MIS Snowtime Tutorial

Snowtime Tutorial

This is the tag we will be making:

Easy to Medium level - Basic knowledge of PSP is needed.

Materials Needed

Paint Shop Pro  (used Version 9, but can be done on any version)

Image/Photo of Choice - I used "Below Freezing" by Mis - I have her Unlimited License to use this.  If you would like to use it too, you can get this amazing image at Indie-Zine

Postage Stamp Template and Blue Snowflake "Dangle" by Me , in zipfile, HERE 

Filters Needed 

Blinds - comes with PSP

DSB Flux - Bright Noise   (or the noise filter in PSP if you don't have this filter -- settings for this filter will be in parenthesis in the area that calls for the DSB Flux filter)

VM Natural - Lightburst -- shareware, found HERE

Optional Filters (for Name/Text)

Eye Candy 4000 - HSB Noise

Eye Candy 5 Impact - Gradient Glow

Fonts used

KR Kinda Flakey (for shape)

Ambitsek (for copyright info)

Signboard Font (for name/text), (free for personal usage) 

Please note that I typically add my drop shadows last.  I will give the drop shadow settings that I have used at the end of the tutorial HOWEVER feel free to use your own settings if/when you would like.

1.  Install the font.  (Alternative:  You can open and minimize the font; it should show in PSP.  I use a font program called Cfont Pro (http://www.veign.com/application.php?appid=101) - it temporarily installs the font and will uninstall it when you shut down your computer.)

2.  Open a new file, 600 pixels x 700 pixels, 72 ppi, transparent.  Flood fill with white.  At this time, also Shift+D on your image (this will make a copy of your image) - then close out the original, then minimize it for the time being.

3.  Go to your materials palette and choose a complementary dark color as your foreground and a lighter version of that color as your background.  (I used #215475 for my foreground and #e0eff8 for my background.)  Activate your text tool with these settings:

Create as:  Vector

Direction:  Arrow Pointing Down (1st option)

Font:  KR Kinda Flakey

Size:  450

Stroke:  4.0

Alightment:  Center

Anti-Alias:  Smooth

Line Style:  Solid

(the rest of the settings don't matter for this particular part of the tutorial)

Choosing a snowflake that you like, type it out (I used Shift + F).  When happy, go to Objects - Align - Center of Canvas.  While its still in vector format, do any moving around that you might need if it doesn't fit the canvas or you wish to make any adjustments.  Once happy, convert it to raster.

4.  Go to the stamp template, and copy and paste the following layer to your snowflake file:  white stamp cutout (should be the layer directly under "black insert").  If not already, move it to the layer above your snowflake.  Close out the snowflake layer, then go back to the stamp template layer.  Using your magic wand tool, click on the inside of the stamp.  Go to Selections - Modify - Expand .. by 6.0 pixels.  Go to your image and resize if needed (I ended up having to size mine down to 425 pixels x 637 pixels so that it would fit decently in the stamp frame.)  Move the image around so that the part you want in the frame is within the marching ants.  Once satisfied, go to Selections - Invert then click on your "Delete" button.  Selections - Select None.  Move image just under the stamp layer.  In your layer palette, you will want to lock the stamp layer and the image layer together:

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That way when/if we need to move them, they will move together and you won't need to keep matching it up.

5.  Take your snowflake layer and duplicate it 3 times (so you will have a total of 4 layers).  On the very bottom snowflake layer, go to Image - Rotate and use the following settings:

Then resize it by 85%.  Adjust - Blur - Gaussian Blur ... by 10.0 pixels.  Effects - Texture Effects - Blinds with these settings:

Go to the bottom snowflake layer and apply the DSB Flux - Bright Noise filter with the following settings:

Intensity:  50

Direction:  Mix

Apply the same filter on the other 2 layers EXCEPT when you do each layer, click on "Mix" twice before clicking "OK".

