Beginner Forum Set Tutorial

Supplies Needed

Image of Choice – I'm using a wonderful image by Darriel Jenkins, http://www.renderosity.com/mod/gallery/browse.php?username=ryo80
*Used with permission granted to Shewolfs Domain yahoo group 

Font of Choice – I'm using Dynomite Spark Thin

Optional – Animation Shop, Eye Candy

Let's Get Started!

Open image of choice. If image is larger than 500 pixels in width, resize to width of 500. If smaller than that, don't resize to make it larger, just work with it as is. Duplicate it, we will use one for the tag & one for the avatar.

Activate your Crop tool. Set it to a width of 500 (or the width of your image) and a height of 250. Move the crop box around until you get the area you want to use for your tag. Hit the check mark to apply crop.

Activate your Preset Shape tool. Choose the rectangle tool.

Set your stroke/foreground color to null & your background/fill color to a color from your image. I used #bf4b01.

Draw a long thin rectangle out on your canvas. Convert to raster layer.

Rotate your shape so it cuts across the canvas. I rotated mine 55 degrees to the left, but the exact angle will depend on the image you choose.

Apply a texture effect to your shape. I used Blinds, 3, 25, Light from the top, color #482d1a.

Save.

Add a new raster layer, should be your top layer.

Selections>Select All

Flood fill with the same color your used for your rectangle.

Selections>Modify>Contract by 5 pixels.

With your flood filled layer still active, hit the Delete key.

Selections>Select None.

Save.

Add a drop shadow to your border & your rectangle. I used 0, 0, 55, 10, black. Save.

Add your copyright info.

Add your name/text. Rotate it the same amount you rotated your rectangle & place it over the rectangle on your canvas.

Add a gradient glow (optional, use Eye Candy: Gradient Glow) and drop shadow to your name.

If you'd like to add simple animation to the rectangle/border, follow the instructions below, otherwise – you're done with your tag!

For your avatar – 

Crop a 150 x 150 portion from your original image. Repeat the steps you used to create the border. Add your name & copyright info.

For animation -

Activate your rectangle or border layer – whichever you want to animate.

Go to Adjust>Add/Remove Noise>Add Noise. Choose settings “Uniform” and 60%, Monochrome should be CHECKED.

Edit>Copy Special>Copy Merged

Go to Animation Shop and Edit>Paste>As New Animation (or CTRL+V)

Back in PSP, Edit>Undo (or CTRL+Z)

Go to Adjust>Add/Remove Noise>Add Noise. Choose settings “Uniform” and 61%, Monochrome should be CHECKED.

Edit>Copy Special>Copy Merged

Go to Animation Shop and Edit>Paste>After Current Frame (or CTRL+Shift+L)

Back in PSP, Edit>Undo (or CTRL+Z)

Go to Adjust>Add/Remove Noise>Add Noise. Choose settings “Uniform” and 62%, Monochrome should be CHECKED.

Go to Animation Shop and Edit>Paste>After Current Frame (or CTRL+Shift+L)

Still in Animation Shop – Edit>Select All (or CTRL+A)

Animation>Frame Properties – Change the display time to 15

View>Animation – You can speed up the “twinkling” by changing the display time to a number lower than 15, or slow it down by using a higher number.

When you are happy with it, save as GIF and you are done.

Here's another example of the tut, using artwork by ©Khaosdog, www.khaosdog.de (Used with permission of the artist)

Sweet Nothings

Hosted on Fotki

Supplies needed:

Scrapkit of choice - I used Bluedream Designs' FTU kit “Sweet Nothings”. You can get this great kit & more freebies at her blog - http://bluedreamdesigns.blogspot.com/

Tube of choice – I used Keith Garvey's tube “Robin”, which can be purchased at MPT. You must purchase the tube & obtain a license from MPT in order to use this artwork.

Font of choice – I am using “Diskus”, you can use any font you want.

Mask of choice – WSL Mask 079, which you can get from her blog - http://weescotslasscreations.blogspot.com/

Optional Plug-In – Eye Candy Gradient Glow

All links and supplies shared with permission.

This tutorial is written using PSP X2, but should be easy to do on other versions. It is written assuming you have a general working knowledge of PSP.

Let’s get started!

First, open a new canvas 500 x 500.

Flood fill the canvas white.

Open Paper10, copy & paste onto your canvas.

Apply WSL mask 079.

Activate the mask layer & resize just that layer 125%

Merge mask group together.

Save your work.

Open Paper5, copy & paste onto your canvas.

Open Frame1, copy & paste onto your canvas.

Open your tube, copy & paste close-up onto your canvas. Move it above Paper5 but below Frame1.

On your close-up layer, Mirror (CTRL+M). Arrange it under the frame as you like.

