Chunky Gems
~ This tutorial assumes you are familiar with the tools in PSP ~
It was written on May 22, 2008, using PSP XI, but it can be completed in most versions.
Tutorials are only guidelines, it's always fun to experiment with different settings on your own : )
| Supply Download: Tarnished Gold chrome preset Eycandy 4000 - Download not available Eyecandy 5 Impact / Chrome - Demo HERE Tools Used: Preset Shape Tool:  Pick Tool:  |
I'm sure there are numerous ways to make pretty gems, this is just my interpretation.
Step 1:
Place the chrome preset from my supply download into your Eyecandy 5 Impact Chrome folder
Step 2:
Create a new file, 300x300, transparent.
Step 3:
Glick on your Preset shape tool, or hit the letter 'p' to activate it.
Locate & select the Octagon shape in the shape list.
Uncheck 'Retain style', check both 'Create as vector' and 'Anti-alias'.
Step 4:
Go up to your materials palette, set your Foreground to null (transparent),
set your Background color to #a0b161.
Draw your shape by holding down the left mouse button and
dragging your mouse from the top left of your canvas down toward the bottom right.
Objects > Align > Center in canvas
Here is how mine looks:
Step 5:
Name this layer 'Gem' and duplicate it.
Name the duplicate layer 'Border' and hide it by clicking on the eye next to the layer.
Go back to your Gem layer, right click on the layer and choose 'convert to raster'.
Step 6:
Selections > Select all / Selections > Float / Selections > Defloat.
Effects > Plugins > Eye Candy 4000 / Glass
Plug in the below settings:
Basic:
Lighting:
Bevel Profile: Select Flat & edit to match below
Step 7:
Select none.
This is how your gem should look at this point:
Step 8:
Hide your 'Gem' layer for now.
Go up to your 'Border' layer, unhide it by clicking on that eye again : )
Grab your Pick tool, or type the letter 'k' to activate it.
Double click the shape on your canvas to bring up the Vector Property Dialog box.
Plug in the following settings:
Stroke: White, Fill: Unchecked, Stroke width: 10, Line style: Solid, Visible & Anti-alias checked.
Step 9:
Right click on your 'border' layer and convert to raster.
Selections > Select all / Selections > Float / Selections > Defloat.
Effects > Plugins > Alien Skin Eye Candy 5 Impact / Chrome.
Under the settings tab, select the TarnishedGold preset from my supply download, hit OK.
This is what your edge should look like:
Step 10:
Unhide your 'Gem' layer, duplicate it.
Change the blend mode on the duplicate layer to 'Hard Light', and lower the opacity to 54.
Merge visible and you're done!
Have fun experimenting with the glass settings. If you have access to EC5 impact/glass, you have
the ability to add your own refraction maps. This option allows you to achieve some awesome results.
I hope you enjoyed this tutorial; I would love to see your results.