(**IF you are using the Noise filter that comes with PSP, go to Adjust - Add/Remove Noise - Add Noise and use the following settings:  Uniform, Monochrome checked ... on bottom snowflake layer use noise of 40%, middle layer use noise of 50%, on top layer use noise of 45%)

6.  Go to your stamp layer and go to Adjust - Color Balance - Manual Color Correction   ... and color it to complement the colors you are using with your snowflake and image (I am using a icy blue color).  When using this, be sure your source color is the color you are starting with (white, in this case) and the target color is the one you want your frame to be.  Then apply the VM Natural - Lightburst filter with the following settings:

(I'm using mine through Filter Unlimited 2.0 however the settings will be the same regardless of whether you run it through a filter program or directly.)

7.  Copy and paste the snowflake dangle to your tag file.... arrange to top layer and resize as needed.  (I resized mine to 55%.)  Arrange on right side of tag (see mine for idea).

8.  Resize to 500 pixels x 500 pixels ... 72.000 ppi.... Weighted Average ... "all layers" CHECKED.  Feel free to use the crop tool to crop out any additional edges from the tag.  Use the Sharpen option (Adjust - Sharpness - Sharpen) if needed to clarify your layers.

8.  Apply any desired drop shadows to the layers ... I used the following with the Drop Shadow settings:

On stamp frame and dangle:

Vertical and Horizontal:  0

Opacity:  45

Blur:  8.00

Color:  black (or a dark shade of what you are using -- not black unless black is a major color on your tag)

On the noised snowflake layers:

Vertical :  0

Horizontal:  0

Opacity:  55

Blur:  11.00

Color:  #244d64  (I used the dark foreground color I used earlier) 

Shadow on new layer: unchecked

I did not apply any drop shadow to the image or the very bottom snowflake layer (with the gaussian blur and blinds filter).

10.  Apply crediting information and watermark.  If you wish to make this a non-animated tag, close out 2 of the noised snowflake layers, then merge visible.  Apply name text and then you are done!

(If you want to animated the tag, see below)

~Animation Shop Directions ~

If you are wanting to animate your tag, after you apply your crediting information and watermark, do the following.

1.  Close out the top and middle noised snowflake layers.  Go to Edit - Copy Merged  ... Edit - Paste as New Image.   Then close out the bottom noised snowflake layer and unhide the middle one.  Go to Edit - Copy Merged.... Edit - Paste as New Layer ... do the same thing for the last noised snowflake layer.  You should now have 3 layers.  When you save, save as "Animation Shop .psp":

Open Animation Shop ....

File - Animation Wizard ... using these settings:

1st window:   Same size as the first image frame (ticked)   (next)

2nd window:  Tranparent (ticked)   (next)

3rd window:   Upper left corner of the frame (ticked) / With the canvas color (ticked)   (next)

4th window:   Yes, repeat the animation indefinitely (ticked) / How long ... : 30   (next)

5th window:   click "Add Image", browse to location of your file then click "open", then "next"

6th window:  Finish

Your animation will now show up in Animation Shop.  

2.  Go to View - Animation to check if it is running at a desired speed.  Feel free to modify the speed if you would like.  (To do that, go to Edit - Select All  (or CTRL + A) and then right click on the first frame and go to Frame Properties and change the number... a smaller number will make it run faster, a larger number will make it run slower. ... when happy with settings, click OK.  You can check them by going to View - Animation.) ... I ended up changing mine to 15.

3.  Now, I always save a blank of my tag on my computer so that I can tag it for people later on.  So I will save the tag with the default settings (what AS installed with) ... usually these settings work ok (however red tones are pretty iffy) ... here is what I used:

Click on the CUSTOMIZE button and use these settings:

click OK ... all the way until it saves your tag.

Now all you need to do is put the name on it!  Go to PSP and, using your text tool, make up your name.  (I'll give you my settings at the end) ... Once you have your text the way you like, copy it, and then bring it over to Animation Shop and paste it. The click on CTRL + L twice (this will put 2 more layers of your name after the current animation frame, which is your first name frame).

