Crafted Backgrounds

Crafted Backgrounds

I was following a tut for Lace Backgrounds at another site when I stumbled on a different direction for making backgrounds that have rich, bold colors and look handcrafted. Most are done using photos of flowers instead of gradient fills and I think they are amazing!!

	Level: Beginner Tools used: Creative Warp; Diffused Glow Additional needs: Simple Filter; FM Tile Filter: Floral Photo (you can download mine here) or go to PIRC Photo Gallery
Browse for fill	1. Open a white canvass, 150 by 150. Go to Edit/Fill/Image and click File. The button beside the window (... button) will allow you to browse your files for the photo. Click the "fit the image" radio button, then ok.
	2. Next, go to Effects/Artistic/Creative Warp. Hit the reset button first (do this EVERYTIME) then select button number 15.
	3. Next, go to Effects/Photographic/Diffuse Glow. Here lies the secret of getting richer results. The settings I used for this particular photo are a bit high, but still useable: Threshold - 16 Degree of glow - 9 Graininess - 2 Color - White
	4. Go back to Effects/Artistic/Creative Warp, hit RESET, then choose template 5, hit ok
Using Simple/Diamonds	5. You could stop there, go straight to #7 on this tut, but lets go a bit further: Go to Effects, Simple, and Diamonds. There are no settings to worry about on this one, just hit ok.
Using Simple/Zoom and Flip	6. Go back to Effects/Simple, and Zoom Flip. This too has no settings; hit ok.
	7. Go to Effects/FM Tiles/Blend Emboss. This is where you are going to get your best results - the Intensity level is what makes this pop out as a crafted look. For this one, I used a level of 0.297. I never really do anything to the other settings as I have found the Intensity is the key. You can play around with this level and find the setting you like the best!
	8. Alternative method (altho not near as nice) I realize some do not have the FM Tiles Filter, and it costs money now (I got it when it was offered free). You can still get a crafted look, but it will be a very monotone look. Go to Effects/Material Effect/Emboss. I used the light source at the 5 oclock setting, with the depth at 5. You will have to choose your color, and remember it will not be quite as nice as the one done with FM but you can get some really nice results just the same. OR: Go to Effects/Sharpen/Sharpen Use the options button, click on level 1 - anything more than that will wash out the colors.
	There you have it!!! To use these as backgrounds, save them as a JPG and then incorporate into your Easy Palette. If you want to use one right away, open your new canvass, hold down on the L key and drag your background tile to the new canvass (great hint, Hillie!)
from this to this!!	Here is another example. Same principles, but instead of Template 15 (in instruction 2) I used Template #12. Diffuse glow settings at 18/8/2, and finish using the instruction from 4 to finish. Let your mind run free and experiment with different Creative Warp templates, different Diffuse Glow settings, and different photos (nearly all of mine are from photos of flowers; they just seem to make the best!!!)

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Thank you for trying this tut out!