Paper Embossing (1)

What we'll do: Simulate embossing some text or a shape on paper.

There are quite a few methods for getting such an effect. In this tutorial we'll look at one fairly easy way, using PSP's Inner Bevel effect.

What you'll need: PSP9. (This tutorial can also be readily adapted for PSP8.)

Steps:

Open the image that contains your paper and make the layer containing the paper the active layer.
Choose the Text tool and select a dingbat or other text for your embossing. In the Materials palette, set Background to medium gray and Foreground to transparent. In the Tool Options bar, set Create As to Floating (and choose whatever other settings you want for your text).
Place your text on your image, then promote the floating selection to a layer. Turn off the selection.
Set the Blend Mode of the promoted layer to Overlay. The text will seem to disappear, but don't worry about that.
With the promoted layer the active layer, apply Inner Bevel (Effects > 3D Effects > Inner Bevel). Choose whatever settings give you close to the effect you want. You'll want highlights on the upper left and shadows on the lower right. Changing the Color of the light to gray might give less harsh results than leaving it at the default white.

Notice how the text shows up again, with only the highlights and shadows being revealed and with the color and texture of the paper below showing through.
If you like, add a very subtle dark Drop Shadow on the promoted layer, with the offsets set at 0, 0 or 1, 1. Be sure that "Shadow on new layer" is NOT selected.
Optional: Adjust the Opacity of the promoted layer and/or blur this layer a bit with Gaussian Blur.