You should now have 3 name frames.  While you have your names active, go to Edit - Select All (or CTRL + A), then Edit Copy (or CTRL + C) .... then go to your tag, click inside the 1st frame, then go to Edit - Select All (or CTRL + A) and then Edit - Paste - Into Selected Frame (or CTRL + E) .... place name where you want ... when happy, left click your mouse... name will place in the frame your own AND the other frames.  Feel free to go to View - Animation to see the tag with name on it.  When happy, save tag with previous settings, being sure to change saved name so that you don't save over your blank template.  (For example, my blank tag is name MIS-Snowtime_ani-blk.gif ... so my tagged tag would be something like MISSnowtimeMisbyWR.gif.)

And you're done!!!

~NOTE~  For name/text:

I did the text at size 56, stroke 2.0 .. foreground and background colors the same as used in tutorial... kern: 0.0

I applied Eye Candy 4000 - HSB Noise with the following settings:

And then I used Eye Candy 5 Impact - Gradient Glow with the following settings:

And then used the following drop shadow

Vertical :  2

Horizontal:  -2

Opacity:  30

Blur:  14.00

Color:  black 

Shadow on new layer: unchecked

and done!

I'd love to see what you come up with and thanks for checking out my tutorial!

CL Pink Yuki Tutorial

CL Plaid Yuki Tutorial

This is the tag we will be making:

Moderate level - Some knowledge of PSP is needed.

Materials Needed

Paint Shop Pro  (used Version 9, but can be done on any version)

PTU kit "Plaid Princess - Tagger Size" by Sweet Southern Comfort Creations, found here

Tube is "Kit Jo Yuki" by Cecilia Lovera - you can get this beautiful tube at PSP Tube Shop, here

Mask of choice ... I used Trese Mask #0074, found here

Filters Needed 

Tramages - Pool Shadow

Xero - Porcelain

Drop Shadow (found in the PSP program)

Fonts used

 Rittswood Impresive (for copyright info)

Tarragon ICG (for name/text)

Please note that I will give the drop shadow settings that I have used HOWEVER feel free to use your own settings if you would like.

1.  Open PSP.  Open New File:  650 pixels x 650 pixels, 72.000 pixels/inch resolution, transparent.  At this time, also open your mask and minimize in PSP.

2.  Open roundframe6... copy & paste it as new layer.  Resize 85%, be sure all layers is UNchecked.  Copy and Paste Paper 1 (ppr_1) as a new layer, move just under the frame.  In your layer palette, close out the paper layer and make the frame layer active and then, using your magic wand, click inside of the frame. Go to Selections - Modify - Expand ... by 8 pixels ... click OK.  Go to Selections - Invert.  In your layer palette, click on your paper layer and then click on your Delete button (you will see all the paper outside of the frame disappear so only the middle part remains).

3.  Copy and Paste Paper 12 (ppr_12) as a new layer and then, in the layer palette, go to Arrange - Send to bottom.  Go to Adjust - Blur - Motion Blur and use the following settings:

Angle:  120.00      Strength:  75%

Click OK, then go to Adjust - Blur - Motion Blur and use the following settings:

Angle:  303.00      Strength:  50%

Click OK.

4.  Go to Layers - New Mask Layer  - From Image and use the following settings:

Merge - Merge Group then resize by 102%.  Duplicate mask layer, move duplicate under the original mask layer.  With the duplicate layer, go to Adjust - Blur - Gaussian Blur  ... by 2 pixels - click OK.  With the original mask layer, apply the Tramages - Pool Shadow filter with the following settings:

(I use mine through Filters Unlimited so my filter 'screen' may look different than yours. ...just apply the same settings and you should be fine.)

Duplicate mask layer, move duplicate under the original mask layer.  With the duplicate layer, go to Adjust - Blur - Gaussian Blur  ... by 2 pixels - click OK.

