Sig Tags

~ This tutorial assumes you are familiar with the tools in PSP ~
It was written on November 3, 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 : )

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


Before starting this tutorial:

Download and unzip my supplies.
Download and install the filter(s) - Remember to restart PSP after installing any filter.


Step 1:

Open the tag_base file in PSP.
On your keyboard, hold down your 'Shift Key' and tap the letter 'D' to duplicate it.
Close the original file.
This will be your working canvas.

Open the V~WhiteForestSky tub in PSP.
Adjust > Color Balance > Manual Color Correction
(if you do not see the color correction, please see bottom of this page for additional help)

Change the source color to #a29c6a and the target color to #a0ac81, click 'ok'.
On your keyboard, hit 'Control C'  to copy the image, then close it.



Step 2:

In the layers palette, unhide the Base, Tube and Glass layers by clicking on the eye next to each layer.

Making sure you are on the 'Base' layer, grab the magic wand tool.
Plug in the following settings in the Tool Options Palette:
Mode: Replace
Match mode:  RGB value
Tolerance: 20
Contiguous: Checked
Feather 0
Anti-Alias: Checked

Click inside the circle of the base to select it.
Selections > Modify > Expand, enter 25 and hit ok.
In the layers palette, click on the 'Tube' layer.
Go up to Edit > Paste > Paste into Selection.
Selections > Modify > Contract, enter 17 and hit ok.
Selections > Invert.
Hit the delete key on your keyboard.

KEEP SELECTED....



Step 3:

Click on the 'Glass' layer.
Selections > Invert
Effects > Eyecandy 4000 > Glass
Plug in the below settings:







(we are not looking for a traditional glass effect here, we are just trying to
achieve a soft, almost translucent glow at the top of the image.  If you change the
above settings your tag may look different)



Step 4:

Selections > Select None

Right click on your 'tube' layer and select 'merge down'. 
This will merge the tube with the glass layer. 
Rename this layer Tube.

This is what you should have now:


Right click on any layer and select 'View all'.

Go up to the 'Words' layer and apply the following drop shadow:
1,1, 53, 5, Black, Shadow on new layer not checked.

Apply the same drop shadow to your 'Base' Layer.

Add your signature, using a font of your choice.
  Apply the same drop shadow as above.

When you are satisfied with how everything looks, hide your Background and Tube layer
by clicking on the eye next to each layer.
Right click on any other layer and select 'Merge visible'.

If you would like to add some brush effects to the background, now is the time,
keeping in mind that the ornament is semi-transparent and your brush may show through.
A nice grunge brush would work well for this.



Step 5:
On to the animation....

Unhide the Background and Tube layers.

Click on the Tube layer.
Effects > Alien Skin Eyecandy 5: Nature > Water drops.

Under Settings, select the 'Small Condensation' preset:



Under Basic, change the numeric settings as shown below:




Step 6:

Edit > copy merged.

In Animation Shop, right click on the workspace and select 'Paste as new animation'.

Go back to PSP.

Hit 'Control z' on your keyboard to remove the first waterdrop effect.
Apply EC5 Water drops again, except hit the 'Random Seed' button once.
------------------------------------------------------------
Edit > copy merged.

Back in Animation Shop, right click on the image and select 'Paste after current frame'

Back to PSP.

Hit 'Control z' on your keyboard.
Again apply EC5 Water drops, hit the 'Random Seed' button once.
------------------------------------------------------------
Edit > copy merged.

Back in Animation Shop, right click on the image and select 'Paste after current frame'


You should now have 3 frames in Animation Shop.
Hit Control 'A' to select all frames.
Right click on the image, select 'Frame Properties'.
Change the Display time to 20, hit ok.

Animation > Resize Animation.  85% should be good.
Animation > View Animation.
File > Save As, name your file and save.
Hit Next, Next, Next, Finish.

Well that's it, we are done!
I hope you enjoyed this tutorial; please let me know if you have any questions.



Manual Color Correction may not show up under the Adjust drop down list in newer versions of PSP.
Follow the steps below to find out where it is hiding : )

~ This tutorial assumes you are familiar with the tools in PSP ~
It was written on October 1, 2008, using PSP 9, but it can be completed in most versions.
Tutorials are only guidelines, it's always fun to experiment with different settings on your own : )
 

Supplies needed:
Coral Paint Sho Pro
My Supplies

Filters Used:
EyeCandy 4000 / Gradient Glow (optional).
(This filter was used to outline my witch so that she stood out from the tag.
You can easily substitute this effect with a solid drop shadow or leave the outline off entirely).


