People have recommended it to me. I go to the website, see a page full of writing, stare at it, and go back to photoshop. I guess I'm lazy. *lol* If you try it let me know what you think of it.

I also like the WOTW banner without the San Carmen effect.

They both have it - see the whitish lines around the edges and rounded corners on both. I just changed the colors and sharpened the one. that corner/edge effect, the brightness and warmth and the subtle white haze is what I love about it.It makes (Caucasian) skin tones nice without being too orange-y, and it's nicer than plain sepia.

If I redid the second banner today (the pinker one) I'd definitely use the blending tool to try to eliminate some of the visible pixilation lines. I envy people who can get super-sharp hi-def imagery, but I think I'd have to master gimp or photoshop to do it. So I kind of make my inability a virtue. (so I tell myself)

But I'll combine it with other effects just to get that edging, or the lightness of it.

can't choose stuff

Neither can I! The times I do one-and-done of an icon or artwork is kind of rare.