Blends

~ This tutorial assumes you are familiar with the tools in PSP ~
It was written on August 11, 2008, using PSP 9, but can be completed in most versions.
Tutorials are only guidelines, it's always fun to experiment with different settings on your own : )

Materials needed: My Supply Download Music Image (medium size) - download from HERE Pattern Image (medium size) - download from HERE The above images are being offered under the Creative Commons License. Font of choice, I used Boulevard BQ. Filters / Plugin needed: FM tile Tools/Blend Emboss.  Download demo HERE

It's a good idea to read through each step before starting them.
Don't forget to save your file often!


Step 1:

Open the white music image that you downloaded in PSP.
On your keyboard hit 'Control C' to copy the image, then close it.

Open a new raster file (file > new), size 600x600, white background.
This will be your 'working canvas'.

Hit 'Control L' on your keyboard to paste the music image as a new layer.
Selections > Select all  /  Selections > Float  /  Selections > Defloat.
Selections > Modify > Contract, contract by 2.
Selections > Modify > Feather, feather by 1.
Selections > Invert.
Hit the delete key on your keyboard.

Selections > Select None

Double click on the layer and name it 'Music'.



Step 2:

Unzip my supplies.

Open the fantasy-macha-150109.pspimage in PSP.
Unhide the bottom layer (click the eye next to the layer).
'Control C' to copy the image - close the file.
'Control L' on your working canvas to paste it as a new layer.
Image > Mirror.  Move it over to the right, (refer to my finished tag).
Rename this layer 'Tube'.

Click on the Music layer to select it.
Selections > Select all  /  Selections > Float  /  Selections > Defloat.
Selections > Invert.

Click back on the Tube layer and hit your delete key.

Selections > Select None

Effects > Plugins > FM Tile Tools > Blend emboss (use default settings).
Change the blend mode to 'Multiply'.



Step 3:

Click on the Music layer.
Selections > Select all  /  Selections > Float  /  Selections > Defloat.
Open the pattern image you downloaded earlier.
'Control C' to copy it - close the original.

Click on the top layer of your working canvas.
Create a new raster layer, name it 'pattern'.
Edit > Paste > Paste Into Selection.
Change the blend mode to 'Overlay'.
Lower the opacity of this layer to about 58 (higher if you want it darker).

Selections > Select None

This is how your layers palette should look at this point:




Step 4:

Add your signature.

Add your saying, or use mine.  If you use mine, change
the blend mode to 'screen' and lower the opacity a bit.

Add  a drop shadow of your choice. 
I used 0, 5, 55, 5, Black, shadow on new layer not checked.

Feel free to experiment with different blend modes on some of your layers.
When you are happy with how your tag looks, hide your white Background
layer by clicking on the 'eye' next to the layer.
Right click on any other layer and select 'Merge visible'.

Add  a drop shadow: 2, 2, 53, 10, Black, shadow on new layer not checked.


Grab your Selection Tool (or type the letter 'S' to activate it).
On the Tool Options Palette, under 'Create selection from'; click on the
Layer opaque button (Middle button).

Image > Crop to selection

Save your file as a jpeg and you are done!

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial; I would love to see your results!