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Paint Shop Pro X

Polaroid Transfer

Image credits » Image * After · morgueFile

For this tutorial you’ll need two images: one that would be the actual photo (which I’ll refer to as photo) and another one to be used as a background texture (which I’ll refer to background).

Open both images in PSP and duplicate each one of them by hitting Shift + D on the keyboard. Close the originals.

Resize both images if needed (the photo must not exceed the background image’s dimensions).

Copy and paste the photo as a new layer on the background image. Name this layer Photo.

Duplicate the Photo layer. Name the duplicate Photo 2.
Make this layer active.
Hit Shift + L to open the Colorize options window.
» Settings: saturation = 0.
Change this layer’s blend mode to Screen and duplicate it. Name the duplicate Photo 3 and make it active.

Go to Adjust » Add/Remove Noise » Add Noise.
» Settings: random, noise = 40%, monochrome checked.
Change this layer’s blend mode to Soft Light.

Note: the following steps are to create the effect of a “ruined” edge, which makes the final image look more realistic.

Make the Photo layer active.

With the Freehand Selection tool, make a selection following the photo’s edges.
» Settings: selection type = smart edge, mode = add, feather = 0, smoothing = 5, antialias = checked, sample merged = unchecked.
Double-click to end the selection and hit Ctrl + Shift + I to invert it.
Hit delete and deselect.

Make the background layer active and duplicate it.
Move the duplicate layer to the top.

Go to Adjust » Automatic Contrast Enhancement.
» Settings: bias = neutral, strength = normal, appearance = natural.
Change this layer’s blend mode to Multiply.

The Automatic Contrast Enhancement option is hidden from the default interface. In order to make it active go to View » Customize » Commands » Unused Commands and drag it to the desired menu.

Now you can choose the best way to blend the edges of the photo with the background (could even be with the Eraser tool at a low opacity) or leave the image as it is.

Photo Manipulation · Jul 29, 2005 ·