The SoftTouch frame produces a faded vignette effect when applied to an image.  This tutorial is NOT for the frame displayed but for the vignetting which can be applied to any basic frames.

Step 1
Start with a new image, 400 pixels wide and 500 pixels high.

 

Step 2
Using pre shapes, selections or whatever you please, design your base frame (tutorial) with the color set to white;  blade or fill with another color and bevel; then use a drop shadow if you wish; merge all layers visible.

Using either the magic wand and selection/modify/expand in the center of the frame or the lasso tool to select and area inside the edge of the center of the frame.  Invert the selection.

Step 3
Add a new raster layer and using the layer palette or menu, move the new layer down 1 to below the merged frame.

Step 4
Flood fill the selected area with white.

Step 5
Using the layers palette, activate the merged frame layer by clicking on it then reduce the opacity of the softening frame to between 35 and 40.

Step 6
Merge visible layers.

You can skip to Step 13  here if you don't want to add an engraved etching to the frame.

Step 7
For an engraved etching look, add a new layer.
     

Step 8
Setting you font color to white, find a ding font you want to use - I used a font called Fleuron since it's on most computers but any ding font will work fine.  I generally use the solid fill color and to be perfectly honest, I goofed and left the outline color selected.

Step 9
You can apply the font to anywhere on the image since it's on it's own layer.  Use the CTRL/C combination of keys to copy the font while it's still selected, then slide the design where you want it.  Use the CTRL/E key combination to add another image and slide it where you want it.  I added the fonts to the inner corners of this frame - more noticeable in the finished image at the top.

Step 10
Using the layers palette, slide the opacity to between 60 and 75 depending on how bright you want the fleuron.

Step 11
Using the layers menu, merge visible layers.  Add any other decorations you might want to use but keep in mind that what you use is going to be stretched horizontally, vertically or both and may distort what you use so it would be better to use tubes or images for trim that don't need to hold a particular shape to look right.

Step 12
Save the finished frame to your PSP6 or PSP7 frames folder (within the PSP program folder).

Step 13
This is a close-up of the trims I used.  They are simple enough that it won't make any difference which way they are stretched.

Step 14
Minimize the frame - do NOT close it before checking the result - in case you may want to 'undo' and change something.
Open an image that hasn't had the background cleaned off.  From the image menu, select 'Picture Frame'.

Step 15
Find your frame in the drop down list; click on it; then click on next.

Step 16
SoftTouch frames are created to be used 'inside the image borders.  Using it 'outside' the picture area will give you problems.  The whole reason for the frame is to vignette out some of the background to produce a strong focal point to the central part of the image.

Step 17
You should now have a framed image with all but the central area softened or faded.

 

Close Window when Finished

Tutorial by CSGreen
 

Zipped tutorial in PDF format . . . 1234KB