| Making A Divider Bar |
1. Open a new image use the same settings as here.  2. Open the graphic you want to use. Resize if necessary. 3. Click Edit/Copy 4. Click on your background strip then click Edit/Paste as new layer. 5. Move the graphic to the extreme left edge of the strip leaving an area of white background top and bottom of the graphic.  6. Click on Layers/Merge All (flatten). 7. With the dropper tool take a colour from the image, apply the colour with either the spray can, or the paint bucket. Use filters if you want to, to add texture and colour to the background. 8. With the selection tool, make a selection the height of the graphic, and 10-15px wide, like this  9. Select a colour from the graphic or background and flood fill the bar.  If you want to use filters on the bar to add texture and interest, do so now. 11. Select another much narrower rectangle alongside the first like this  12. Select a dark colour and use the spray can to fill the rectangle. 13. Click Edit/Copy merged Edit/Paste as new layer. Move the new thin rectangle to the other side of the bar.  14. click Layers/Merge All (flatten). 15. Select the bar, like this  16. Click on Image/Effects/Drop Shadow. Apply a drop shadow, set the box up like this  17. Select the entire piece of stationery, and crop to selection (just below the top and bottom of the graphic, like this  The reason for doing this, is so that there are no hideous white lines when the graphics come together in the Outlook Express window. 
Sue C - SJC Designs |