Change Blend Mode of close-up layer to Luminance (Legacy).

Save your progress.

Activate your frame layer.

Using your magic wand tool (tolerance and feather set to 0, mode set to add, match mode set to none), click INSIDE your frame.

Selections>Modify>Expand by 5 pixels.

Selections>Invert (CTRL+Shift+I)

Activate your Paper5 layer and hit the Delete key on your keyboard.

Activate your close-up layer and hit the Delete key on your keyboard.

Selections>None (CTRL+D). Save.

Activate your close-up layer, right click on layer palette, choose Merge>Merge Down.

Repeat to merge your frame down onto your close-up & paper.

Save.

Activate your crop tool, select the entire canvas, and crop (gets rid of any paper outside of the canvas area).

On your merged together frame layer – resize 90%

Apply a drop shadow to your frame layer. I used 5, 5, 25, 6, black, then again using -5, -5, 25, 6, black.

Save.

Copy & paste your tube onto the canvas. I resized mine 85% to get it to fit.

Arrange it how you like & add a drop shadow. I used 4, -4, 40, 8, black.

Save.

Open Flower Doodle & resize 65%. Copy & paste onto your canvas, below frame layer & above masked layer.

Move the doodle to the top left corner of your canvas.

Duplicate your doodle layer, Mirror & Invert the doodle & arrange how you like.

Open Flower1, resize 85%, arrange how you like. Add drop shadow, I used 3, 3, 40, 5.

I added the saying “Whisper Sweet Nothings To Me” at the top in #605342, then added a gradient glow of 5, using color #fcdcde. Drop shadow used is 2, 2, 45, 2, color #29231d.

Save.

If you are going to resize the tag, do so now BEFORE you add your copyright info.

Add your copyright info/license number/tagger’s mark. Save.

Add your name or other text, hide the white background, save as .png file, and you are done!

I would love to see your results! Email them to tutsbyj0eswife@gmail.com

This tutorial was created on November 18, 2010. Tutorial is © tutsbyj0eswife and is registered with TWI.

Click HERE to return to tutorial listing.

Pete's World

Click the preview for full-sized image. Art used is ©KatNKDA

-->

Supplies needed:

Scrapkit of choice - I used Angelica S.'s PTU kit “Pete's World”. This beautiful kit includes the tube I used, so it's ALL you need to do this tutorial! Unfortunately I can not find this kit for sale anymore! You can get Angelica's work at Scraps and the City.

Tube or Image of choice – The tube is included with the Pete's World scrap kit. Be sure to use your license number if using this tube.

Font of choice – I am using Fountain Pen, use any font you like.

Font of choice - VixMask109

All links and supplies shared with permission.

This tutorial is written using PSP X2, but should be easy to do on other versions. It is written assuming you have a general working knowledge of PSP.

Let’s get started!

First, open a new canvas 500 x 500.

Flood fill the canvas white.

Open Paper02, resize to 500x500, copy & paste onto your canvas.

Apply mask, then merge mask group together.

Duplicate merged mask layer, then Mirror (CTRL+M).

Merge mask layers together.

Save your progress.

Open Element37, resize 33%, copy and paste onto your canvas, above mask layer.

Duplicate element layer, rotate duplicate 90degrees left (CTRL+R).

Merge element layers together.

Save your progress.

Open Paper09, resize to 500x500, copy & paste onto your canvas, above your element layer.

Open Element20, resize 35%, copy and paste onto your canvas, above Paper09 layer.

With your Element20 layer active - Using your magic wand tool (tolerance and feather set to 0, mode set to add, match mode set to none), click OUTSIDE your frame.

Selections>Modify>Expand by 8 pixels.

Activate your Paper09 layer and hit the Delete key on your keyboard.

Selections>None (CTRL+D). Save.

Still on your Paper09 layer, Adjust>Blur>Gaussian Blur: 20.

Still on your Paper09 layer, Effects>Texture Effects>Weave with these settings:

Gap Size: 1; Width: 1, Opacity: 50, Weave Color: #415a7d (or whatever you want!), Fill Gaps: Unchecked

Save your progress.

Open Pete tube, resize 45%, copy & paste onto your canvas, as the new top layer.

Apply a drop shadow to Pete tube. I used 4, 4, 55, 6, black.

Duplicate your Element20 layer (the frame), and move the duplicate layer above your Pete tube layer.

Erase the top half of the frame layer (the top layer), so that the cats ears are sticking out of the frame (see my tag for example).

Active your Pete tube layer, and erase his feet and any other parts that are poking out of the frame (besides the parts that you WANT poking out, of course!)

Save your progress.

Open Element01, resize 25%, copy & paste onto your canvas, as your new top layer.

Free rotate Element01 100degrees left (CTRL+R), then Mirror (CTRL+M).

