For this tutorial you will need:
Photo Impact
Eye Candy
Simple Filter
Paint Engine...optional



 



 

 Open a new image 300 x 300
Fill with any color you like.
On the background you see on this page I just filled with a soft color..I have found by using a gradient color for a fill you can get a little more deeper look of detail in some of those fills. Depends on what you are wanting to achieve  in your feathers.
For the picture on the left I used a gradient fill.
Got to eye candy.....select fur.
I used the settings 126/19/65/48
Now to go simple filter/quick tile.

Copy your first image...
Open an new image 1280 x 300
Go to edit and fill, choose clipboard.
Now you have a feather background.		 If you would like to mute your feather background down more you can use 20/20 .
Another nice effect is to use 
Fantastic Machine...Paint engine
Set your paint engine ..
where is says Stroke/Type..select slope...imput
where it says 
settings..select soft brush.
Don't forget to save you feathers so you can use them again. Using the paint engine you will find will soften it down to a very pretty effect.

 

This tutorial updated on Jan. 05, 2003 by Tena Williams