The built in filters that come with PSP 4 can be used to enhance or completely alter an image. In our example, we're going to take a perfectly normal photograph and turn it into a portrait, complete with brush strokes. (Okay, so it's not a 'normal' photograph).

Start by making a duplicate of your original. Never work directly on your originals, always make duplicates, and save often.

Activate the duplicate image and rotate it 25 degrees to the right. (Click on image/rotate on the menu bar).

Select image/special filters/add noise from the menu bar. Set the noise to 40% and check the random radio button.

Now to create the brush strokes. Select image/deformations/wind from the menu bar. The wind should be set to come from the left with a strength of 2.

Rotate your image back to the left 25 degrees and select image/edge filters/edge enhance to bring the brush strokes out.

Activate your original image. (We won't be making any lasting changes to it, just using it to copy from). From the menu bar select selections/all and again from the menu bar select selections/modify/overall opacity. Set the opacity level to 40%

Press Ctrl+C on your keyboard to copy the image. Activate the target image and press Ctrl+E on your keyboard to paste. This will add a little more detail to the features of your image.

PSP 5 Layers: Brush Strokes

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