Step 1:
Download and unzip my supplies.

Open a new file; 800x800, white background.
We will resize it later – This will be your working canvas.

Open the pattern_dots.jpg file in PSP.
Hit Control ‘C’ on your keyboard to copy it to the clipboard. Close the file.
Back on your working canvas, hit Control ‘L’ to paste the pattern as a new layer.

Hit Control ‘R’ to bring up the Image rotate dialog box.
Plug in these settings:  Direction ‘left’, Degrees ‘20’, all other boxes ‘unchecked’.

Effects > 3D Effects > Drop shadow:  1, 1, 65, 5, black 
(I applied this shadow to all elements, but feel free to use one of your own)


Step 2:
Open the pattern_orange.jpg file in PSP.
Copy and paste it as a new layer on your working canvas (like we did in Step 1).

Move the pattern up just a bit; refer to my finished tag for placement.
Apply your drop shadow.


Step 3:
Open the black flower, copy and paste it as a new layer on your working canvas.
Close the original file.
Move the flower to the upper right of the canvas for now.

Over on the Layers Palette, right click on the flower layer and duplicate it.

Hit Shift ‘S’ on your keyboard to bring up the Resize dialog box.
Resize the duplicate flower 85%.
Resampling and Lock aspect ratio: both checked.
Resample using: Bicubic.
Maintain original print size and Resize all layers unchecked.

Move this flower to the upper right of the canvas also.

Back to the layers palette, move both flower layers down between the 2 pattern layers.
(We want the flowers under our orange pattern).

Place your flowers where you want them, or refer to my finished tag for my placement.
Apply your drop shadow.


Step 4:
Open the remaining elements in PSP.
Copy and paste each one onto your working canvas in the order listed below.
Place them as shown on my finished tag, adding your drop shadow to each one as you go.

1.  st_spiderweb
2.  st_pumpkins
3.  st_banner
4.  st_witch
5.  st_wordart
6.  st_bat (resize bat 85%, twice)
7.  st_ribbonlabel


Step 5:
Open the st_tag image.  Copy and paste it onto your working canvas.
(No drop shadow is needed on this tag)

Add your name to the tag, using a font of your choice. 
I used KR Batty font, you can find it here.


Step 6:
~ This step is optional ~

In the layers palette, click on the witch layer.
Effects > Plugins > Eye Candy 4000 > Gradient glow

Plug in the following settings:

Under the Basic Tab:
Glow width: 3,  Soft Corners: 25,  Overall Opacity: 100%
Draw only outside selection: Checked


Under the Color Tab:
Select 'Thin' from the list
Change the color on both ends to #dc9a66.
  Opacity: 100%



Step 7:
Hide your background layer by clicking on the eye next to it.
Right click on any other layer and select ‘Merge visible’.

Grab your Selection tool or type the letter ‘S’ to activate it.
In the Tool Options palette, under ‘Create selection from’, click the ‘Merged opaque’ button.

Hold your Shift key down and hit the letter ‘R’ to crop the image to your selection.

Selections > Select none.

Hold your Shift key down, hit the letter ‘S’ and resize your image.
I resized mine 75%, Bicubic, making sure ‘all layers’ was checked.

Save your file and you are done!

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

You can reach me via email at this address:
'admin at suntiques.com'

Thanks for stopping by!






 

~ This tutorial assumes you are familiar with the tools in PSP ~
It was written on August 19, 2008, using PSP 9, but it can be completed in most versions
Tutorials are only guidelines, it's always fun to experiment with different settings on your own : )
T.O.U.

Supplies needed:
Corel Paint Shop Pro
My materials HERE.
The Deckle Edge Brush from Pixelnook, HERE.

Step 1:
Download and install the Deckle Edge brush.
Download and unzip my materials.
Open both the greenpaper.jpg and grunge_mask in PSP, minimize the mask to your workspace.
Duplicate the greenpaper file by holding down the shift key and typing the letter 'd'.
Close the original.

Using the 'Move tool', click once on the canvas to promote the background layer, or right click
on the layer and select 'Promote background layer'.

This will be our working canvas.


