**Program Tutorials** : Paint Shop Pro : *Element

This tutorial will show you how to make plaid papers in PSP. The screen shots are from PSP X but the same rules apply to 8 & 9.

You will need to start by creating your pattern. Think of it like a small swatch of material. Open a new document – 2 in x 2 in, 300 resolution and transparent back ground.

Now its time to build your plaid. It is important to remember that the width of the lines in your swatch will be smaller in your final paper – so don’t make them too small unless you want the color to be very subtle. Also, you need to consider if you will want a background color, or if you are going to have your lines fill 100% of the space, in which case you will need to be more precise with your stripe sizes.
With your selection tool make a rectangle.

Select a color in foreground of your materials palette. Select the flood fill tool (the paint bucket) and left click inside the marching ants. Deselect {ctrl-D} Now you want to make sure that your rectangle extends all the way to the edges. If every line does not go to the edge of your swatch, you will have holes in your final design. Select your Pick or Deform tool and drag handles to the edge, or even a bit past.

Create duplicates of this layer and space them across, again making sure that the color extends to the edge. I chose to do 4 of this color. Create one additional duplicate layer to use on the horizontal. At this point I want to merge my first 4 stripes into one layer. I’ve found the easiest way to do this is to make my last duplication invisible by clicking on the eye on that layer. Now merge – visible and click on the eye of the single stripe to make it visible again. To rotate this layer, making sure the single stripe layer is highlighted in your layers palette – Click the Image toolbar – Free Rotate – make sure the all layers button is NOT checked and rotate is 90 degrees.

Again make duplicate layers and arrange. Merge these horizontal stripes to one layer. To add some realism, change the blend mode on each layer to Muliply, this will add a darkening where stripes overlap.

Continue making stripes until you have the spaces filled. You will need to start the next color on its own layer.
When you are happy with your swatch, save it. Keeping the swatch image open, open a new document, 12 x 12 (or your usual scrapping size) 300 pixels, transparent. Load your plaid pattern into your foreground color by clicking on your materials palette and selecting it from your drop down window. I added a slight angle just to spice things up.

Once again select your flood tool and fill your blank canvas. If you did not have your stripes touching and have some transparency showing through you will need to add a layer and fill with a contrasting background color. Make sure the new layer is on the bottom. Play with the angles and the textures – or add some inked or grungy edges.

© Copyright 2003-2005 by Scrapbook-Bytes; & original creator/s of tutorials/articles

Top of Page