BoltBait

Yes, the background layer is separate (if you'll notice in the lower right corner). So, yeah, it'll totally do what you want. You need to install my plugin pack. http://forums.getpaint.net/index.php?/topic/8318- Once you learn how to install plugins, a whole new world of Paint.NET goodness opens up to you.

Well, if you follow my steps, it will look something like this: Now you'll know if it is worth it to figure out what I said.

OK, I have an idea for you. First, you have my plugin pack installed, right? If so, try this: Place some text on a layer by itself. With the magic wand, Shift-Click a transparent pixel on that layer and press Ctrl-I to invert selection. This will make all your text selected. Make that text layer invisible. Just be sure that the text that you can no longer see is still selected. Add a new layer. On that new layer, run my Effects > Selection > Bevel plugin. Adjust the slider to the way you like it. You can then, fine-tune the look by playing with the layer opacity.

Read this: How to write an effect plugin (part 3 of 4) It explains that it is only possible if one of the two desired effects is a Unary Pixel Operation.

Why not just go to http://www.dafont.com/ and download a font that already looks embossed?

You could also try the Magic Wand selection tool. It looks like this: Just be aware that it has a tolerance setting in the tool bar to adjust how much is selected when the wand is used. My favorite setting is 31%.

Read this: http://forums.getpaint.net/index.php?/forum/36-how-to-install-pluginsgeneral-plugin-troubleshooting/

Paint.NET has one. It looks like this:

Try this plugin instead: Printer+

Give us an example of what you're talking about and someone will tell you how to create it. Or, if you want to experiment... Here are some plugins to help you: Trail Bevel Selection

Here is a start: // Submenu: Blurs // Name: Focus Point #region UICode int Amount1 = 50; // [1,200] Max Radius Pair<double, double> Amount2 = Pair.Create( 0.0 , 0.0 ); // Focus Point #endregion private UserBlendOp normalOp = new UserBlendOps.NormalBlendOp(); void Render(Surface dst, Surface src, Rectangle rect) { Rectangle selection = this.EnvironmentParameters.GetSelection(src.Bounds).GetBoundsInt(); int width = selection.Right - selection.Left; int height = selection.Bottom - selection.Top; int CenterX = (int)Math.Round(((Amount2.First + 1) / 2) * width); int CenterY = (int)Math.Round(((Amount2.Second + 1) / 2) * height); int MaxWidth = (int)(((src.Width > src.Height)?src.Width:src.Height) * 1.2)/2; int MinWidth = 1; int Dif = MaxWidth - MinWidth; // Call the Gaussian Blur effect GaussianBlurEffect blurEffect = new GaussianBlurEffect(); PropertyCollection bProps = blurEffect.CreatePropertyCollection(); PropertyBasedEffectConfigToken bParameters = new PropertyBasedEffectConfigToken(bProps); bParameters.SetPropertyValue(GaussianBlurEffect.PropertyNames.Radius, Amount1); blurEffect.SetRenderInfo(bParameters, new RenderArgs(dst), new RenderArgs(src)); blurEffect.Render(new Rectangle[1] {rect},0,1); // Loop through all pixels and calculate final pixel values ColorBgra CurrentPixel; for (int y = rect.Top; y < rect.Bottom; y++) { for (int x = rect.Left; x < rect.Right; x++) { CurrentPixel = src[x,y]; double dist = Math.Sqrt(((CenterX-x)*(CenterX-x))+((CenterY-y)*(CenterY-y))); if (dist > MaxWidth) { CurrentPixel.A = 0; } else { CurrentPixel.A = (byte)(255-(255*((-Math.Cos((dist-MinWidth)/Dif * Math.PI)+1)/2))); } CurrentPixel = normalOp.Apply(dst[x,y], CurrentPixel); dst[x,y] = CurrentPixel; } } } Use CodeLab to make that into a DLL and see if you like it. BTW, this is just a quick mixture of calling Gaussian Blur and the vingette code from here http://forums.getpaint.net/index.php?/topic/11785- changed from black to alpha. It is probably wrong. I did the whole thing in, like, 5 minutes.

I just added the "Marching Ants / Selection" section. Enjoy. And, thanks for the beer.

Rick makes up the numbers however he likes because he's the boss. That is all you need to know.

That's interesting. However, Paint.NET doesn't include any of those functions.

JPEG is not a lossless format. If you are looking for a lossless format, try PNG.

The next time you shout at me, I'm going to ban you.

First, STOP SHOUTING! Second, post in the correct forum. I'm closing this. Please try again after reading the forum rules:

Happy Birthday, America! I'm off to watch fireworks with my kids. Have a safe and sane 4th of July celebration, everyone! This is a photochop of two photographs I took--a watermelon and a pile of plastic forks/spoons. Everything else was made "freehand" in Paint.NET. Enjoy!

No I didn't. I fixed it. Just use Selection > Feather if you want the same effect as old true feather.

I've never been happy with the C# Code Syntax Highlighter here on this site, so this tutorial has been moved here: How to Write an Effect Plugin (Part 4 of 4 - Odds and Ends) This tutorial contains tips on how to use CodeLab to render text; anti-alising text, lines, and shapes; using the clipboard; using the HSV color space; and using the selection shape. If you have questions about the tutorial, you can post them here in this thread and I will address them. -=*=- If you would like to say, "thank you" for all the hard work that went into collecting and developing this series, you can click the button below to buy me a beer. $USD $ GBP £ EUR € JPY ¥ CAD $ AUD $

I've never been happy with the C# Code Syntax Highlighter here on this site, so this tutorial has been moved here: How to Write an Effect Plugin (Part 3 of 4 - Complex) This tutorial contains an overview of how to use effect composition in CodeLab to create complex effects. If you have questions about the tutorial, you can post them here in this thread and I will address them.

Try this:

I can't wait until he discovers Windows Movie Maker and starts releasing movies ... The Godfather by Michael J. Hardy

Yup. Michael James Hardy is a worthless scumbag.

I don't have it any more. Seriously, the old plugin had bugs. You just need to learn to use the new tools.