5.  Activate your paper layer then go to Selections - Select All ... Selections - Float .... Selections - Defloat.  You will see marching ants that are in the shape of the circle your paper is in.  Copy and paste your tube/image so that it is the layer *just* above the paper layer (and below the frame layer) .... go to Selections - Modify - Expand .. by 5 pixels. Then go to Selections - Invert ... then, making sure your tube layer is active, click delete.  Duplicate your tube layer.  Bottom one, go to Adjust - Blur - Gaussian Blur ... by 3 pixels...click OK.  Then on the top tube layer go to Xero - Porcelain and use the following settings:

Change to layer properties to Difference, opacity 100.

6.  Copy and paste the Spiral Scatter, move to just above the top mask layer.  Move it around so the upper right 'corner' is visible beyond the outer edge of the frame.  Go to Adjust - Brightness and Contrast and apply the following settings:

Brightness:  10      Contrast:  15

Click OK.

Duplicate scatter layer, then go to Image - Flip ... and then Image - Rotate.  Merge Down the top scatter layer to the bottom scatter layer (so the scatters are now on 1 layer).  Duplicate the scatter layer.  On top scatter layer, change properties to Screen, 95 opacity.  On bottom scatter layer, go to Blur - Gaussian Blur - by 2 pixels.

7.  At this point, continue to decorate the tag as desired with supplied elements.  When you are satisfied, resize to 500 pixels x 500 pixels ... 72.000 ppi.... Weighted Average ... "all layers" CHECKED.  Feel free to use the crop tool to crop out any additional edges from the tag.  Use the Sharpen option (Adjust - Sharpness - Sharpen) if needed to clarify your layers.

8.  Apply any desired drop shadows to the layers ... I used the following with the Drop Shadow filter that comes with PSP on all layers EXCEPT my tube layer, the paper background layer, the bottom scatter layer and the 2 mask layers:

Vertical and Horizontal:  0

Opacity:  60

Blur:  8.00

Color:  black

Shadow on new layer: unchecked

On the top tube layer, I applied the following:

Vertical :  1

Horizontal:  0

Opacity:  50

Blur:  3.00

Color:  #360208  (I chose a very dark color from my tube, but not black)

Shadow on new layer: unchecked

9.  Apply drop shadow a second time to top tube layer.  Do not apply any drop shadow to bottom tube layer.  Do the same thing with the 2 scatter layers... apply the tube drop shadow settings to the top scatter layer (twice) except change the blur to 1.00  ... leave bottom scatter layer untouched.

10.  Apply crediting information and watermark.  When satisfied, merge visible.  Apply name text and then you are done!

I would love to see what you come up with if you try my tutorial!!!

URW Learn Forum Set Tutorial

URW Learn Tutorial

This is what we will be making

Moderate level - Some knowledge of PSP is needed.

Materials Needed

Paint Shop Pro (used Version 9, but can be done on any version)

Tube by UnrulyWitch, who is an FTU licensed artist at Mistaken Art (MTA) HERE

Filters Needed:

Mosaic Glass (comes with PSP)

Distort - Radial Zig Zag (freeware, HERE)

Mura Meister - Copies (freeware, HERE)

AAA Foto Frame (freebie)

Eye Candy 5 Impact - Gradient Glow

Fonts used:

FFF Fuego (for copyright info)

Quasart (for name - freeware)

Additional supplies: HERE

(wordart from Scrappy Expressions - Melissa, now known as Sentimental Style, and cross hatch texture - put in your texture folder in PSP)

Directions

1. Open PSP. Open New File, 600 pixels x 250 pixels, 72 pixels/inch resolution, transparent. Open your tube, duplicate, close the original.

