Distressed Bag Topper
~ This tutorial assumes you are familiar with the tools in PSP ~
It was written on May 14, 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: Filters Unlimited Photo aging kit - Download HERE The use of the above filter is optional. You can substitute it with some of your favorite brushes. However, if you decide to download it, remember to restart PSP after installing. My Supplies - HERE The template file located in my supply download contains 3 alpha channel selections, #1, #2, and staple. To load a selection, go up to Selections > Load/Save Selections > Load selection from alpha channel. |
Step 1:
Unzip & open the topper_template file in PSP.
Hold down the Shift Key and hit the letter 'D' to duplicate the file.
Close the original.
Step 2:
In your Materials Palette, set your Foreground color to #d5c595, Background color to #761c0f.
Step 3:
Making sure you are on the Topper layer, load selection #1. Fill with your Foreground color, select none.
Step 4:
Still on your Topper layer, load selection #2, hit the delete key once, select none.
Step 5:
Effects > Plugins > IC.Net Software (this is Filters Unlimited)
Click on the Photo Aging Kit, select Cracked Paper.
Change the Intensity to 25, Texture to 16, hit apply.
Adjust > Add/Remove Noise > Add noise > Gaussian, Monochrome, 3.
Effects > Plugins > Filters Unlimited > Photo Aging Kit > Dirt.
Change the Intensity to 5, Texture to 7, hit apply.
Step 6:
Selections > Select all > Selections float > Selections defloat.
Click on the 'Shading' layer and fill with your background color, keep selected.
(have faith, don’t change colors on me now, lol)
Selections > modify > contract by 10.
Selections > modify > feather 25.
Hit the delete key, twice – Select none.
Change the blend mode to burn or overlay and reduce the opacity of this layer
to anywhere from 42 to 56. I used 50 on my sample.
Here is what my topper looked like at this point:
Step 7 - Staple:
Click on the 'Staple' layer, load staple selection from alpha channel.
Change your foreground color to #c18958 and fill the selection, Select none.
Apply the following inner bevel:
Bevel #9,
Size: 1
Smoothness: 25
Depth: 4
Ambiance: 0
Shininess: 44
Color: White
Angle: 280
Intensity: 25
Elevation: 50
Effects > Artistic effects > Chrome and use the below settings:
Step 8:
Duplicate the staple and move it over to the other side of your topper, do not use image/mirror.
You can either use your move tool and line it up by eye, or, using the move tool,
click on the staple once, now use the arrow keys on your keyboard to move the staple over.
Holdng down the ‘shift key’ while using the arrow keys, will move the staple 10 pixels at a time.
Step 9:
Hide your background layer by clicking on the eye next to the layer.
Right click on any other layer and merge visible.
Add your favorite drop shadow.
That's it, you're done! I hope you enjoyed this tutorial; I would love to see your results.
