Transparencies - Fuzz, Hair and Lace

I am sure this has probably been gone over until people are blue in the face. I've read the tutorials, watched the tutorials and although I *get* it, I don't think I am fully grasping how to pull this off without spending countless hours trying to pick between wanted and unwanted portions of the image.

Now I've managed to make a see through lace texture by following the video tutorial, but the whole thing looked really 'grey' to me. (Black lace.)

I'm sure everyone is going to proffer more links to tutorials I've probably already seen; what I need is someone patient enough to go over the process with me step by step. Frankly, I'm a little slow on the uptake, but when I get it, I get it. (=

If anyone is willing, I'd prefer direct communication as it seems better. I'll probably be on SL and if that's not possible, I also have AIM.

Sorry for probably reposting a much asked question.

When I make lace, I do it like this:

I make a small image, about the right size for a single lace motif and its supporting framework of threads.

I pick a 3*3 square brush. I hunt among my cross-stitch patterns for one I like.

I set up a grid. Imaginary, in my case, but you might want a real grid layer underneath your work.

I zoom in far enough to see each 3*3 pixel as a square, not a tiny dot.

I open a transparent layer.

I plonk a single pixel down for each spot in the cross-stitch pattern that outlines the image. If that's not enough to make it 'lace-y', I add a few strategically placed pixels as well. This forms the motif of the lace. It should be centred in the image.

I switch to a 1*1 square brush.

I add another transparent layer. Onto this layer I place a set of fine 1*1 lines in a net-pattern. A grid will do. This forms the background fabric - the organza or gauze that the motif is placed on.

I switch to either a 2*2 or 3*3 brush again.

I add another transparent layer. Onto this layer, I form lines that connect to the outer edges of the image. I ensure that the outer edges will line up seamlessly - basically, that wherever I have one of the connecting lines at the top edge, a corresponding line is at the bottom, and the same for the sides.
This forms the connecting threads between motifs.

I un-show the background layers and grid layers and dud layers I usually end up making when I do something like this, and copy visible to get it all into one layer.

I think open a new image, four times the size of the older one, and make sure the lace actually is seamless. (Paste, move pasted to top left corner. Paste, move pasted to top right. Repeat for bottom left and bottom right.)
If it's not seamless, I adjust it till it is.

That gives you a lace motif for in the middle of fabric, or the middle of laces. To make a motif for the edge, you take your original image, and make a layer of background fabric that doesn't extend to the edge of the image along one side (top or bottom, usually).
Then you add a connecting thread along that side that's sort of scalloped/curved along the 'end of the piece' edge, and seamless on the two neighbouring edges.


Anyway, that's how I do it. It doesn't seem to be how most people do it, but it's how I do it.

To keep it from looking 'grey', you have to use it in a scale appropriate to the motif you're using - and make sure your scaling tool doesn't antialias it into a blurry mess.