2. Chose a dark color from the tube for your foreground, a light color for your background. Using those colors, chose gradient from the materials palette, and the cross-hatch texture. You want to use the following settings for your gradient:

Style: radial

Angle: 45

Radial: 5

Invert: checked

Horizontal: 50

Vertical: 50

Texture: checked

have the Hatch Fine showing in your drop down menu

click OK

Flood fill your layer with the gradient. Right click on the layer in the layer palette - go to Merge - Merge All - Flatten.

3. Go to Effects - Texture Effects - Mosaic Glass and use the following settings:

4. Go to Distort - Radial Zig Zag and use the following settings:

Roughness: 0

Amplitude: 118

Frequency: 155

5. Copy and paste your tube, then move to the left side of the layer. Duplicate, and move that to the right side. Merge Down, then duplicate it twice (so you will have 3 - the original and 2 copies). Close out the top of them - you will work on the middle and bottom. Resize the middle one (the top of the unhidden) by 85% (all layers UNchecked). Go to Adjust - Blur - Gaussian Blur and use the following setting: Radius: 2.00. Go to the original and go to Adjust - Blur - Gaussian Blur and use the following setting: Radius 6.00. Then, for each, go to the layer palette, right click on it, and apply the following settings:

Blend Mode: Luminance (Legacy)

Opacity: 50

Link Set: 0

6. Go to the hidden duplicated layer and unhide it. Apply the Mura Meister - Copies filter with the following settings:

Random

Wraparound

Blend Mode

*Wallpaper

Number: 20

Shift X / Shift Y: 50

Angle / Rotation / Phase: 0

Cycle: 100

Attenuation: 0

Scale: 100

Tile Gap / Thru BG Range: 0

Thru BG Smooth: 30

Fade Out: 0

Fade Out to BG: unchecked

Click OK. Go to the layer palette, right click on it, and apply the following settings:

Blend Mode: Luminance (Legacy)

Opacity: 20

Link Set: 0

7. Apply tube, move it to the right side of the tag (or place as desired). Apply favorite drop shadow setting.

8. Copy and paste wordart, place on the left side of the tag. Apply Eye Candy 5 Impact - Gradient Glow with the following settings:

Glow Type: Outside Glow

Mask Selection: checked

Glow Radius: 11.00

Soften Corners: 35

Overall Opacity: 100

Distortion Amount: 0

Distortion Lump Size: 100

Gradient Smoothness: 92

move the slider to where you like it - try not to make it too 'fat'.

I used a very very pale shade of the light color I used for my gradient.

Then apply the following drop shadow to the wordart:

Vertical: 1

Horizontal: 0

Opacity: 50

Blur: 2.00

Color: very very dark shade of the dark color you used for your gradient.

Apply drop shadow AGAIN.

9. Duplicate the wordart. Go to the lower layer of the word art, then go to Adjust - Blur - Gaussian Blur and use the following setting: Radius 3.00. Then go to the layer palette, right click on it, and apply the following settings:

Blend Mode: Multiply

Opacity: 100

Link Set: 0

10. Go to Edit - Copy Merged - Paste as New Image. Apply the AAA Frames - Foto Frame and use the following settings:

Width: 4

Brightness: -48

Stroke: 0

Matte: 1

Red: 18 (*)

Green: 11 (*)

Blue: 2 (*)

Opacity: 98

Negative: unchecked

More Shadow: checked

(*) keep in mind that these will be flexible, depending on the colors you are using...these are what I used for mine.

11. Crop tag to 600 pixels wide, 250 pixels high. Apply © information and place where desired. (I used the previous gradient glow setting on my © info, then used Luminance Legacy with Opacity of 85 on it.)

And that is it for the forum tag. For the icon tag, simply take your selection tool, and mark out a large square around the area of the forum tag that you desire (I used the angel/tube, put it kind of to the right of the square.) Make sure the box is nice and big. Copy Merged then Paste as new image. Apply the AAA Frames - Foto Frame filter with the previous settings, then put the proper © information on it.