Arrange it how you like, then add a drop shadow of choice, I used the same one as earlier.

Save your progress.

Open Element 41, resize 22%, copy & paste onto your canvas as your new top layer.

Arrange it how you like, then add a drop shadow of choice, I used the same one as earlier.

Save your progress.

Open Element09, resize 33%, copy & paste onto your canvas as your new top layer.

Arrange it at the base of your frame so that it covers the stems of the leaf elements.

Open Element15, resize 15%, copy & paste onto your canvas as your new top layer.

Arrange it on the side of the tag element, so that it covers up the little button. (See my tag for reference).

Merge Element15 down onto Element 09, then add a drop shadow of choice, I used the same one as earlier.

Save.

Crop off the excess white space around the edges.

If you are going to resize the tag, do so now BEFORE you add your copyright info.

Add your copyright info/license number/tagger’s mark. Save.

Add your name or other text, save as .png file, and you are done!

(If you want to add a glitter effect to the Doodle layer, while your tag is still in layers, follow the animation instructions HERE)

I would love to see your results! Email them to tutsbyj0eswife@gmail.com

This tutorial was created on April 5, 2010. Tutorial is © tutsbyj0eswife and is registered with TWI.

Click HERE to return to tutorial listing.

Tequila Sunrise

Click tag to see full size. Tube used is ©Jamie Kidd, full info on tag.

Supplies needed:

Scrapkit of choice - I used my own PTU kit “Tequila Sunrise”. But, you can do a variation of this tut by using my freebie sampler, available on my blog. If you’re interested in purchasing the kit, visit Digital Chaos.

Scraps needed: 1 paper, frame, doodle, accents

Tube or Image of choice – I am using an awesome tube by Jamie Kidd, http://www.jamiekiddart.com/. You can purchase her new tubes at CDO. Do not use her work unless you have purchased it through the licensing company. (The tube I used is “Tequila Sunrise”, which is available in Package 48.)

Font of choice – I am using MC Twinkle Star, use any font you like.

Plug In – (Optional) – DSB Flux, Bright Noise (You can use the add noise feature in PSP instead.)

Optional – Animation Shop

All links and supplies shared with permission.

This tutorial is written using PSP X2, but should be easy to do on other versions. It is written assuming you have a general working knowledge of PSP.

Let’s get started!

First, open a new canvas 600 x 600.

Flood fill the canvas white.

Open Paper 08, resize 50%, copy and paste as a new layer.

Open Frame 43, resize 75%, copy and paste as a new layer.

Save your progress (as a psp/pspimage file).

With your frame layer active - Using your magic wand tool (tolerance and feather set to 0, mode set to add, match mode set to none), click OUTSIDE your frame.

Selections>Modify>Expand by 3 pixels.

Activate your paper layer and hit the Delete key on your keyboard.

Selections>None (CTRL+D). Save.

Open your tube. Copy and paste it onto your canvas, resize and arrange as you like.

Add a drop shadow of your choice. (I used 4, 4, 40, 6, black).

Move your tube layer so that it above your frame layer.

Duplicate your frame layer and move one copy above your tube layer.

On your top frame layer, erase everything except the bottom part. You want the bottom of the frame to cover the bottom of the tube, so that it looks like she's coming out of the frame. You may also need to erase a little of your tube that sticks out below the frame.

Save your progress.

Once again, copy and paste your tube onto your canvas. Move it so that the face is featured inside the frame, then move the layer so that it is just above your paper layer.

On this tube layer, change the blend mode to Luminance (Legacy) and change the opacity to 40.

With your paper layer active - Using your magic wand tool (tolerance and feather set to 0, mode set to add, match mode set to none), click OUTSIDE your paper.

Activate your lower tube layer and hit the Delete key on your keyboard.

Selections>None (CTRL+D). Save.

Open Flower03_with leaves, resize 35%, copy and paste onto your canvas.

Add a drop shadow of your choice. (I used 4, 4, 40, 6, black).

Duplicate your flower layer.

Mirror the duplicate flower layer (CTRL+M), and move it to the top left of your frame.

Add any other accents you like.

Save your progress.

Open StarDoodle3, resize 75%, copy and paste onto your canvas. Move it below the paper layer.

Duplicate the StarDoodle and mirror it.

Merge the duplicate and original StarDoodle together.

Duplicate the merged StarDoodle.

Rotate it 45degrees to the right. (Image>Free Rotate, or CTRL+R).

Merge the duplicate and original StarDoodle together.

Duplicate the merged StarDoodle.

On the original (bottom) StarDoodle, Adjust>Blur>Gaussian Blur: 20.

Save.

Crop off the excess white space around the edges.

If you are going to resize the tag, do so now BEFORE you add your copyright info.

