page title button example
Skill Level: Beginner
Author:  Merlene Guldager
Home Page: Gold Acres Designs
Software: PhotoImpact

What you will need:

PhotoImpact 7 or later
The Simple Filters Plugin.
A photo of your choice or you may use mine.
This tutorial uses Guassian Blur, Puzzle & Ripple Effects and Simple Diamond from the Simple Filters.
You should be using Standard Mode or Full Edit (or your custom mode based on one of these), depending on what version of PI you have. If yours doesn't have either, then you don't need to worry about it.
NOTE About Different version of PI:
If you are using 11 or higher, you will find things have been moved around. I have tried to correct all of those in the text of the tutorial, but just in case I miss something... The FORMAT menu is now devided between PHOTO and ADJUST. For the most part the division of things is logical. Resizing an Image is under ADJUST, Blurring an image is under PHOTO and so on.








1.   Download and install the Simple Filters. If you need help to install them go here.
2.  Preparing the image.
  • open your photo and click Contol + d, or right click and choose Duplicate
  • close the original
  • FORMAT/Dimensions or FORMAT/Image Size or ADJUST/Image Size
  • uncheck KEEP ASPECT RATIO
  • height = 300 pixels
  • width = 300 pixels
  • click OK
  • EFFECT/BLUR/Gaussian Blur (or PHOTO/BLUR/Guassian Blur
  • click the OPTIONS button change the amount to 15 to 25. All you want to remain is a blur of color.
  • Click OK
example
3.  Adding the lines that make the squares.
  • EFFECT/SPECIAL/Puzzle or
    EFFECT/MATERIAL EFFECT/Puzzle or
    EFFECT/FILLS & TEXTURES/Puzzle
  • start by changing the number to 25
  • click on the right thumbnail and move it around so you can see each edge
  • adjust the number until there are no partial blocks showing on any of the edges
  • my example worked at 30, but each photo is slightly different.
  • click OK
example
4.  Making the lines wavy.
  • EFFECT/DISORT/Ripple or EFFECT/3D/Ripple
  • click the OPTIONS button
  • direction = edge
  • frequency = low
  • amplitude = 60 click OK
 example
5.  Making the Diamonds.
  • EFFECT/SIMPLE/Diamonds.
  • Accept the defaults and click OK or APPLY.
6.  Lighten the tile.
  • EDIT/FILL
  • Color = White
  • Merge = Always
  • Transparency = 50%
  • click OK
example
7.  Optimize and save as jpg.