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 FTU filter or two.
Image of choice – I am using art that is ©Joan Pelaez, www.sqpinc.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 “Rapscallion.”
Plug-Ins – Mura’s Filter Meister: Copies
- Filter Factor Gallery V: Plain Mosaic 2
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, 600 wide and 250 high, transparent. Copy and paste your tube onto your canvas. Arrange it in the center of your canvas, see my tag for reference.
Go back to your tube and resize it to a height of 250 (be sure that lock aspect ratio is checked).
Crop your canvas, keep the size 600x250, you just want to crop off any excess tube that is off the canvas.
Copy and paste the small tube onto your canvas. Arrange it to one side. Add a drop shadow, I used 5, -5, 65, 5, color black.
Duplicate, and then Image>Mirror. Save your progress.
Merge your two small tube layers together. Duplicate the merged layer.
On the original merged layer, apply Mura’s Filter Meister Copies, using the “Wallpaper” preset. You want to be sure the whole canvas is covered, so play with the settings if necessary.
Next apply Filter Factor Gallery V: Plain Mosaic 2, using these settings: Cell Width 15, Cell Height 20, Edges Hard/Soft/Off 80. Save.
I then added a wood texture to the mosaic layer, you could skip this or add any texture of your choice.
Add a new raster layer and move it to the bottom of your layers. Flood fill this with a color of your choice, I used #704a37.
Back on your mosaic layer, play with the Blend Mode. I used Luminance, but it just depends on what you like. Merge the mosaic layer down with the color layer. Save.
Click on your main tube layer (the one in the middle), and center your main tube. (There is a script built into PSP called “Center Layer,” in your Scripts toolbar choose the scripts in your Scripts Restricted folder and you should see it. Then just press the play button and it will center the tube on the canvas.) Save.
Go back to your duplicated merged tube layer – the one with the small tubes on the sides of your canvas.
Change the Blend Mode to Luminace (Legacy). Selections>Select All>Float>Defloat.
Apply a new raster layer below your duplicated merged layer, and flood fill the new layer with a color from your mosaic layer. I used #714b38. Selections>None.
Click on your duplicated merged tube layer, right click and choose Merge Down. Save.
Your layers, from bottom to top should be – mosaic layer, duplicated merged tube layer, main tube layer.
Using your preset shape tool, draw out a rectangle around your main tube. I used stroke width 5, fill turned off, color #704a37. You want the edges of the rectangle to be flush with the edge of the canvas. Center the rectangle on your canvas and then convert to a raster layer.
Using your magic wand tool, mode set to add and tolerance and feather set to 0, click inside your rectangle. Selections>Modify>Expand by 2.
Create a new raster layer below your main tube layer (but above your duplicated merged layer). Flood fill the selection on that layer with a color from your mosaic. I used #b88b74. Selections>Select None. Save.
I then added the same wood texture that I add to the mosaic layer. You can skip this step or use any texture.
Add a drop shadow to your main tube layer. I used 5, 5, 55, 10, color black. Then 5, -5, 55, 10, black. Save.
Add a new raster layer at the top of your canvas. Selections>Select All, Selections>Modify>Contract by 5, Selections>Invert.
Flood fill the selection with the same color you used for your rectangle. Selections>None.
Add a drop shadow to this frame and to the rectangle. I used 0, 0, 60, 10, black.
Now add your copyright info and tagger’s mark (if you use one).
Add your name. I am using font “Rapscallion,” size 72, stroke set to 1.5 and color #704a37, fill color #b88b74. Convert to raster and add a drop shadow, I used 2, -2, 85, 2, color black.
Save and you are done with your tag! (Save as .png to retain best color depth.)
I would LOVE to see your results! Email them to tutsbyj0eswife@gmail.com
This tutorial was created on