Lesson #31 - Gradient Borders

Today's tutorial is about making Gradient Borders. Gradients can add another dimension to all your graphics.

Start by opening a new image. 300 X 300 pixels, white background. First let's add a new Layer to work on, Go to Layer\New Raster Layer and click OK in the next window.

On the Materials Palette click on the foreground image and go to the Gradients tab at the top of the next window. (see image below) Click on the image to open the available gradients and choose DuoTone Red Using the same settings as shown below. Choose these same settings for your Background as well if you are using PSP 9 or higher. Make sure that your click the Invert radio button as below.

Now on the Tools Toolbar on the left choose the Rectangle Tool looks like this below, yours may look slightly different depending on the version of PSP you use.

In some versions you may have a choice to choose the rounded corners, in PSP 9 like I use we have to make our own rounded corners. Like this.

If you have an earlier version of PSP, once you have your rounded rectangle on the image use the Flood Fill tool and fill the inside of your rectangle with the gradient.

Don't deSelect just yet, if you are using PSP 9 or above you will have to use the Magic Wand tool and Select the whole rectangle with it raising the tolerance level as needed to choose the complete rectangle.

Your image should look like this now.

Add another Layer, go to Layers\New Raster Layer and click OK. Next go to Selections\Modify\Contract in the next window change the pixels to 10 then click OK.

On the gradient palette click on the foreground bringing up the choice window and unclick the invert button. Now using the Flood Fill Tool again flood fill the rectangle again. Now it should look like this.

Now again go to Selections\Modify\Contract and 10 pixels and click OK. Now it should look like this.

Next go to Layers\Merge\Merge All and OK. Now click your delete key on your keyboard. Then go to Selections\Select None. And there you have your border or frame. I like this effect very much and have used it in many of my borders.

My new Border and frame.

Have Fun!

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