Supplies
This time, we are going to make a forum sized tag, based on the sizes allowed in The Zone.
No scrapkit for this one! All you need is an image (or a tube) and a couple of FTU filters!
Tube of choice – I am using art that is ©Joseph Corsentino, http://www.timeofthefaeries.com . You must have a license to use his work. For more information on getting a license and purchasing his art, visit MPT. The image I am using is called “Industrial Fae II.”
Font of choice – “Mistral” is what I used, and I think it came with Windows…
Preset Shape – You can use the one I made, which is here or below. (Just right click and save it as a .png file) Or you can use any frame type shape/brush.
Plug-In – Mura’s Meister: Copies. You can get it here http://www.photoshop-filters.com/html/mura.htm
- Filter Factory Gallery V: Ommadawn; You can get it here: http://www.photoshop-filters.com/html/ff_gallery_v.htm
Optional – Xero: Porcelain
- Eye Candy – any of the programs that offer “Gradient Glow”
I am using PSP X2, but this tut should be easy to use in other versions.
This tutorial is written assuming you have a good working knowledge of PSP.
Let's Go!
Open your image or tube. Duplicate it into a new window (just use Shift+D). Close the original.
Open a new canvas that is 600x250, this is your tag canvas.
Open the frame shape I have supplied. Copy and paste in onto your canvas. It should paste it directly in the center of the canvas. Leave it there. J
Resize your image/tube to a desirable size. I did not need to resize the “Industrial Fae II” image. Copy and paste onto your canvas, below your frame layer. Save your progress.
(If you are using a tube, you will need to add a layer below your tube and flood fill it with a color of choice. Merge your tube layer down into your flood fill layer.)
Activate your frame layer. Using your magic wand, tolerance and feather set to 0 and mode set to “add,” click inside the main portion of your frame (the center of the diamond) and the outer rectangle (you’ll have to click inside each of the outer sections). See my tag for reference.
Selections>Modify>Expand by 1. Selections>Invert.
Click on your image layer and hit delete. Sometimes, if I have portions of my tube outside of the canvas area, they don’t get deleted. So, go ahead and use your crop tool to select your entire canvas, and apply. That should crop out anything that is off the canvas. Save.
Merge your frame layer onto your image layer. Duplicate it once. Save.
On the bottom frame layer, apply Mura’s Filter Meister>Copies – Use preset “Tiling (feedback)” with the default settings.
On your Mura’s Meister’d frame layer, apply Filter Factory Gallery V: Ommadawn, use settings 17, 16, 234, 17. Save.
Optional: Apply Xero>Porcelain, using these settings: 50, 128, 128, 0, 0, 255.
Now, go back to your original frame layer, and duplicate it again.
On the newly duplicated frame layer, resize 60%.
Optional: Apply Xero>Porcelain, using these settings: 50, 128, 128, 0, 0, 255.
Optional: You can add a gradient glow if you like. I added a glow with a radius of 5, color #ffe9c0.
On this resized frame layer (not the top frame layer), apply Mura’s Filter Meister>Copies – Use preset “Line(Rotate)” with the default settings. Save.
Add a drop shadow to this layer. Go to Effects>3D Effects>Drop Shadow. I am using settings 0, 0, 100, 10, color black. Repeat. Save.
Add a new raster layer as your top layer. Selections>Select All. Selections>Modify>Contract by 5. Selections>Invert.
On your new raster layer, flood fill the selection with a color of choice. I used black. This is your border. Selections>Select None. Save.
Activate your top frame layer. This is the one that has not had any filters applied to it.
Optional: Apply Xero>Porcelain, using these settings: 50, 128, 128, 0, 0, 255. (I didn’t add this effect on this layer.)
Optional: You can add a gradient glow if you like. I added a glow with a radius of 5, color #ffe9c0.
Add a drop shadow to this layer. Go to Effects>3D Effects>Drop Shadow. I am using settings 0, 3, 100, 10, color black. Repeat using settings 0, -3, 100, 10. Save.
Copy>Paste as a new image. This will be your avatar, we will come back to it.
Now add your copyright info and tagger’s mark (if you use one).
Finally, add your name. I am using font “Mistral,” foreground set to null, background set to black (same as the border). Font size 72.
Optional: Convert your text to a raster layer and apply Eye Candy>Gradient Glow (I use a radius of 5 and same color as before).
Add a drop shadow to your text. Go to Effects>3D Effects>Drop Shadow. I am using settings 3, 3, 80, 5, color black.
Optional: Duplicate your name and place one in the top left and one in the bottom right of the tag.
Save and you are done with your tag!
Now, go to the frame that you copied and pasted as a new image. On this new image, resize so that the largest side is 150 pixels.
Add your credits and your name, and save as .png to retain the transparent background.
And you’re done!
I would LOVE to see your results! Email them to tutsbyj0eswife@gmail.com
This tutorial was created on
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