Add your copyright info/license number/tagger’s mark. Save.

Add your name or other text, save as .png file, and you are done!

(If you want to add a glitter effect to the StarDoodle layer (the one you didn't blur), while your tag is still in layers, follow the animation instructions HERE)

I would love to see your results! Email them to tutsbyj0eswife@gmail.com

This tutorial was created on April 1, 2010. Tutorial is © tutsbyj0eswife and is registered with TWI.

Click HERE to return to tutorial listing.

Carita's Cowgirl

Supplies needed:

Scrapkit of choice - I used the PTU kit “Romantic Rust” by Crazy Carita Scraps. You can purchase this kit at My PSP Tubes.

Tube of choice – I am using a gorgeous tube from Ismael Rac, http://xeracx.com/ Anyone wishing to use this tube must first purchase a license from AMI. The tube I used is “IR-BJ.”

Image of choice – I am using a stock photo from http://sxc.hu. The image I used can be found here: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1076944 Be sure to credit whatever image you choose to use.

Font of choice – I am using Bleeding Cowboys, you may use any font you like.

Filter – Mura’s Meister Copies, a free filter

All links and supplies shared with permission.

This tutorial is written using PSP X2, but should be easy to do on other versions. It is written assuming you have a general working knowledge of PSP.

Let’s get started!

As we go along, we will be working from the bottom of the tag towards the top. Sometimes it may look odd, you may paste a paper right over the top of all your work, but don’t worry – it will come together in the end J Each time you paste a new layer, it should be your new top layer.

First, open a new canvas 500 x 500, transparent.

Open “Glitter” and copy and paste onto your canvas.

Apply Mura’s Meister: Copies, using the settings below:

Save your progress.

Open “Mesh” and resize 85%. Copy and paste as a new layer.

Open “Border 1” and resize 70%. Copy and paste as a new layer.

Rotate your “Border 1” layer 50 degrees to the right. (CTRL+R, then use settings below)

Move the “Border 1” so that it is flush with the diagonal edge of the mesh (see sample tag for example).

In your layers palette, right click on the “Border 1” layer and choose Merge>Merge Down. Save your progress.

Move the merged border and mesh to the top right of your canvas.

In your layers palette, right click on the merged layer and choose Duplicate.

On your duplicate layer, CTRL+M (or Image>Mirror) and then CTRL+I (or Image>Mirror). Save.

Open your image of choice (western scene photo or other image). If you used the same on as me, resize to a width of 515 pixels.

Copy and paste it onto your canvas. I mirrored mine, but that’s optional. Don’t worry about placement yet, that will come later.

Go to Effects> Photo Effects> Sepia Toning. Amount to age: 45 (this may vary depending on the image you use) Save.

Open “Frame 1” and copy and paste it onto your canvas. CTRL+M to mirror it. Save.

Now, arrange your photo how you like, being sure your desired area is within the main portion of the frame.                                                                                                                         

Choose your Magic Wand tool. Mode: Add; Match Mode: Opacity; Feather and Tolerance settings both on zero.

With your frame layer active, click inside the main part of the frame, then click between the ribbon and the frame in both spots (see below)

Selections> Modify> Expand by 3 pixels.

Selections> Invert (or CTRL+Shift+I)

Activate your photo/image layer and hit the Delete key.

Selections> Select None (or CTRL+D). Save.

Optional: Crop around the edges of your canvas so you remove any of the image that may be hiding outside the canvas borders.

Now, open your tube of choice. If you are using the same as me, resize 85%.

Copy and paste it onto your canvas.

Add a drop shadow, I used 4, 4, 40, 12, black.

Duplicate the tube.

Drag one of the tube layers above the frame, and one below the frame.

Activate your photo/image layer.

Selections>Select All, Selections>Float, Selections>Defloat, Selections>Invert (or CTRL+A, CTRL+F, CTRL+Shift+F, CTRL+Shift+I)

Activate the tube layer that is BELOW your frame layer and hit delete. Selections>Select None (or CTRL+D) Save.

Now, activate the tube layer that is ABOVE your frame layer. Select your eraser tool, and erase the bottom half of your tube. (I erased everything from her left armpit to her right shoulder and below. You want to leave the portion of the tube that is to “come out of” the frame. See my tag for example.)

Now, add your credits and copyrights. Photos from sxc.hu should be credited as “Photo by sxc.hu”.

Add your name and any other text you like. I used background color #322e2b and foreground color #28a9ac, with a stroke width of 1, and then a light blue gradient glow.

Save as a .png file and you are done!

I would love to see your results! Email them to tutsbyj0eswife@gmail.com

This tutorial was created on January 8, 2010. Tutorial is © tutsbyj0eswife and is registered with TWI.

Click HERE for more tutorials.