Blurred & Woven Forum Set

Supplies needed:

No scraps for this one :)

Image of choice – Artwork used in this tutorial is ©sxc.hu. These are FTU stock images, just be sure to check the usage instructions for the image you want to use. For this set, I used this one - http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1094303

Filter – Mura’s Filter Meister: Copies (Free)

            Eye Candy 5 Impact (PTU) OR Eye Candy 3.1 (Free) – Gradient Glow - Optional

Font of choice – I used “Manta”

All links and supplies shared with permission.

You will need a good working knowledge of PSP to complete this tutorial. This tutorial was written using version X2.

Let’s get started!

Open a new canvas – 500 x 250, transparent.

Open your image. Crop & resize so that it is between 200 x 200 and 250 x 250. It does not have to be square. Be sure, when resizing, you click “Lock Aspect Ratio” so that you do not distort the image.

Still on your small image – add a new raster layer as your top layer. (Or, if your image is on the small size, skip the next 3 steps & use Image>Add Borders to add a 5 pixel symmetrical border in your color of choice.)

Flood fill the new layer with a color of choice from your image. I used #c82a43.

Selections>Select All, then Selections>Modify>Contract by 5. Hit Delete. Selections>Select None.

Right click on either layer and choose Merge>Merge Visible.

Then copy & paste it onto your 500 x 250 canvas. Do not close out your 250x250 image with border, we will use it again.

On your 500x250 canvas, duplicate your image.

On the bottom (original) layer, apply Mura’s Meister Copies: Wall Paper with Shrink. Play with the “Number” setting until you have a nice mix of colors and the entire canvas is filled (no blanks spots or gaps). If you end up with areas of the canvas that aren’t covered, you can duplicate the Mura’s layer, and then mirror it and/or invert it, to get more coverage. If you do this, you will need to merge the 2 layers together.

Still on the Mura’s layer, Adjust>Blur>Radial Blur. Blur type: Zoom, Strength: 50, Elliptical: Checked, Horizontal & Vertical Offset: 0, Protect Center: 25.

Still on the Mura’s layer, Effects>Texture Effects>Weave. Gap Size: 1, Width: 3, Opacity: 1, Fill Gaps: Checked. Weave Color & Gap Color: the same as what you used for your border.

Save your progress.

Above the Mura’s layer, but below the image layer, draw out a long rectangle that goes all the way across your canvas (horizontally). Foreground color turned off, background color the same as your border color.

Center it, convert to Raster. Apply a drop shadow: 3, 3, 40, 5, black. Then -3, -3, 40, 5, black.

Apply the same drop shadows to your image layer.

Above your image layer (will be your new top layer), add a new raster layer.

Flood fill the new layer with the same color you used for your image border.

Selections>Select All, then Selections>Modify>Contract by 5. Hit Delete. Selections>Select None.

Save your progress.

On one side of your canvas, add a quote or saying of choice. (Optional)

On the other side, add your name. Add a drop shadow to your name. I used 3, 3, 40, 3, black.

Now, add your copyright info, license # (if applicable), and tagger’s mark (if you use one). Every tag needs copyright info ;) I used a gradient glow to make my copyright info more visible.

Save as .png file and you are done with the tag.

For the avatar -

Go back to your small image with border.

Resize it so that the longest size it 150 pixels.

Image>Canvas Size – Enter new dimensions of 150x150 pixels and choose placement to center.

Now, add your copyright info / license and your name or initial.

Save as .png and you’re done!

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

This tutorial was created on March 28, 2011. Tutorial is © tutsbyj0eswife and is registered with TWI.

Click HERE to return to the tutorial listing. 

Here's another example, also using a stock image from sxc.hu:

Copied & Inset Forum Set

Copied & Inset Forum Set

Supplies needed:

No scraps for this one :)

Image of choice – Artwork used in this tutorial is ©Camilla Drakenborg, http://drakenborg.deviantart.com/ To use this work, you must first purchase a license from UYA. I am using an image, you can use a tube if you want. If you use a tube, you will need to have a background of some sort on it.

Filter – Mura’s Filter Meister: Copies (Free)

            Xero: Fritillary (Free)

  Eye Candy 5 Impact (PTU) OR Eye Candy 3.1 (Free) – Gradient Glow

Font of choice – I used “Aphrodite Pro”

All links and supplies shared with permission.

You will need a good working knowledge of PSP to complete this tutorial. This tutorial was written using version X2.

Let’s get started!

Open a new canvas – 500 x 250, transparent.

Open your image. Crop & resize so that it is 250 x 250. Be sure, when resizing, you click “Lock Aspect Ratio” so that you do not distort the image.

Still on your 250 x 250 image – add a new raster layer as your top layer.

Flood fill the new layer with a color of choice from your image. I used #6e5636.

Selections>Select All, then Selections>Modify>Contract by 4. Hit Delete. Selections>Select None.

Right click on either layer and choose Merge>Merge Visible. Then copy & paste it onto your 500 x 250 canvas. Do not close out your 250x250 image with border, we will use it again.

On your 500x250 canvas, free rotate your image by 20 degrees to the left. Move your rotated image to the far left of your canvas.

Adjust>Sharpness>Sharpen. Save your progress.

Mura’s Meister Copies with these settings –

Now, go back to your 250x250 image w/ border. Resize it 50%. Copy & paste it onto your canvas. Still, don’t close out the image, we’re gonna use it for our avatar.

Back on your 500x250 canvas, paste the small image once as your top layer and once again as your bottom layer.

On your bottom small image layer, apply Mura’s Meister Copies, using Wallpaper: Rotate. Increase the “Number” setting until the images cover the entire canvas.

