spring

hopes and aspirations flutter by

like butterflies on tattered wings

dreaming of spring

I'm learning to make frames-- okay not the best, but a beginning. In paint.net  you have to be able to think in reverse mode. It's not the most logical system in the world, but can make a person a bit crazy.

open the first image into paint.net  (640)

open new window over the  new file. (750)

use the color dropper to help you pick out the  background color for the mat

go to new window and dump the pain bucket with the color

use rectangle select and copy of your image

 on your new colored mat, copy  Ctl+V  your image and  move it where you want it to be.

 You don't like the color of the mat? Reverse the copy step and change the color of the mat.

If you like the background color, then you're ready for next step. Add new layer.  Open properties and change to overlay. This makes the layer transparent so you can make filters or do other things like create borders and frames.

Use your color dropper to choose your frame colors.

Use rectangle select on new layer for the frame you want about your picture. You want a gold  edge on the outside? No problem.  Select the entire area  around the picture that will end up being the frame.  Use the paint bucket to dump the color onto the space.

Check the side on the Layer Menu for the actual colors because what you see are the overlays. Like? Hate? Change color. When color is suitable, use rectangle select around the original image. Under edit, use "erase" to delete the  layer that is over the image. Open properties  in "Layer"  to change the  layer to "norma". Now you have the  real color of your frame laying over the mat and about the image. Like? Hate?   Change colors and reverse your steps.

 Add 2nd  new layer for the main border. Change the properties to Overlay. Use rectangle select to choose the space you want as the main frame. Use the color dropper or your eye to choose the color for the main frame. Use the pain bucket to dump the color. Check the side Layer Menu for the colors. To test  the color, you can uncheck the different layers for visibility  against the original image.

Use the rectangle select to cut out the area  over the image. Under edit use erase to delete the layer over image.  open Layer properties and change to Normal.  Now you have a frame with layered colors. Like? Dislike?  Want to change them? It's easy. Just uncheck the different layers for visibility to work on the layer you want. use the paint bucket to change the color. Tick the boxes for visibility to see how they work together.

If you don't like the background color of the mat, then use rectangle select around the image and  delete the image by using erase  under "edit" menu.  Change the color using the paintbucket.  And re-insert your image by  Ctrl+V. Stretch the image to fit the gaps.

Repeat any or all steps until you are happy with your color combinations.

 Here's a different view