For the name and the initial for the icon, I used the font Quasart, with the dark shade of the dark color used for the gradient. I then applied Eye Candy 5 Impact Gradient Glow with the following settings:

(I used the lighter shade of my gradient for the first color, and the darker shade of my gradient for the second color)

And then the following drop shadow:

Vertical: 1

Horizontal: 0

Opacity: 50

Blur: 4.00

color: black

And then applied it AGAIN.

I saved my final tag/icon as jpg.

And that is it!!

I hope you enjoyed the tutorial and would love to see your results!

For the Love of Alysia Tutorial

For the Love of Alysia Tutorial



This is the tag we will be making:






Moderate level - Some knowledge of PSP is needed.


Materials Needed:
Paint Shop Pro (used Version 9, but can be done on any version)
PTU kit "Alysia" by Designs by Tishia which can be bought at Scrappin Bratz
Posers used from the kit, by Medi
Mask #03 by Yez


Filters Needed:
Blinds (comes with PSP)
Optional Filter: Eye Candy 5 Impact Gradient Glow (used for my name/text)


Fonts used:
FFF Professional (for copyright info)
Mrs Blackfort (for name/text)

Please note that I will give the drop shadow settings that I have used HOWEVER feel free to use your own settings if you would like.



1. Open PSP. Open New File: 600 pixels x 600 pixels, 72.000 pixels/inch resolution, transparent. At this time, also open your mask and minimize in PSP.

2. Open Paper 3... copy & paste it as new layer. Resize it 75%, be sure "resize all layers" is UNchecked. Go to Layers - New Mask Layer - From Image and use these settings:



Go to your layer palette, right click on the background paper layer, then go to Merge - Merge Group. Duplicate layer, then go the bottom duplicate and go to Adjust - Blur - Gaussian Blur with a blur of 25.00, click OK. Go to the top of the 2 and apply the following drop shadow:

Vertical and Horizontal: 0
Opacity: 75
Blur: 8.00
Color: black
Shadow on new layer: unchecked

3. Open one of the frames in the kit (I used Frame 3). Copy and paste as new layer then resize it 60% (be sure "all layers" is UNchecked). It should already be centered within the stars from the mask, which is good because that is where you want it. Feel free to apply your favorite drop shadow at this point (or wait til end and apply as desired).

4. Open one of the hearts in the kit (I used heart 3). Copy and paste as new layer then resize it 90% (be sure "all layers" is UNchecked). The go to Image, Rotate - Free Rotate and use these settings:

Direction: left
Degrees: free, 25.00
All Layers: unchecked
Rotate single layer around cavas: unchecked

then move the heart to just below the frame layer and center and sharpen, as needed.

5. Open one of the swirls in the kit (I used swirl 1). Copy and paste as new layer then resize it 85% (be sure "all layers" is UNchecked). Move this to just above the blurred mask layer. Apply following drop shadow settings:

Vertical and Horizontal: 0
Opacity: 75
Blur: 4.00
Color: black
Shadow on new layer: unchecked

6. Move heart (my heart 3) to above the frame, and resize it by 85% (be sure "all layers" is UNchecked). Click on the inside of the heart with your magic wand. Go to Selections - Modify - Expand ....by 5.00 pixels - click ok.

7. Copy and paste one of the tubes you are using (you will want one with a close up of the face, or a clear image of the face - I used thefallen3). Copy and paste, then center it above the heart (resize as needed too). When you are satisfied, go to Selections - Invert and then click on the Delete key. Go to Selections - Select None. Go to the layer palette and right click on the layer with the face. Go to Properties and use these settings:

Blend Mode: Luminance (Legacy)
Opacity: 75%
Link Set: 0
Layer is Visible: checked
Lock transparency: unchecked
Highlight in layers palette: unchecked

8. Copy and paste poser thefallen5. Go to Image - Mirror. Resize by 60% (be sure "all layers" is UNchecked) then move it around so that she is standing to the left of the heart (see my tag for placement idea). Apply your favorite drop shadow setting.