On your Mura’s wallpaper layer, Adjust>Blur>Gaussian Blur: radius 2.

Adjust>Add/Remove Noise>Add Noise: Uniform, 50%, Monochrome checked. Save your progress.

Still on that same layer, apply Xero:Fritillary with settings 5, 110, 40, 30.

Now, go to the top layer, with the 125x125 image. Move it to the bottom right corner. Adjust>Sharpness>Sharpen. Save.

Add a new raster layer as your top layer. Flood fill it with the same color you used for your image border.

Selections>Select All, then Selections>Modify>Contract by 1. Hit Delete. Selections>Select None.

Add a drop shadow to your small image at the bottom right. I used 5, 5, 55, 5, black.

If you want, add a drop shadow to your large image layer (the one we applies “Throw” to). I used -5, -5, 55, 5, black.

Now, add your copyright info, license # (if applicable), and tagger’s mark (if you use one). Every tag needs copyright info ;) I used a gradient glow to make my copyright info more visible.

Finally, add your name. I used font “Aphrodite Pro”, in the same color you used for your image border. Add a gradient glow to make it more visible.

Add a drop shadow to your name. I used 3, 3, 35, 3, #332715.

Save as .png file and you are done with the tag.

For the avatar -

Go back to your small image with border.

Image>Canvas Size – Enter new dimensions of 150x150 pixels and choose placement to the top left.

Now, add your copyright info / license and your name or initial.

Save as .png and you’re done!

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

This tutorial was created on March 14, 2011. Tutorial is © tutsbyj0eswife and is registered with TWI.

Click HERE to return to the tutorial listing.

Here's another example, also using artwork ©Camilla Drakenborg

Easy Animated Forum Tag

Easy Animated Forum Tag

Supplies needed:

NO SCRAPKIT NEEDED

Tube of choice – I am using art that is ©Anna Liwanag, http://kei03.deviantart.com. The name of the tube is “I Love Music.” I have purchased a license to use this work. If you do not have a license, please do not use this work. If you would like more info on purchasing a license, visit MPT

Font of choice – I am using “TS Curly,” but you can use whatever works with your tube J

Preset shape of choice – I am using some music notes, but you should use whatever works best with your tube.

Filter – Mura’s Meister: Copies; Eye Candy 3.1 Glow or Eye Candy 5: Impact>Gradient Glow

Optional – DSB Flux: Bright Noise; Animation Shop

That’s it! This tutorial is written using PSP X2 but should work in any version. The forum sizes used here are based on the guidelines used at The Zone Groups.

Let’s get started!

First, open a new canvas 500 x 250. Open your tube and duplicate it into a new window (just use Shift+D). Close the original and leave the duplicate up for reference.

For this forum set, you will need to choose 2 colors that match/complement your tube. One should be darker and one lighter. I am using #d35b8c for my dark color and #f9a9d1 for my light color.

Flood fill your canvas with your light color.

Apply Texture Effects>Blinds with these settings: Width 2, Opacity 10, Color White, both boxes checked.

Now, using your Preset Shape tool, select the shape you’re going to use. Set your foreground to off, and your background (fill) to your dark color. Draw the shape out rather small (mine is roughly 65x65).

Object>Align>Center in Canvas. Convert to Raster Layer.

Still on your shape layer, apply Mura’s Meister: Copies, using these settings:

Duplicate shape layer. Save your progress.

On your original shape layer (the bottom-most one), apply a gradient glow using your light color. Then, apply a drop shadow. I used 2, 2, 85, 2, color – my dark color.

Above your shape layers, use your preset shape tool (rectangle) to draw out a rectangle across the length of your tag. (See my tag for placement). Again, set the foreground to null and the background to your dark color.

Convert to raster layer. Apply Texture Effects>Blinds with the same settings as before. Apply the same gradient glow as you did to your other shapes. Add a drop shadow, I used 2, 0, 85, 2, color – my dark color, and then -2, 0, 85, 2, my dark color.

Save your progress.

Copy & paste your tube onto your canvas. It should be your top-most layer. Arrange it how you like. Add a drop shadow. I used 4, 4, 45, 4, color – black. And then 4, -4, 45, 4, black.

Add a new raster layer above your tube layer. CTRL+A to select all. Flood fill with your dark color. Selections>Modify>Contract by 4. Hit the delete key. Then, CTRL+D to selection none. Save.

Now, add your copyright & your name, and we’re ready to animate!

Open Animation Shop, then return to PSP.

Activate your shape layer – the one that does not have a gradient glow or drop shadow.

Apply dsb flux>Bright Noise using these settings: Intensity 40, Mix. (Or you can use the Add Noise feature built into PSP).

Edit>Copy>Copy Special> Copy Merged.

In Animation Shop, CRL+V to paste the merged image.

Back in PSP, CTRL+Z to undo the bright noise.

Then, re-apply dsb flux Bright Noise, with the same settings, but click on the word Mix once or twice.

In Animation Shop, CRL+Shift+L to paste the merged image.

Back in PSP, CTRL+Z to undo the bright noise.

Then, re-apply dsb flux Bright Noise, with the same settings, but click on the word Mix once or twice.

In Animation Shop, CRL+Shift+L to paste the merged image.

Still in Animation Shop, CTRL+A to select all frames, then ALT+Enter to change the frame speed to 15.

Save as GIF & you’re done!

I love to see all tut results, so email them to tutsbyj0eswife@gmail.com.

This tutorial was created on March 7, 2011. Tutorial is © tutsbyj0eswife and is registered with TWI.

Here's another example, using the art of Ismael Rac & a snowflake preset shape :)