Tutorial:  LiteBrite effect

A little while ago, someone asked about creating a LiteBrite effect with PSE and the reply was to use another program.  Well, I've found a way to do it with PSE.

Here's the effect:

To do this in PSE, you'll need to install the KillWhite plugin (http://mikes3d.com/extra/scripting-plugins/killwhite/).  Then, there are two stages to creating the effect:

• Create a saved pattern of transparent holes in a black background.
• Apply that pattern to an image and use layer effects.

Let's get started!

Creating the patterns

1. Create a 40px by 40px image with a black background.
2. In the Layers Palette, double-click the background layer to convert it to a regular layer.
3. Set the Grid (Edit...Preferences... Guides & Grid) to Gridline every 20 pixels and 4 subdivisions.
4. Show the Grid.
5. Set your Foreground colour to white.
6. Select the Brush tool, using a "Hard Round 19 pixels" brush, and change its diameter to 30 pixels.
7. Using the grid lines, click the Brush tool in the exact center of the image.
8. Use the KillWhite plug-in to remove the white areas to transparency:
   
9. Use Edit...Define Pattern to save the image, naming it "Holes Grid 30 px".
10. Repeat steps 1-9, using a 20px by 20px image and a 15px Brush size, naming it "Holes Grid 15 px".
11. Use Edit...Preset Manager...Preset Type (Patterns) to save the set containing these patterns.

Creating the Effect

1. Open or create a simple image using a black background.
2. Colour the image as you wish; the fewer colours, the better.
3. If your image has more than one layer, merge them:
   
4. Create a new layer.
5. With that new layer selected, use the Paint Bucket tool to fill it with one of your patterns:
   
6. With the grid pattern layer still selected, use the Paint Bucket tool to fill in the partially coloured circles with the appropriate colour(s):
   
7. Then repeat, using black to fill in the appropriate circles.  (Don't worry about the faint remaining circular lines, we'll take care of that next.)
8. Use "Flatten Image" to merge the layers.
9. Use Filter...Adjustments...Posterize with a setting of "4" to clean up those faint lines:
   

You can stop there, or

For some more fun

1. Use the Magic Wand to select the black area, invert the selection, and use Ctrl+J to copy the coloured circles onto their own layer.
2. Add a layer style to the circles layer.

Simple Inner Bevel:

Low Inner Shadow:

Both the Inner Shadow and Bevel:

And on and on and on...

Enjoy!

Ken