tuts by j0eswife |

Christmas Mosaic Forum Set

Supplies

This time, we are going to make a forum sized tag, based on the sizes allowed in The Zone.

Supplies needed:

No scrapkit for this one! All you need is an image or tube and a filter or two.

Image of choice – I am using art that is ©Michael Landefeld, mlteedesigns.com. It is used with a license through CILM. Do not use this image unless you have bought the appropriate license.

Font of choice – I am using “Kingthings Christmas”

Plug-Ins – Xenofex>Classic Mosaic (You can get by without it!)

- Eye Candy for optional gradient glow

You will need animation shop if you want to animate your tag.

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 of choice, duplicate it using SHIFT+D, and close the original.

Open a new canvas, 275 wide and 250 high, white.

Copy and paste your tube onto this canvas, and lower the opacity to 50%. This works best if you use a tube that comes with a close up image, or is large to begin with.

Copy and paste your tube again onto your canvas, resizing it as necessary. Image>Mirror. Arrange how you like.

Add a drop shadow to your tube (the one you resized and is at full opacity). I used 4, 4, 40, 5, black.

Add a new raster layer as your top layer.

On your new raster layer – Selections>Select All, Selections>Modify>Contract by 5. Selections>Invert.

Flood fill your selection with a dark color from your tube. I used #78020e. Selections>None.

Add a drop shadow to the border you just made. I used 0, 0, 75, 10, black.

Crop around the edges of this canvas, so you remove any of the tube that extends outside of the canvas.

Now, open a new canvas, 600 wide and 250 high, white.

Go back to your 275x250 canvas, and Edit>Copy Special>Copy Merged.

Back to your new 600x250 canvas – Edit>Paste. Name this layer “Top Square.”

Go back to your 275x250 canvas, and hide your small, full opacity tube layer.

Edit>Copy Special>Copy Merged.

Back to your new 600x250 canvas – Edit>Paste. Move this layer below the “Top Square” layer, and name this one “Bottom Square.”

Don’t close out the 275x250 canvas – instead, resize it to 150x136. Image>Canvas Size 150x150 and placement at the bottom. Now, add your name and copyright info and you have your avatar. J Save it and now let’s finish up the tag!

Back to your 600x250 canvas – add a new raster layer, it should be your top layer.

On your new raster layer – Selections>Select All, Selections>Modify>Contract by 5. Selections>Invert.

Flood fill your selection with a dark color from your tube. I used #78020e. Selections>None.

Add a drop shadow to the border you just made. I used 0, 0, 75, 10, black.

Go ahead and add the same drop shadow to your top and bottom square layers. Save your progress.

Now, we will be working just above the white bottom layer of your canvas.

Copy and paste your tube onto your canvas. Arrange it how you like, but it should be up against either the right of left edge of the canvas. I arranged mine so that the stocking was the main portion showing.

Duplicate, Image>Mirror. Save.

On this merged layer, apply some kind of mosaic filter. You can use:

- Xenofex>Classic Mosaic with these settings – 10, 40, 40, white.

- PSP Filter – Effects>Texture Effects>Mosaic Glass or Mosaic Antique (play with settings)

- Your filter / effect of choice

Now, add your copyright info and your tagger’s mark, if you use one.

Go ahead and hide your top square layer. Below it, but above your bottom square layer, add your name. (If you are not animating, then just add your name above the top square layer.)

I am using Kingthings Christmas, size 80, stroke set to 0, and fill/background color set to #78020e.

Convert to raster and add a white gradient glow if you want to.

Now, unhide your top square layer.

If you are not animating, save as .png and you are done! No matter what, save your progress now.

To animate –