Note: I know the images are a bit screwed up, something happened there =/ You can still see the main portion of the image, so I'll leave it as is. If an image is broken, PM me =)

Requirements & Setup:

- Paint Shop Pro 8 or Up
- The Layers Palette Visible (View --> Palettes --> Layers)
- The Materials Palette Visible (View --> Palettes --> Materials)
- Large Grunge Brushes

How to Make a Blended Render:

Step 1: once downloaded, open your render as a new image. (File --> Open) I'm going to be using this work field and this render:

VIEW IMAGE

Step 2: Go to Layers --> New Art Media Layer --> Click OK. You should now have a new layer called "At Media 1". Then go to your Tools Tool bar, and select the "Dropper Tool" (or press E on your keyboard). Hover your mouse over your image and click on a lighter portion of your render. You will notice that the foreground color in your materials palette changes when you click.

Step 3: At the very bottom of your Tool Toolbar, are your art media tools. Select "Oil Brush" at the default/normal settings.

VIEW IMAGE

Step 4: Paint over your image, covering almost the entire render until you've got a nice pattern. I suggest painting in more of a diagonal direction, as such;

VIEW IMAGE

Step 5: Then go back to your Tools Toolbar, and select the art media tools. But this time, go to Art Eraser. Also use the settings in the image below:

VIEW IMAGE

Step 6: Begin to erase parts of the image, almost the entire thing with some effects left behind on the main parts. You want to erase about a good 85%, but don't be afraid of being neat. Sloppiness is good here!

VIEW IMAGE

Step 7: Right click on your "Art Media 1" Layer and click "Convert to Raster Layer". Then, set your blend mode to dodge, with a 70% opacity as shown in this image:

VIEW IMAGE

Step 8: Click on "Raster 1" In your layers palette. Then go to layers --> New Raster Layer --> Ok. Press "F" on your keyboard, or click the "Flood Fill" Tool in your Toolbar. Then, set your foreground color in the materials palette to black, (#000000). Click somewhere on your image, and this should have filled the entire work space up with black.

Then, go back to your layers palette, and click & drag the 3rd Raster layer BELOW the 1st raster layer. (So Raster 3 is at the bottom) You should end up with something like this:

VIEW IMAGE

Step 9: Go to Layers --> New Raster Layer --> Ok. This should open a 4th Raster Layer (Raster 4) in the Layers Palette. Then, go back to your Eye dropper tool (E on your keyboard) and select a light color as before from your image. (It can be the same color as before)

Step 10: Now is where you'll need some large grunge brushes. Go to your Brush Tool in the toolbar and select a brush. If a bit small, make the size a bit bigger to be about 1/3 of the image or more. Begin to brush around the back of the image, not having too solid of a shape, just lightly brushed. I came up with this:

VIEW IMAGE

Step 11: Right click on "Raster 1" Layer in your layers palette and go to "Duplicate". This should have opened a new layer called "Copy of Raster 1". Then go to Effects --> Distortion Effects --> Displacement map. Use these settings in the image:

VIEW IMAGE

Then click "OK". Yes, it should look a bit wild right now =D

Step 12: Set the blend mode of the "Copy of Raster 1" layer to "Dodge" as you did before. Then, click and drag the "Copy of Raster 1" layer below the Raster 1 layer. So this "Copy of Raster 1" should be in the middle of all the layers. Here's what yours should somewhat look like:

VIEW IMAGE

Step 13: Then, Right click on the "Copy of Raster 1" and go to Duplicate. You should see "Copy (2) of Raster 1". Then go to Adjust --> Blur --> Gaussian Blur. And set your radius to 10.00.

Go back to the original "Copy of Raster 1". Right click on it, and select Delete. Then click on the "Copy (2) of Raster 1" layer, and set the opacity to 60%. Here's what my screen looks like:

VIEW IMAGE

Step 14: Now, we feather the render. First click on the the original "Raster 1" in the layers palette. Then we go to our Selection Tool (S on keyboard) and go to "Magic Wand". Use the settings in the image below:

VIEW IMAGE

Then, click on your render. A dotted/dancing line should have appeared around your render, like below:

VIEW IMAGE

Then go to Selections --> Invert ( or press CTRL + Shift + I ). Then hit the "Delete" Key on your keyboard about 3 - 4 times. Then go to Selections --> Select None.

Now, go to your "Raster 3" layer in the layers palette. Right click on it --> Delete. Then go to Layers --> Merge --> Merge Visible. This should have you end up with a single layer known as "Merged" with a transparent (checkerboard) background.

That's pretty much it! A nice and pre-blended render, ready to use in a signature or other piece! Here's my final product:

VIEW IMAGE

I suggest using the eraser tool to erase bits and pieces of the outside effects, just for a better outcome =)

Good luck, and I hope you enjoyed this tutorial!