This tutorial uses the filters and effects in Paint Shop Pro 8 or 9 to create a denim texture. The resulting texture can be used for creating a pocket similar to the one in the title graphic, scrapbooking backgrounds (papers), embellishments, text, or web graphics...the possibilities are only limited by your imagination. The texture can also be saved as a pattern to use as a fill for various projects.

When trying the tutorial in PSP7, the Halftone effect in v8 & 9 wasn't available and there were a few other differences, but with a couple of extra steps—noted in the tutorial—you can create denim in this earlier version. I definitely don't remember what effects are available in PSP5 or 6, so PSP7 is as early as I go.

I have also tried this tutorial in Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 and, although I didn't compare them side by side, all of the settings, effects, and tool options can be found and produce the same results as in versions 8 and 9.

*Screenshots are greatly reduced in size and optimized for faster download times.

This process takes a lot of trips back and forth to the Effects command, but I think it adds more depth to the denim texture.

1. Open a new 600px X 600px (200ppi for print and 72ppi for the web) image with a blue background (I used #303162 for the blue).
   
   
2. Add noise by choosing Adjust > Add/Remove Noise and use the following settings:
   

   Type:Uniform Noise:39% Monochrome: checked
   In PSP7, choose Effects > Noise and add "Random" noise at 39%, choose Colors > Colorize with Hue: 172 Sat: 96, and then continue with step 3.

   
   
3. Add a fur effect by choosing Effects > Textures Effects > Fur.
   

   Blur: 0 Length: 65 Density: 100 Transparency: 40

   
   
4. Enhance the edges by choosing Effects > Edge Effects > Enhance.
   
   
5. Add Noise again with the same settings as above , but this time add 71%. (PSP7: Add the same amount of noise, but change the type to "Random" and colorize with the same settings used in step 2).
   
   
6. Effects > Texture Effects > Blinds
   

   Width: 6 Opacity: 100 Color: #5445af Horizontal: checked Light from Top: checked

   
   
7. Effects > Texture Effects > Blinds
   

   Width: 2 Opacity: 100 Color: Same as above Horizontal: unchecked Light from top: checked

   
   
8. Effects > Artistic Effects > Halftone
   

   Halftone Pattern: Line Size: 2 Screen Angles: 118 Use as Overlay: checked Blend Mode: Screen Opacity: 48 Greyscale: selected Ink: #312963 Background: #ffffff Transparent: unchecked

   PSP7: Set the foreground color to #c2bec7 (or a medium purple-gray). Create a new 100 x 3 image with the background option set to "Foreground color" in the new image dialog box. Right-click on the "background" in the layer palette and promote to layer. Select Image > Canvas size and change to 100 x 6. Load the image as a pattern fill at an angle of 126, and then add a new layer to the denim image and fill with the line pattern. After filling the layer on the denim image, apply a gaussian blur of 1, set the blend mode to dodge, lower the opacity of the line layer slightly, merge layers, and then move on to step 9.

   
   
9. Duplicate the layer.
   
   
10. Add fur to the duplicate layer with the following settings:
    

    Blur: 0 Length: 11 Density: 100 Opacity: 40

    
    
11. Effects > Edge Effects > Dilate
    
    
12. Change the Blend Mode on the duplicate layer to Soft Light.
    
    
13. Merge layers.
    
    
14. Choose Adjust > Brightness/Contrast > Clarify with a setting of 4.
    

That's it! You now have a denim texture to use in your projects.