Step 2:
Layers > New mask layer > From image.
Select the 'grunge_mask.jpg' from the drop down list.
Check 'Source luminance' and 'Invert mask data' as shown below:


Right click on the mask layer and select 'Merge group'.
You can close the grunge_mask.jpg file now.

Image > Canvas size.
Increase the canvas to 600x600, Placement; Top Middle.
Add a new raster layer, fill it with white. 
Right click on the layer and select 'arrange' > 'move down'.

Step 3:
File new, 285x320, transparent.
  Fill your canvas with white.
Select all / modify / contract, contract by 7.
Fill the selection with black.
Select none.
Name this layer 'frame'.

Increase canvas size to 500x500 so we have room to work.  Placement; Middle.
Add a new layer, fill with #808080, or any contrasting color.
Move this layer to the bottom of the layers palette.

Grab the eraser tool (or type the letter 'x' on your keyboard to activate it).
Locate and load the 'Deckle Edge' brush in the brush drop down list.

Plug in the below settings in the Eraser Tool Options palette:



Step 4:
Making sure you are on the 'frame' layer, use the eraser tool to go around the outside edges
of the frame, chipping pieces away.  We are trying to make it look old.

When you are satisfied with how your frame looks, go up to
Selections > Select all / Selections > Float / Selections > Defloat
Create a new raster layer. 
In your materials palette, set your Foreground color to black.

Grab your Paint brush, or type the letter 'b' to activate it.
Again, load the Deckle Edge brush, change the size to 15, or whatever size you're comfortable with.
Go around the outside edges of the frame, adding some black highlights to grunge it up a little.

Adjust > Blur > Gaussian blur, Radius 1.
Select none.


Step 5:
Open the Angelina.jpg image in PSP.
 On your keyboard, hit Control 'C' to copy it, close the original file.
Back on the frame, right click on the Title bar, select 'Paste as New Layer'.



Place the image on top of your frame.  Perfection is not required, we're going for a messy look : )
Hide your bottom layer by clicking on the eye next to the layer.
Right click on the Title bar and select 'Copy Merged'.

Over on your working canvas, right click on the Title bar, select 'Paste as New Layer'.
You can close the frame file now, we no longer need it.

Here is how my frame looked at this point:



Step 6:
Move your frame toward the upper left side of the canvas, see my finished tag for placement.
Add the following drop shadow:  2, 2, 65, 10, Black, Shadow on new layer not checked.

Open all remaining supplies in PSP.  We are going to copy and paste each one
on our working canvas, as a new layer.  Close the original file after you copy it. 
(Refer to my finished tag for placement on all)

Copy st_wordart2.pspimage, close the original file. 
On the layers palette, click the mask layer.
Paste st_wordart2 as a new layer, move it over to the upper right side of the canvas.
(This layer should be located on top of the mask layer, just below the frame layer)

Copy and paste st_flourish, place it on the left side of the frame.

Copy and paste the 'tape' file, position it at the top left of the frame, covering the tip of the flourish. 
Right click on the layer and duplicate it.
Go up to Image > Image Mirror and place the 2nd piece of tape on the right side of the frame.

Copy and paste angelina_tube.pspimage, place it on the right of the canvas.

Copy and paste rivets.jpg.  Add drop shadow:  1, 1, 65, 5, black.
(Shadow on new layer is not checked on any drop shadow we apply)

Copy and paste st_flourish2, move it below the rivets layer.  Add drop shadow 1, 1, 65, 3, black.

Copy and paste st_wordart.  Same drop shadow as above.

Copy and paste the butterfly.

If you would like to add some elements of your own, now is the time.


Step 7:
Using a font and color of your choice, type your name.  I rotated mine 10 degrees to the right.
Right click on the layer, convert your text to raster, add drop shadow: 1, 1, 65, 5, black.

If you are satisfied with the placement of all items, delete your bottom (white) layer.
Right click on any layer and select merge visible.

Image > resize.  Resize 85%, Bicubic, Lock Aspect Ratio and Resize all layers both checked.

Grab your Selection tool, or type the letter 's' to activate it.
In the Tool options palette, change the settings to reflect the following:
Selection type: Rectangle
Mode: Replace
Feather: 0
Anti-alias:  checked
Create selection from:  Layer Opaque  (the middle button)

Image / Crop to Selection.

Select none.

Save your file as a .jpg and you're done!

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial; I would love to see your results!
Feedback is always welcome, thanks for stopping by.