Free Woodcut 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 photographs of woodcut illustrations from a very old book (that I own). I have removed almost all of the color, and reduced the contrast. They make a stylish base for many kinds of print creation.

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 make a new folder called oldBook (or name it whatever you like). Put my free backgrounds, the unzipped files (not the zipped file) into the new folder within 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 oldBook (or whatever name you used) 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 ten for horizontal layouts, and ten for vertical layouts, though you can use any for either—when applied they will be sized to fill the layout with excess being cropped.

Download the zipped files here:
Horizontal OldBook backgrounds
1.6 MB
Vertical OldBook backgrounds
1.8 MB

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, Free Animal Backgrounds, Free Graphics, Free Grunge Frames, Free Duotone Frames, Free 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.

Older Tutorials
Quick Mask
Rubberstamping
More Adjustments
Sharpening
Filters
Color

The other backgrounds can be seen from these links. Please note that all of the images shown here are much, much smaller than the zipped backgrounds, which are letter/A4 size at 220 ppi (2808 X 2040 px):

BackgroundH_01
BackgroundH_03
BackgroundH_04
BackgroundH_05
BackgroundH_06
BackgroundH_07
BackgroundH_08
BackgroundH_09
BackgroundH_10
BackgroundV_ 01
BackgroundV_02
BackgroundV_03
BackgroundV_04
BackgroundV_05
BackgroundV_06
BackgroundV_08
BackgroundV_09
BackgroundV_10

Download the zipped files here:
Horizontal OldBook backgrounds
1.6 MB
Vertical OldBook backgrounds
1.8 MB

I also have Free Geometric Backgrounds, Free Animal Backgrounds, Free Graphics, Free Grunge Frames, Free Duotone Frames, Free 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.

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