The following is done with Paint Shop Pro 5.
Step 1:
Choose an image. The brightness dosn't matter.


Step 2:
Click on Layers >>New. When this screen comes up, click OK.


Step 3:
Next, use the fill tool , and fill the entire layer white.


Step 4:
If it isn't already open hit L to show the layers palette.
Make the layers palette as long as it can be.

Use the slider highlighted above in red and adjust it to how light you want the background.
This is the LAYER OPACITY. It defines how visible the layer should be.
I used a setting of 50 below.