Hi there,
This is what I do, I use PSE6 I have not seen any tuts, just found it by trying everything. open your picture in the Edit section, its the only section I use anyway, then go to Filters from the bar across the top,
Click on it then go down to Artistic and click on it, another drop down will come up with many different styles, just play with them.
I have found that they come up with already set settings, but you can adjust, them if you want. You can play with all these different styles, after that its just trying out everything, till you find something you like. On the same filter drop down is also Textures, and this is where I have used canvas, etc textures,however they look good but when I upload them to SBF it looks horrible, I prefer the Foto sketcher effects any day.
Hope this helps,
Hugs
Simone
Jul 16, 2010

Sorry Stacey, I don't use Photoshop. Thank you Simone for your help. I find if I add texture to a page you have to make the page smaller before uploading into SBF or it makes it look fuzzy. I normally upload pages at 1600 x 1600 px but if it has texture I take them down to about 800 x 800 px. Fotosketcher is definately a neat easy little program to use for painting effects & it's free. If you search for it please note it is spelt with an F not a P. Hugs, Mary
Jul 16, 2010

Hi - yes I have just found out the hard way Mary - I should have checked here first. I've downloaded my page that looked great in PSE but it's not so good here. I'll leave it though and try again. Stacey I did the same as Simsage there are loads of filters to use - just play around with them. If you don't like just undo and try another.
Jul 16, 2010

Off to check out fotosketcher now.
Jul 16, 2010

Hi Mary...when you add texture do you make the page smaller first before adding texture or make it smaller after adding the texture? By the way, this fotosketcher is so much fun to play with, thanks for letting us know about it! Hugs, Fran
Jul 16, 2010

Hi Stacey, well, I pretty much do what Simone does...I generally use the filters provided by PSE and they have different artistic options as well as brush stroke options. But, this time I tried FotoSketcher for fun.
Jul 16, 2010

thanks simone and others, will check out that dry brush filter
fotosketcher is a fun program and so great that it is free!
Jul 17, 2010

Hi all....just wanted to forewarn you that when I went to download the fotosketcher, I got an alert from Norton that the Brothersoft (company) who hosts the download is not safe and made me leave. Apparently, the site itself is not safe. So, you might want to run a scan if you have already been there and downloaded. I hope that this is a false positive. I know that Norton caught and destroyed a trojan that sneaked into my system this past week. Some people just have nothing else better to do with their time!
Jul 18, 2010

Sorry Fran a little late with the answer to your question. I do find reducing the page 1st before adding texture works but this is only if you are not going to print it out at 3600 x 3600.

Opal I'm sorry you had trouble with the site. I certainly have had no problems but I do know Norton is very fussy. Personally I prefer NOD. Have had no problems since using this antivirus software & it doesn't take over the complete running of your computer like Norton does & slow everything down.
Jul 21, 2010