Simple Tricks in Pixlr.com
![559d9ecb15be4d24fe0000a9.jpeg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FB8/5LGW/IBUXN3Z2/FB85LGWIBUXN3Z2.jpg&filename=559d9ecb15be4d24fe0000a9.jpeg)
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Last November, I finished a Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice inspired Korean-American novel Five Stones, I needed a book cover. My son showed me how to use Pixlr, and I thought I'd give that a try before I ask him to work on another book cover.
I wanted the cover to anchor the book in Korean culture, so I took a picture of a girl's hanbok and decided to see what I could create with it.
Let's Get Started!
![FS13.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FYY/PAD1/IBUXMUHC/FYYPAD1IBUXMUHC.jpg&filename=FS13.jpg)
![FS12.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FVU/7A5N/IBUXMUGW/FVU7A5NIBUXMUGW.jpg&filename=FS12.jpg)
![FS14.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F4Y/MU4F/IBUXMVV1/F4YMU4FIBUXMVV1.jpg&filename=FS14.jpg)
These are simple steps, but I needed these steps from my son who created another cover for me. So, here are the steps.
- Go into Pixlr.com
- Click on the downward arrows, and then choose Pixlr Editor.
- Once in Pixlr Editor, I chose Open Image from Computer.
Blurring of Reality
![FS1.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F61/D26K/IBUXMU9R/F61D26KIBUXMU9R.jpg&filename=FS1.jpg)
![FS2.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FTC/XAGR/IBUXMUAV/FTCXAGRIBUXMUAV.jpg&filename=FS2.jpg)
![FS1.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FHM/MDIA/IBUXMXCQ/FHMMDIAIBUXMXCQ.jpg&filename=FS1.jpg)
![FS3.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FZQ/XE9R/IBUXMUAX/FZQXE9RIBUXMUAX.jpg&filename=FS3.jpg)
I wanted the cover to have the feel of blurred reality. The mother never sees her daughters as they are, but as what she wants them to be - married.
- After importing the photo, click Filter and choose Diffuse.
- Set Diffuse value to 20 (I wanted maximum blurring) and press OK.
- Then click Filter and this time, choose Pastels.
- Set Pastels value to 5 (I wanted maximum blurring) and press OK.
- Save the new picture file and exit Pixlr Editor.
Creating Shadows.
![FS12.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F6B/I3MP/IBUXMYT6/F6BI3MPIBUXMYT6.jpg&filename=FS12.jpg)
![FS4.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FGE/JRP7/IBUXMUC0/FGEJRP7IBUXMUC0.jpg&filename=FS4.jpg)
![FS5.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FZH/XHHJ/IBUXMUC3/FZHXHHJIBUXMUC3.jpg&filename=FS5.jpg)
![FS6.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FP5/TKBC/IBUXMUD6/FP5TKBCIBUXMUD6.jpg&filename=FS6.jpg)
The demanding mother casts shadows, some darker than others, in five sisters' lives, and I wanted play with that aspects of it.
- Go back to Pixlr.com
- Choose Pixlr Express this time.
- Import the picture file from your computer.
- Click on Effect.
- Click on Default.
- Arrow across many choices and click on Hagrid. I liked the darker blue tones of Hagrid.
Adding Light.
![FS7.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F7T/32C8/IBUXMUD8/F7T32C8IBUXMUD8.jpg&filename=FS7.jpg)
![FS8.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FMC/OGOH/IBUXMUED/FMCOGOHIBUXMUED.jpg&filename=FS8.jpg)
![FS9.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FZS/8SIL/IBUXMUGK/FZS8SILIBUXMUGK.jpg&filename=FS9.jpg)
Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice is a romantic comedy, and my book Five Stones reflects the original feel of the book. So, I didn't want the cover to have too much darkness.
- Choose Overlay.
- Click on Default.
- Click on Bocea to create points of light on the cover.
- Save the new picture file.
Now, the cover is done.
Now, the Comparison.
![FS10.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F87/ZBJJ/IBUXMUGL/F87ZBJJIBUXMUGL.jpg&filename=FS10.jpg)
![0FiveStonesFront.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F3A/VB28/IBUXN0WC/F3AVB28IBUXN0WC.jpg&filename=0FiveStonesFront.jpg)
Since last November, Pixlr.com has gone through some changes (Pixlr O-Matic disappeared), and I couldn't duplicate the cover exactly, but close enough.
The picture on the right is the jpeg for my cover, compared to the one I created today on the left.
I would have been just as happy with this cover, too. The picture on the bottom is the cover I used for Five Stones.
Hiring someone to do your book cover can get quite expensive. So, I was very happy with the finished product.