Web Design and Graphics Room. Thread, Backgrounds

I make my own cards, and have decided to have a go at making backgrounds to put on them.

But I don't know where to start. Can anyone help please?

I have PSP9

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Not really my area, but to assist others fulfil your request.
Are you talking, making your own design, or using a ready made pattern.
I make my own backgrounds for my website and I don't know if its the same method.
As a guess of the top of my head, as an example.
Say you have your card 8 x 6 inches, what I would do is this,
if I wanted a white border around the edge.
In PSP I would locate a pattern and resize it to less than the canvas size to give the border, then paste it centrally on to the card.
The same method should work if you design and paint your own, then save the card after adding any text etc.
I expect that the purists will advocate using layers to do it, I am not up to speed on those.
But basically you have a layer for the card another for the background, another for the text, another for any graphics.
You put all the layer together like a sandwich, then flatten them this joins them all together, then save and print.
There again as I said its not my field, I could be talking a load of old rubbish. :lol:

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CPS, you aren't talking rubbish, I need all the help I can get.
I am talking about making my own designs.

I have sorted out the size, 588 by 832, pixels that is.

I now have to try and sort out what to put on the backgrounds. I am okay with flowers and such, and have managed stripes, though this takes ages (probably taking the long way around), but I suppose its a case of that old book again, Trial and Error!

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OK Marion
One little program that every PC has is MS "Paint" found under accessories.
This is a simple program ideal for what you want to do, many people use it to make Icons and animations.
You can colour one pixel at a time if you wish using a grid,
or just paint without all the bells a whistles of PSP.
It saves in BMP, jpg and gif format, "Paint" is of great help to graphics,
the same as "Notepad" is to HTML code work.
Simple and easy to use and does the job, give it a try.
Here is a test by me as you can see I am no artist.
A drunken spider did the top one.
BTW if you dont get the option to save in jpg or gif, save as bmp open it in PSP and covert it.

Attached Images

	painttest.jpg (19.2 KB, 98 views)
	test2.jpg (18.5 KB, 94 views)

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LOL CPS, I have a feeling that you are more artistic than I am!

Thank you so much, this has really helped me.
Its funny, I know about Paint, but I just never think about using it.

However, since reading your post I had tried it, and it has worked.

So thank you so much CPS, you have made a retired lady very happy

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Marion,
I make all my own cards and even greetings paper if no larger than A4 and the only limit is your imagination.
What graphics programme do you use - I might be able to help.
I recently did this & you will see that the background has been printed with Jorji's Birthday all over it and a 2 toned overall colour.
JJ

Attached Images

jorji.jpg (35.5 KB, 66 views)

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JJ your good at this type of thing, how about giving us all a few lessons on the subject.
I see blending also comes into the equation and I get in a hell of a mess when I try it.
How about it.

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Knowledge is not knowing all the answers,
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Well, thank you kind sir.
Trouble is I just keep on experimenting until I get the desired affect & then the next day -
"how on earth did I do that" is the first question I ask myself!

I also use a combination of programmes - Adobe photoshop elements ( my favourite), MS Publisher and Serif Page Plus 10. I have 5 or 6 others for particular tasks.
So, you see it would be difficult to do a tutorial but I'm happy to help out if I can.

This is a useful site for Photoshop -
http://www.myjanee.com/index.html
some very clever techniques explained very well although my poorly brain soon forgets.

Here is another card with a textured finish & rather clever marble effect on the edge. This is page plus 10.
JJ

Attached Images

mike65.jpg (29.7 KB, 59 views)

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Time may be a great healer, but it's a lousy beautician

OK I understand fully, I often do things and wonder how I did it or I forget how I did it.
My one remaining brain cell wont hold it all. :lol:

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Knowledge is not knowing all the answers,
but knowing where to find the answers.
www.smitheram.co.uk

Moderator of, Web Design/Graphics Room.
P4-XP pro-IE7-B/B-ZA-AVG

JJ, what a lovely card.
I use PSP for most everything to do with pictures.

However, when making my cards, I don't make them on PSP and then print them, I make the designs myself and then put them onto the front of the cards.
This is one I made recently.

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