Free Animal Backgrounds

In Elements 5, there is a new palette, the Artwork and Effects palette. From it, one can apply frames, themes, styles, effects, backgrounds and graphics. You can add your own custom content to the palette. I have made a number of backgrounds for you to use on your print creations. These are repeat patterns of stylized animals. I have removed almost all of the color, and reduced the contrast. Scroll down the page to see cropped samples of the patterns used.

Elements 6 users only : to add the backgrounds to your Content palette, Close Elements. Take the files out of their unzipped folder (select all/copy) and paste them into the following location:
In Windows XP: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Adobe\Photoshop Elements\6.0\Photo Creations\backgrounds
In VISTA: C:\ProgramData\Adobe\Photoshop Elements\6.0\Photo Creations\backgrounds

When you reopen Editor, you may have to switch menu choices (backgrounds to frames then back to backgrounds) to get the new items to show up.

Elements 5 users: To add these graphics to your Artwork and Effects palette, follow the instructions below:

[If (below) you don't see the Application Data folder within the All Users folder, go to the menu at the top of your screen and click on Tools > Folder Options > View (tab) > scroll to find Hidden Files and Folders, and click on the Show Hidden Files and Folders radio button. Click OK.]

Close Elements 5.
Go to C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Adobe\Photoshop Elements\5.0 and delete two files: one called MediaDatabase.db3, and the other called ThumbDatabase.db3.
[Please note: a number of people have emailed me to say that it is not necessary to delete these two files. My instructions are those provided by the Adobe team from beta-testing. Perhaps they changed something...In any event, feel free to try loading my material without deleting the two files listed above. If my stuff does not show up in your Artwork and Effects palette, close Elements, and delete the two files.]
Go here: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Adobe\Photoshop Elements\5.0\Photo Creations\artwork\backgrounds and put my free backgrounds folder, AnimalBackgrounds, the unzipped folder (not the zipped file) into the“backgrounds” folder.
Open Editor. It will take a minute or two for the Artwork and Effects palette database to rebuild. That is normal.
In the Artwork and Effects palette, click the Artwork button at the top of the palette. Then, from the menu on the left, find the Backgrounds section. From the menu on the right, look for the AnimalBackgrounds entry, which is my new content. Make a new layout and apply the backgrounds to try them out. Note that they were created for letter or A4 size documents so are best for those sizes/proportions. I have made four for horizontal layouts (with an H at the end of their name), and four for vertical layouts (with a V at the end of their name).

Download the zipped file here:
Animal Backgrounds
729 kb

Let me know if you have any problems with getting things to work. It's really not hard at all.

I also have Free Geometric Backgrounds, FreeWoodcut Backgrounds, Free Graphics, Free Grunge Frames, Free Duotone Frames, Classic Frames, Free Matted Frames, Free Whenever Diary Pages, Free Big Squares Calendars, and Free Calendar Pages available for download.

If you are a beginning user of Elements 5, you might like my .pdf book, Elementary School. It contains 112 tutorials for new users of Elements 5.

Below are cropped samples of one instance of the repeat patterns used in the four backgrounds. Note that the zipped files repeat the patterns 5 x 7 times and are of good resolution (220 ppi) for letter or A4 backgrounds.

Rampant lions

Rearing horses

Older Tutorials
Quick Mask
Rubberstamping
More Adjustments
Sharpening
Filters
Color

Seahorses

Eagles

Download the zipped file here:
Animal Backgrounds
729 kb

I also have Free Geometric Backgrounds, Free Woodcut Backgrounds, Free Graphics, Free Grunge Frames, Free Duotone Frames, Classic Frames, Matted Frames, Free Whenever Diary Pages, Free Big Squares Calendars, and Free Calendar Pages available for download.

If you are a beginning user of Elements 5, you might like my .pdf book, Elementary School. It contains 112 tutorials for new users of Elements 5.

Copyright © 2006 by Jay Arraich.
All rights reserved.
All photographs copyright ©2006 by Jay Arraich
jay@arraich.com