| Insetting Images in PhotoImpact 4.2 | |
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Insetting, or sinking images can be very useful, especially if you like a feeling of 3D. This tutorial will show you a very simple way to inset images into backgrounds and other objects. This effect works very well if you are making interfaces or remotes also. |
1. Open a new image with plenty of room to work. Open the background tile that you are going to use and copy the image to the clipboard (CTRL-C). Select your new blank image and choose Edit-->Fill (or CTRL-F) and select "clipboard data". Your blank image should now be filled with your background tile.
2.
Choose the path tool, selection tool, or text tool, depending
on what you are trying to create. I am going to create a simple
inset bar to match this background, so I chose the path tool,
with the rounded rectangle setting. Draw your path or selection,
or place your text. If you drew a path, change your path to
a selection.
3. Right click on your selection and choose "Convert to Object." Right click on your new object and select "Duplicate." You can also do this by choosing Edit-->Selection-->Convert to Object; and Edit-->Object-->Duplicate.
4. Click on your one of your objects, it really doesn't matter which one. Flood fill it with white, with the following settings:
5. Right click on your white object, and select "Duplicate". Choose one of the white images, and select Format-->Invert. This should make it black. you should now have three objects, one with the background pattern a white object and a black object.
6. Select your black image and line it up so it is exactly on top of the white one, and you can't see any white. Now, move it to the right 2 pixels and up two pixels using your move tool. Move very slowly and watch your lower left hand corner as you move it.
7. Now select your original image, which is the same color as your background or whatever color text you added. You may have to use your easy pallette to find it, where it will be displayed as an object. Move this object on top of the other two objects and centered in between them. You will have to bring the object to the top, by moving it in the easy pallette. The easiest way to center it is to completely cover your black image and then move it down 1 pixel and to the right 1 pixel.
8.
Now, your image is inset, but it looks a little harsh to me.
So, in your easy pallette box, right click on the black image
and select "Properties". This will bring up the object properties
box. Set your transparency to approximately 20-30 percent. You
can adjust this until you get the desired effect. You can also
adjust the soft edge to get a little more blur to your image.
Repeat this on the white object if necessary.
Right click and merge all. Using your selection tool set to rectangle, draw a rectangle as close to your inset image as you can and select Edit-->Crop (CTRL-R) to crop the image. You know have a nice inset image:
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On a highly textured background, the effect is much more dramatic if you use a single color for the center of your bar:
You can achieve the opposite effect by reversing the black and white object's positions, making the image appear to be on top of the background, like the following bar:
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