Tutorial: A way to create seamless patterned backgrounds using MS Paint,
sTile and PSP 9.
1. Open and select New File in MS Paint.
2. Under Image, go to Attributes. Enter 200 for width and height.
3. Select "Edit Colors" under Color. Use a variety of hues and colors - don't make it too bright or dark. You can make a pattern but you don't need to. Fill almost or all of the space with color - don't leave large areas of white. I used horizontal and vertical stripes of varying widths overlapping each other, for example.
4. Save your image as a jpeg file.
You can call it "paint block" if you'd like.
5. Open up your file in sTile.
6. Go to Effects > Distortions. try a number of different distortions, you can use the same distortion more than once: Sinewave l/r, Twist, Whirl Punch 2x, Twist, Astroid, Fisheye, Astroid. Try various distortions. Remember to use the undo button if you don't like the effect. (You can undo multiple times in sTile.) Once you have something you like, go to the next step. You may want to have a couple of variations, so save one and create another.
7. Click Image(to the left of Effects). Move mouse down to seamless but do not click, select 4 Way Flip option. Review your result. If you're not satisfied, undo and return to effects.
8. Click "4 Way Flip" again - you will have an image that is 800x800. Your final image should be 800 (height) by 1340-1400 (width). There are two ways to accomplish this:
9. Go to Effects> Size/Aspect. Select Resize Smooth. set width at 84%, height at 50%. This will skew your pattern, flattening it somewhat.
10. Go to Image> Seamless> 4 Way Flip one more time. Your Image is 1344 (width) x 800 (height)
9a.(alternate) Save 800 by 800 image as a jpg file, renamed. Close Stile and return to MS Paint. Open up image in MS Paint Image> Attribute, select width as 1600, height should already say 800.
Under Edit, go to paste from and call up same image. CAREFULLY paste this square so it is perfectly aligned to your first square. The larger the image, the harder this is to do, but it can be done. The advantage to this way is that you don't skew your pattern. (If this doesn't work for you, don't save the file. Return to sTile and do it the other way.)
10 alternate. Once the background is set, return to Image> Attribute and enter 1350 for your width. KEEP your height at 800. If you don't, your background won't be seamless. Save as a jpeg and return to sTile. Call image up in sTile.
11. Save this background, using it's primary color as part of your name.
12. Go to Effects> Color> Color Rotate. Color will change. If you like it, save it (using it's primary color in the name). Repeat this sequence again. A second change appears. Again if you like it, save it. You may get up to 3 backgrounds you like - your original, and two versions in different colors.
12a. Try also Effects> Color> Negative on each color rotation. You can get beautiful results here! Return to this step again and the one above after you use pattern in PSP 9. Try waves on your blue or turquoise PSP pattern, if you have one.
13. You may want to try Effects> Distortions> Waves. I find this sometimes works out nicely if your background has adequate contrast. Again, save as a new background if you like the result.
14. Close sTile and open Paint Shop Pro. Open one of your files created in sTile. Click on Effects> Reflection Effects> Pattern.
15. There are presets you can enter. Stick with changing the angle, the number of columns and the number of rows. View the preview window to your right. When you see something you like, click ok.
If you still like it, save it under a new name as a jpg file. If you don't like it, click the undo arrow. Try 8 columns, 4 rows at varying angles. The higher the number of columns and rows, the tighter and smaller your pattern will be.
You can try effects under Texture, in the same column, right above Reflection effects. Mosaic and weave are cool.
16. Reminder. Save each time under a slightly different name each time you want to keep a variation of your border.
I hope this has been helpful and not too confusing. I found this out by experimentation myself, so I highly encourage that you experiment.
sTile is especially great for that!
Reply on the tutorial page with any questions you have or clarification you need. Also, leave a link or two to your finished work there, once you post it.
Have fun!
Please tell me what you think
Comments
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thanks Sweetie. You did good with this. It was very easy to understand and follow. thanks for everything. Ready for my next one.
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This worked really well for me, Joyce. I have been having such problems with the seamless tiles, but this was very helpful. I'm putting this in my file so that I can learn it well. Thank you.
Patricia 
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