Hey there :P Welcome to my House of Design where I put up tutorials and other things relating to web design here (note: all of these tutorials are for adobe photoshop, but they can be converted). This is my little "give back" to neopets, so I hope you appreciate it as much I as appreciate you guys. Please do not steal my tutorials for your website, petpage, etc. Anyways, that's basically the end of the intro :D Have fun with the tutorial(s) and feel free to neomail me with your creations. Who knows, I might even put them on here :) DISCLAIMER: My tutorials require *basic* knowledge of adobe photoshop.

Take your images. I decided to use http://www.nicole-richie.org/gallery/photoshoots/harper/001.jpg and http://www.nicole-richie.org/gallery/photoshoots/harper/002.jpg. Of course, you can always use more than two images - but for simplicity's sake, I'm using two for the tutorial.

Next, make a blank image with a white background (size: 1024x768). If you don't know how to do this, just go to file > new.

Place both images on the blank image you just created. It should look like this: http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/2431/nr1vu.jpg

Now to the actual blending. On your tools, you should see a lasso right. Screen cap: http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/6356/nr28yf.jpg

At the top of your toolbar, there should be something that says Feather: __px. Type 20 in the px area, and make sure the anti-aliased box is checked. Like this: http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/5927/nr36lk.jpg

Next, start using the lasso. Outline the areas that you want to be blended. When you're done outlining, click delete on your keyboard or CTRL†X. You should get something like this: http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/8562/nr45zu.jpg

Keep doing this until everything is blended in the way you want it to be. After it is, merge your layers (CTRL†E) or Layers > Flatten Image.

Crop out your blend the way you think it would look nice. This is what I have so far: http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/6816/nr55tk.jpg

Now that you have a pretty blend, we're going to spice it up a bit with some effects. Of course, you can stop here and glam up your blend any way you want. Or you could continue with the way I usually spice mine up.

1. Because this is a huge blend, i'm resizing it a bit. You can keep it the same size if you'd like. 2. Sharpen once (filter > sharpen > sharpen) 3. Duplicate your layer (or blend in this case) by going to Layer > duplicate layer. Desaturate it by going to Image > Adjustments > Desaturate. Change the top most layer mode to screen. 4. Make a new layer and fill it in with this color 103B71 with a layer mode of Lighten at 100% opacity. 5. Make a new layer and fill it in with this color F28CCD with a layer mode of Overlay at 65%. 6. Make a new layer and fill it in with this color F2E28C with a layer mode of Overlay at 40%. 7. Merge your layers (Layers > Flatten image).

Now you can just add text, a border, and a texture if you want :)

Have a question for me about design or how I have achieved a certain effect that I might not have mentioned here on my page? If not, you can always request a tutorial :) Neomail me at soldmysmilex and i'll include your question and answer here.

Q: can you make a tutorial for blending?
A: Sure :) I'll have it up the day after Christmas.

Have you tried out one of my tutorials and were pleased with the results? Or maybe you just want to say thanks? Neomail me at soldmysmilex and i'll put your testimonial here along with your username :D

radioabuse, "ava, you are so great, , thanks for the tutorials
77words, "ava, it was so nice of you to help everyone out like this with the tutorials and all. keep up the good work and keep on loving life =) merry christmas and a happy new year!"
x_adriana, "you probably dont know me but i wanted to thank you for the tutorial! you rock XD"
citylightsx, "Hi Ava I just wanted to say thanks for creating the page. I've always admired your graphics and how you weren't afraid to try new things and i noticed that you were always polite in guilds and never acted snobby like some other recognized people have. So just wanted to say thanks and keep up the great work! =)
soulessxsoldier, "ahh thanks for that tutorial ava! I could never figure out how to add that screen effect to images, but you have enlightened me (: thanks again darling"
supermodella, "omg. your tutorials are the best. ilu. xD"
brokencatalyst, "loveing them!
boldpoison, "Wow, ava, i really like this page! It is so help ful *two thumbs up* I suggest this page to anyone who wants to have succesful grafics! ^^ thanks so much, i can't WAIT 'till you add more!!
ohmissmassie, "That tutorial was awsome!
celebxicon, "Ava, thanks you for suppling neopets with your wonderful tutorial(s) they rock you are a great person please continue to do what you do. <333 from an on-looker aka. carmen =^)
beachscene, "Ava, your tutorials are sooo amazing! you are an AWESOME graphic maker and I hope that you continue to make great graphics. Keep it up! =) Loveee -Vicky