know the location of the Materials box, click on the Gradient Tab.

1. Gradient Fills can be edited.
   
2. Click on the Gradient Tab and Click on EDIT.
   
3. Click on NEW and choose a name for your New Gradient.
   
4. A dialog box will show up that has a slider bar with adjustment markers on each end.
   
5. Click on the far right slider adjustment marker.
   
6. Click on the Custom Color Box just to the left of the slider adjustment.
7. (We will be choosing a dark color first)
   
8. Click on the far left slider adjustment marker.
   
9. Choose a light color for your fill.
   
10. Click on the Style Gradient and choose the far left one which is linear fill.
    
11. Now Click on the box above Edit and drag the arrow in the box until the
12. lighter part is on the bottom and the dark part of the fill is on the top.
    
13. Click okay.

Draw a rectangle with rounded corners and you should be able to see your new gradient fill.

[jamesmc]

Click on the Gradient Tab and Click on EDIT.

Click on NEW and choose a name for your New Gradient.

[jamesmc]

A dialog box will show up that has a slider bar with adjustment markers on each end.
Click on the far right slider adjustment marker.

[jamesmc]

Click on the Custom Color Box just to the left of the slider adjustment.
(We will be choosing a dark color first)
Do the same procedure for the left adjustment marker which will be lighter part of our gradient.

[jamesmc]

Click on the Style Gradient and choose the far left one which is linear

fill.

Now Click on the box above Edit and drag the arrow in the box until the
lighter part is on the bottom and the dark part of the fill is on the
top.

Click okay.

Draw a rectangle with rounded corners and you should be able to see your new gradient fill.

[jamesmc]

Now let's fancy the rounded corner box with our gradient with a texture.
Instructions are in the graphic.

[jamesmc]

Next time we will add graphics to our new rounded corner rectangle with it's texture and gradient fill. Till then have a good evening.

[jamesmc]

Okay, this next part will add a graphic or two to our image. You can use the graphics of your choice and of course text patterns if you wish.

The objectives of this tutorial is not to show you an attractive graphic, but to perhaps introduce you to new tools and a way of doing them. There are as many ways to do something in PSP as there are people.

Objectives to learn:

• Displacement mapping
• Layering
• Selection Tool Use (Rectangle and Magic Wand)
• Gradient fills
• Layer pallet transparency levels
• And just maybe some great ideas on how to proceed to make your own
• graphics that people will puzzle about how you made them.