I'm sure you've all seen the multiple image picture frames in your local store. I've been meaning to do one of these for ages and a request by Judy Chapman from the Buddies group prompted me to contact her and offer to write up a tutorial for one.

There are so many possible variations to this one depending on the size of the background frame and the size and shape of the picture templates. I hope you have fun with the tutorial and come up with many imaginative designs.

Although this tutorial may seem long (and you may well decide to cut out some of the steps shown) each of the individual steps is quite easy. Just take your time and remember using layers is the secret. If you make a mistake or change your mind you only have to change the particular layer not the whole thing.

You will need:
Paint Shop Pro - you can download a free 30-day trial HERE
I am using Version 9 but this tutorial could be done in earlier versions as well.

A gradient or pattern of your choice.
Tubes or jpegs of your choice.

Remember to save often.

Step 1
Open a new transparent image 720 x 576.
Note - this will print out on A4 or US Letter size paper.
Flood fill with your choice of a linear gradient or pattern.
Adjust > Add/Remove Noise > Add Noise 15%
Uniform and Monochrome checked.

Step 2
Image > Add Borders and add a white 5 pixel border.

Note: If you get a warning box pop up advising it must be a
single layer background just check the option to fix automatically
- sorry I can't remember the exact wording.
All this does is convert the layer to a background layer
which you will then need to promote to a layer to continue the tutorial.

Use the Magic Wand to select the border and add your favourite gold preset.
Keep selected - Selections > Invert.
In the Layer Palette click on Promote Background Layer.
Selections > Modify > Contract by 15.
Delete. Deselect.

Step 3
Use the Magic Wand to select the centre of the layer.
Add a new raster layer (Raster 2) and flood fill with the linear gradient.
Adjust > Add/Remove Noise > Add Noise 15%
Uniform and Monochrome checked.
Deselect.
Send the Raster 2 layer to the bottom and turn it off

Note: it is important to select the centre of the previous layer before adding the drop shadow
otherwise the magic wand will select the shadow area as well.

Step 4
Click on Layer 1 to make it active.
Effects > 3D Effects > Drop Shadow with the following settings:
Vertical & Horizontal Offset = 2
Opacity = 60
Blur = 3
Colour = gold  #D39B3D

Repeat this step again but change the Vertical & Horizontal Offset to -2.
Turn off Raster 1

Step 5
Turn on Raster 2 layer
Use the Magic Wand to select the outside of the layer.
Keep selected - Selections > Invert.
Selections > Modify > Contract by 15.
Delete.
Keep selected.
Add a new raster layer (Raster 3) and flood fill with the linear gradient.
Deselect.
Send the layer to the bottom and turn it off.

Step 6
Click on Raster 2 to make it active.
Effects > 3D Effects > Drop Shadow with the following settings:
Vertical & Horizontal Offset = 2
Opacity = 60
Blur = 3
Colour = medium grey #808080

Repeat this step again but change the Vertical & Horizontal Offset to -2.

Turn on all 3 layers and you should have something like this.

Step 7
Turn off Raster 1 & 2. Activate the Raster 3 layer.
Use the Magic Wand to select the outside of the layer.
Selections > Invert.
Selections > Modify > Contract by 15.
Delete.
Add a new raster layer (Raster 4) and flood fill with the linear gradient.
 Deselect.
Send the layer to the bottom.

Step 8
Click on Raster 3 to make it active.
Effects > 3D Effects > Drop Shadow with the following settings:
Vertical & Horizontal Offset = 2
Opacity = 60
Blur = 3
Colour = dark grey #404040

Repeat this step again but change the Vertical & Horizontal Offset to -2.

Turn on all layers and you should have something like this.

We are now ready to add the individual frame templates.
I am using the rectangle shape but these could be changed to and desired shape.

Step 9
Turn off all layers except Raster 4.
Using the Magic Wand click outside the gradient.
Selections > Invert
This will put the "marching ants" around the outside of the gradient area.
Selections > Modify > Contract by 20.
 

Step 10
Click on the Raster 1 layer and add a new raster layer (Raster 5)
Click on the gradient in the Materials Palette to open the Materials Properties box.
Note: these settings are a guide only and will depend on personal taste and the
type of gradient & pattern you choose.

Change the Angle to 45 and add 1to the number of repeat.

Click in the Texture box on the right hand side
and select an appropriate pattern.

Flood fill Raster 5 layer with the textured gradient pattern.
Deselect.

Step 11
Duplicate the Raster 5 layer twice then turn off the two copy layers.
Turn on all the other layers so you can see the effect.
Click on Raster 5 to make it active.
Click on the Selection Tool and select Rectangle, Mode = Add, Feather = zero.
Draw out a rectangle covering approximately half of the patterned gradient area.

Selections > Invert
Delete.
Deselect.

Step 12
Select the Preset Shape Tool set to Rectangle, Line width 5 with the
Retain style box unchecked and the Create as Vector box checked.
Set the foreground colour to white and the background colour to transparent.
Draw a rectangle around the textured gradient frame.
If necessary adjust the shape using the vector nodes.
When you are happy with the placement of the frame right click in the
Layers Palette and convert the vector layer to a raster layer.

Step 13
Use the Magic Wand to select the white border and flood fill with the
original linear gradient you used in the earlier part of the tutorial.
Go to Effects > 3D Effects > Inner Bevel
and apply the bevel of your choice.
Alternatively you may choose to add your favourite
 gold preset from Super Blade Pro or other plugin.

Step 14
Activate one of the copies of the Raster 5 layer.
Use the Selection Tool as outlined in Step 11, leaving a border between the previous framed area
and draw out a shape on the top right hand side.
Invert the selection and hit delete.
Deselect

Repeat the border process in Steps 12 & 13.

Now repeat the above process for the second copy of Raster 5 for the bottom corner.

Step 15
You are now ready to add tubes or jpegs of your choice.
Be sure to add each one on it's own layer so you can move them around if you wish.
Add a drop shadow to each tube if desired.

Variations

On this one I used a brocade background and applied an inner
bevel to it after merging the frames onto a single layer.
 Also only used a single frame border rather than a build
up of frames in the tutorial. Just experiment and have fun.

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