PART 4
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INTRO | 1 | 2 | 3
Adv. Section
Quick Steps

CONCLUSION

- That's it ! Very Simple. It may seem as if there were many steps involved but the basic tutorial is presented so that even beginners can follow it, with every step explained in detail. To see just how few steps there really are in this process and just how easy it is to create torn edges in PhotoPaint 8, please see the Quick Steps summary below.

WEB PAGE BACKGROUNDS

To use same the torn edge as a background for a Web page, the width of the page should be at least 1024 pixels.

- SimplY choose ‘Image/Paper size', UUncheck the ‘Maintain aspect ratio' box, change the width to 1024 and the placement to centre-left, then click OK.

Viola - instant web page background.

FILLING THE RHS WHITE SPACE

Before combining all the layers, you may wish to add a fill instead of the RHS white area.
(DON'T FORGET TO REMOVE ANY MASKS FIRST!).

This is best achieved by adding another object, moving it to just above the background layer, then filling this. If you just fill the background, you won't be able to adjust or modify many of that fill layer's properties since it is a background object. You can even use the same fill as previously, and change the transparency or the brightness to make it more ‘writable'.

QUICK STEPS (SUMMARY).

For those of you who are already adept at using Corel PhotoPaint, here is a simplified, concise summary of the steps required to create torn edges:

1. Create a new image 200x200x72 white RGB.
2. Add a new object layer.
3. Select the custom brush, enable orbits with the 'dirt' preset with a radius of 8. Change the brush nib to round, size 8. Draw a black, erratic vertical line from top to bottom. If you aren't using PP8, just shake a bit when drawing the line. A square nib shape may be better (more jagged) if using PP7 or lower.
4. Fill the LHS with black using a thick, black paint brush.
5. Apply a displacement filter (sand, h=7, v=0, stretch, repeat). Fill any holes in the black area with black.
6. Apply the offset filter (h=100, v=50, wrap).
7. Create a mask from the object and save it as a channel.
8. Expand the mask by 2 pixels, then feather the mask by 2 pixels. Save the mask as another channel.
9. Create a new object layer and select it.
10. With the most recently saved mask still loaded, fill the object with a paper texture tile.
11. Add a drop shadow to this object (flat, 315 degrees, offset=3, opacity=90%, feather width=10, direction=average.
12. Ungroup the object from its drop shadow and select the object only. Change its merge mode to Add with an opacity of 86%.
13. Create a new object. Load the first mask. Fill the object with the same fill and then move the object 2 pixels to the left. - Done, That's it !.

Please visit the next section which describes several methods you can use to enhance the basic torn edge method, including adding larger rips, water surfaces, and the torn text used as the title for this tutorial.

Created and produced by David Mutch PhD, Visionary Voyager Corporation (ACN 085 264 080).
Melbourne, Australia. Copyright ©, 1999. All rights reserved.
These tutorials may be used freely by users of Corel^® Corporation's graphics applications. However, all custom graphics, design, programming and layout remain the property of Visionary Voyager Corporation. Comments, suggestions and questions are most welcome.
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