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Saturday, October 18, 2025

Picture Within A Picture Tutorial

 PICTURE WITHIN A PICTURE TUTORIAL


I had made a tag like this many years ago.  I honestly do not recall if this was based off a tutorial, or my own making however, if based off a tutorial from someone else, so much time has passed I'm almost sure it's no longer available.  If it was your tutorial, my apologies and please let me know, and know that it made such an impression that I wanted to share it with others.

This is a very easy, basic kind of tutorial, so good for those who are beginners, are getting used to the program, or have been away for a while and need a "refresher" course!


Note:  underlined words that are also BOLDED - like this - are hyperlinked.


This is the tag we will be making:



Easy level - Basic knowledge of PSP is needed.


Materials Needed


1.  Paint Shop Pro  (used Version 9, but can be done on any version)

2.  Scraps (Optional) - I didn't use any however if you wish to use some - go for it!

3.  WordArt (Optional) - 5snow.png (below, right click/save as)  I have had this word art for a long time, creator unknown.  If anyone knows, please let me know so that I may credit accordingly.  I figured since it was basically text and a snowflake shape, it was safe to use.


4.  Tube/Photo of Choice - "Morning Frosts" by George Hodan, from Public Domain Pictures 

The best kind of "tube" to use is actually a photo, as you will see.  You can use a tube, just know you'll have to fill in some kind of background to complete the area.


Filters Needed 


1.  Filters Unlimited 2 - Borders & Frames  (If you need, you can find it HERE.  If you already have Filters Unlimited 2 and just need the actual filter files, I have uploaded them HERE.  Just use the "Import" function in FU to make them available for use.

2.  Drop Shadow - comes with PSP


Optional Filters (for Name/Text)

1.  Eye Candy 5 Impact - Gradient Glow (you can get this at same link for Filters Unlimited, above)


Fonts used

1.  For name/text:  Rainbow Cake

2.  For copyright info:  Rittswood Red Star


Please note that I typically add my drop shadows last.  I will give the drop shadow settings that I have used at the end of the tutorial HOWEVER feel free to use your own settings if/when you would like.


On to the tutorial!


1.  Install the font(s).  (Alternative:  You can open and minimize the font; it should show in PSP.  I use a font program called Cfont Pro - it temporarily installs the font and will uninstall it when you shut down your computer.)

2.  Open a new file, 700 pixels x 700 pixels, 72 ppi, transparent.  At this time, also Shift+D on your image (this will make a copy of your image) - then close out the original, then minimize it for the time being.  Don't worry, we will be cropping later on - this is to just give you some "elbow room" to create.

3.  Make both the foreground and background color, black.  Once done, activate the Rectangle Tool and, using the following settings, draw a rectangle:

Make sure the rectangle is width:  575.00 and height: 475

Objects > Align > Center of Canvas.  Convert layer to Raster.

4. With the rectangle layer still active, go to Selections > Select All.  Selections > Float.  Selections > Defloat.

5. Copy and paste your image as a new layer.  Move it around until you have it as you would like it WITHIN the "marching ants".  Depending on the size of your image, you may need to resize it before copy/paste.  (My photo was quite large, so I resized it by 45% to make it 768 pixels for the width.)

6.  Once you have it where you want it, activate the image layer and then go to Selections > Invert.  Then click on your DELETE button.  (Keep the marching ants as you'll need them for the next step.)

What you should now have is your photo above the black rectangle "template", something like this:

Feel free to hide the template layer for now.

7.  On the photo layer, go to Selections > Invert.  You should now have it making the photo itself, active (keeping the surrounding area inactive).  Going through Filters Unlimited 2, you are going to "Buttons and Frames" (which is a FU filter) > Glass Frame 2, and use these settings:

8.  Selctions > Select None.

9.  Duplicate framed image layer by 85%.  Be sure "All Layers" is not checked:

10.  At this point you can crop your tag.  Crop tool > Merged Opaque.  And then click on the check mark on the far left.

11.  With the resized image active, place a drop shadow on it. I used the drop shadow that comes with the program (Effects > 3D Effects > Drop Shadow)  You may use what you wish.  I used:

12.  At this point you may add anything additional, such as word art, embellishments - you name it.  I used my Lasso tool to do the top part of the word art, provided, and then copied and pasted as new layer, then resized it by 60%, sharpened it slightly, and then moved it to where I wished.  I applied Eye Candy 5 Impact Gradient Glow with the following settings (using white as the color):

Add drop shadows as desired.  (I didn't)

13.  Add crediting info.  I used the same Eye Candy 4 Impact Gradient Glow however changed the white to a dark blue from the image, and made the glow, smaller, with the little slide towards the bottom.

14.  Add your name and you're done!


Additional Info:

For my name, I used #d9ddf7 for my foreground color and #20243c for my background color.  Size 44, stroke width 2.0.

I put the following drop shadow on name:


Thanks again for trying my tutorial and if you make anything with it, I'd love to see!!!!


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Picture Within A Picture Tutorial

 PICTURE WITHIN A PICTURE TUTORIAL I had made a tag like this many years ago.  I honestly do not recall if this was based off a tutorial, or...