Making Simple Papers in PSE2

by Barbara Snyder

There are infinite numbers of ways to create a background in PSE2. I encourage you to use these instructions as a starting point and experiment, trying different filters, brushes and effects.

First, start by opening a file: File>New.

Set your file size as is appropriate for your project; for demonstration purposes, start by setting height and width to 12 inches and resolution to 300 pixels/inch. Mode should be set on RGB. Under Contents, click "white". Click on "OK".

Now the file is open and color may be applied. A Color Scheme from many of the online scrapbooking communities may be used. This file also may be found in the Color Splash Gallery here at BarbaraS Shares. This file was saved by right clicking on the picture, clicking on Save Picture, and saved to the computer. Open the file in PSE2 by dragging the image into the workspace. Keep it open on the PSE2 screen while work is in progress.

Note that the foreground/background color boxes at the lower part of the tool palette. (The default colors are black/white. Click on the little black and white boxes to change to the default colors. To switch the order of the background and foreground colors, click on the crooked arrow to the upper right corner of the boxes).

Choose the Eyedropper tool in the tool box, and click on the color desired. The color chosen will now be viewable in the Foreground/Background color palette box in the tool palette.

Click on the Paint Bucket in the Tool Box. Click on the new file. The file should now be filled with the color chosen.

The next step is to explore some of the simple filters we may apply to the file. In the top tool bar, click on Filter>Add Noise. A box will open; making sure the Preview box is checked, choose Uniform or Gaussian. Play with the slider until a pleasing effect is achieved. Explore the differences in the effect by choosing/unchoosing Monochromatic.

Save this file, giving it an appropriate name, and close.

Open a new file and size it as previously. The next paper is an easy and subtle paper. Two colors will be chosen to make this paper. First click on the crooked arrow to the upper right of the Foreground/Background color boxes. This will move the foreground color to the background color. Choose another color from the palette with the eyedropper and notice that the foreground color is now changed. Now choose Filter>Render>Clouds and watch the magic. Choosing Filter>Clouds will change it again. Play until a pleasing effect is achieved and save again.

Start with the basic color file again—File—New—size 12in. x 12 in, 300 ppi, white background—fill with a color. Choose Filter>Texture>Craquelure. Experiment with the other textures, such as Mosaic Tiles, Patchwork and Stained Glass. Save as you make an image pleasing to you.

One of the more complex Filter>Texture effects is Grain. Start with the original color-filled file. Choose Filter>Texture>Grain. Play with the sliders and the "grain type" drop down box to achieve quite different effects.

The last effect to be addressed in this tutorial about making simple papers in PSE2 is the Texturizer filter. Choose Filter>Texture>Texturizer. Play with the different settings of Texture, Scaling, Relief, Light Direction and Invert. There is a choice for Load Texture, but that is a little more complicated and will be addressed in another tutorial.

Changing the color of a file is very easy and will expand one simple paper into infinite numbers of different colored papers. A simple way to change color is to click on Enhance Enhance>Adjust Color>Color Variations.

A box will open and from there you can choose different variations.

Click on the color you like from the choices at the bottom of the screen. You may find that adjusting the Midtones and Saturation are the choices that work best with this kind of file, but do try all the choices, adjusting the slider to see the effect. The newly chosen color will jump into the "After" side of the two boxes at the top of the screen. If you don’t like the last step you did, press "undo". If you want to start over, press "Reset Image". Save each file as you find one you like. Enjoy experimenting and creating!