> Software Tutorials> PhotoImpact & GIF Animator> Creating Special Effects

Create a Vignette (Soft Fade) Effect
A vignette, or soft fade, is a popular photo effect where the photo gradually fades into the background, usually in an oval shape. Using mask mode in PhotoImpact, you can preview the effect before applying it.

Use Grayscale Masks For Edge Effects in PhotoImpact
Learn how to use the free grayscale masks on this site with PhotoImpact's mask feature to create interesting edge effects for your photos.

3 Ways to Create a Glass Ball
Create a glass sphere using Eye Candy 3, the path tool, or without filters.

Drop Shadow Text
Add a drop shadow to text in Ulead PhotoImpact 4.2.

Creating a Mirror Image
how to create a mirrored image effect in PhotoImpact 4.2.

Easy Beveled Text
How to make beveled text in Ulead PhotoImpact 4.2.

Easy Curved Text
How to make curved text in Ulead PhotoImpact 4.2.

Erasing Images
Make PhotoImpact act like the eraser tool in Paint Shop Pro.

Horizon
Create the effect of a horizon with perspective in PhotoImpact 4.2.

Insetting Images
Create a 3D inset effect for images or text in PI 4.2.

Muted Background
Create a light colored background from an existing image in PI 4.2. Also tips for using muted backgrounds.

Outlined Text
How to make outlined text in Ulead PhotoImpact 4.2.

Perspective Shadow
Create a perspective shadow in PhotoImpact 4.2 without using plug-in filters.

Artistic Selections
"Use selections and various effects to give your photos and other images a creative and modernistic look." Beginner level for PhotoImpact 8

Carved Wood
This beginners tutorial shows you how to create a wood carved effect in PhotoImpact 6.

Creating Fire Opals (Snapshot Tutorial)
A brief recipe for a fire opal gemstone.

Creating, Saving & Using a Techno Mask
This tutorial intends to show you how to create an image which will be converted to grayscale so it can be used as a "techno" mask, how to store it in your easy palette as a mask and then one way that mask can be used.

Cross-Stitch Sampler
Create an easy cross-stitch sampler (complete with a zipped file of 12 colors of crosses and 1 bead for download).

Crumpled Silk Background
Create a silk background using Paint Tools/Paintbrush, Retouch Tools/Smudge, EasyPalette/Effect Gallery/Texture, Effect/Blur, Format (Brightness & Contrast, Color Balance). Intermediate level for PhotoImpact 8

Cutout Buttons
Making cutout Web page buttons with PhotoImpact 4.2.

Cutout Text
One simple method of creating cutout text in PhotoImpact 6.

Cutouts 2
A new way of making cutouts in PhotoImpact 4.

Doodle Background Tiles
Hey, don't throw those doodles and goof-ups away! Create seamless background tiles from your doodle drawings.

Doodle Tiles Plus!
"Turn your doodles into exciting colorful seamless background tiles! It's so easy you to do and you won't believe the great results! You'll also learn how to use photos and other images to create even more variations." Beginner level for PhotoImpact 8

Drop Shadows
Explore the variety of effects you can achieve by using drop shadows in different ways.

Easy Cut-Outs
Create a cutout effect for text or logos in a textured background. Beginner level for PhotoImpact 7 or 8.

Easy Scan Lines
Create scan lines and add them to images for an interlacing effect.

Easy Snow Capped Lettering Snapshot
Create snow-capped letters in Photoimpact 7 or 8.

Easy Stained Glass
Turn line art into colorful stained glass images with the native tools in PhotoImpact 6.

Embossed Background Tile
Make an embossed background tile from a photograph in PhotoImpact 4.

Etched Glass
Create the look of etched glass in PhotoImpact.

Frame it in Plaid
"Create your own plaid tiles using several filters, then use the new tile to create a coordinated border for the image used in making the plaid. Uses Simple Filters and Horizonus' Stripes are In filter." Beginner level for PhotoImpact 8

Gingham Tiles
Create classic checkered gingham print patterns in any color you choose. Use them for backgrounds, fills, and more. PhotoImpact 6.0.

Lets Do Some Colourizing
Colourizing a photograph can be so much fun, but why stick to traditional looks when you really want something quick and simple to do, with outstanding results? Stay with me and I'll show you how easy it can be.

Logo Effects Using Wrap and Bend Effects
From Ulead: Text becomes cooler if you bend, wrap and turn it loose.

Making Plaid Using Filters
Use free filters in PhotoImpact 6 to make plaid patterns.

Mediterranean Wall/Floor Tiles
Create a tiled effect using PhotoImpact 7.

Moving The Lights
Two methods for changing the lighting on an object.

Photo Swirl
Follow this tutorial for PhotoImpact 6 to learn how to make a Photo Swirl. Download included.

Photo Textures
Make a texture by adding gold or silver metallic highlights to a photograph in PhotoImpact 4.

Polkadot Tiles
Create colorful polka-dot patterns for backgrounds, fills, and more. PI6.

Quick & Easy Stained Glass
This snapshot tutorial will show you how to create a stained glass window effect in PI 6.

Quick Jigsaw Pieces
This snapshot tutorial shows you how to cut up a photo into jigsaw puzzle pieces with PI 6.

Quick Needlepoint
Add needlepoint effects to your pictures with a free filter.

Recipes for Gold
Ten different recipes for various shades and textures of metallic gold.

Saturn's Rings Tutorial
Use the new Z-Merge feature, 3D rotation, and path tools to create Saturn's rings using PI 7.

Sculptured Rug Effect
Learn to create a sculptured pile rug effect. Requires Eye Candy 3, Ulead PhotoImpact 7

Seamless Muted Tile
Turn any image into a muted background tile without third-party filters.

Sketching
You can achieve quick and easy sketches using the Color Sketch Task with Quick Command. Ulead PhotoImpact 7

Snowflake Tutorial
Create snowflake designs using PhotoImpact 6 and some free filters.

Stained Glass Heart Frame
Beginner level tutorial for creating a stained glass heart frame. Includes a zip file of glass samples, and the pattern file you will need to complete the tutorial.

Stained Glass Tiles
No more searching the net looking for that specific stained glass tile. Now you can make your own and in colors of your choice! It's easy, it's fun. Start your own Stained Glass library today. Create a variety of colors in a matter of minutes. Version 6.

Stained Glass Tutorial
How to duplicate the look of stained glass in PhotoImpact 4.

Striping Your Images - Part 1
From Ulead: Learn to use mask selections to add "stripes" to your images. Version 7.

Striping Your Images - Part 2
From Ulead: Learn how to create and apply stripes presets to path objects. Version 7.

Text on a Curve
"Get fancy with your text. Add it to a custom curve and get exactly what you want." Beginner level for PhotoImpact 8

Texturizing Without Plugins
Add texture to your images without using third-part plug-ins. PI 6.

Tortoise Shell Seamless Tile
Use the creative Painting tool in PI 5 to create a tortoise shell seamless pattern.

Z-Merge Video Wall
From Stephanie Baker-Thomas: "Use the new Z-merge tool to make a single object that serves as the building block for a high tech video wall."