9. Go to the blurred mask layer, make active. Go to Effects - Texture Effects - Blinds and apply these settings:

Width: 5
Opacity: 85
Color: black
Horizontal: unchecked
Light from left/top: unchecked

10. At this point, continue to decorate the tag as desired with supplied elements. When you are satisfied, resize to 500 pixels x 500 pixels, "all layers" CHECKED. Feel free to use the crop tool to crop out any additional edges from the tag.

11. Apply crediting information and watermark. Apply and desired drop shadows to the layers. When satisfied, merge visible. Apply name text and then you are done!

Thank you so much for checking out my tutorial and I would love to see your results if you try it!

Shamrock Pixie Tutorial

Shamrock Pixie Tutorial

This is the tag we will be making




Moderate level - Some knowledge of PSP is needed.


Materials Needed

Paint Shop Pro (used Version 9, but can be done on any version)
PTU kit "Shamrock Pixie" by Darkmoon's Dream Designs which can be bought at Scrappin Bratz
Poser used from the kit

Kirsty's Scraps Mask #24

Filters Needed

Xero-Porcelain - FTU filter
Blinds (comes with PSP),

Optional Filter

Eye Candy 5 Impact Gradient Glow


Fonts used
FFF Fuego (for copyright info)
Doodle Journal - PTU font (for name/text)


Please note that I will give the drop shadow settings that I have used HOWEVER feel free to use your own settings if you would like.



1. Open PSP. Open New File: 600 pixels x 600 pixels, 72.000 pixels/inch resolution, transparent. At this time, also open your mask and minimize in PSP.

2. Open one of the frames in the kit (I used Frame04). Copy and paste as new layer on your blank "new file" then resize it 80% (be sure "all layers" is UNchecked). Copy and paste Paper14 as new layer then resize it 70% (be sure "all layers" is UNchecked). Move to just below your frame layer. Click inside the frame making sure that the entire area inside is clicked, then close off the frame layer, then make the paper layer active. Go to Selections - Select All, Selections - Float, Selections - Defloat. The go to Selections - Modify - Expand - by 10 pixels - then click OK. Go to Selections - Invert and then click your Delete key. Selections - Select None and then click on the frame layer, making it visible again. Go to Selections - Select All, Selections - Float, Selections - Defloat then apply your Xero/Porcelain effect using the following settings:



Go to Selections - Select None (to remove marching ants).

3. Copy and paste Paper14 as new layer then resize it 75% (be sure "all layers" is UNchecked). Move to just below your frame background layer. Go to Layers - New Mask Layer - From Image and apply these settings:



Go to the layer palette - right click on the "Group - Raster 2" layer, Merge - Merge Group. Feel free to close the mask that you have minimized.

4. Copy and paste one of the pixies (I used Pixie01) as new layer then resize it 35% (be sure "all layers" is UNchecked). Move to top in the layer palette. Move to left side of tag (see my tag for idea).

5. Copy and paste the mushroom as new layer then resize it 25% (be sure "all layers" is UNchecked). Move to just below the pixie layer. Duplicate then resize the duplicate by 75% (be sure "all layers" is UNchecked), then place them as shown on tag. Do the same thing with one of the chests (I used Chest02) - resize to 35% instead, and do not duplicate - and move that to the layer between the pixie and the mushroom.

6. Copy and paste one of the swirls (I used Swirl01) as new layer then resize it 60% (be sure "all layers" is UNchecked). Move it to layer just under the mushroom, then place it behind his head (as shown on tag). Duplicate swirl, then go to Image - Flip, then Image - Mirror. Move the swirl around til it is placed somewhat on the right bottom of the frame (see my tag for idea). If desired, resize the bottom swirl by 85% - some of it still might run off the area, that is ok. Use Eye Candy 5 Impact, Gradient Glow and these settings:



7. Copy and paste Splatter01 as new layer then resize it 60% (be sure "all layers" is UNchecked). Move to just below your frame layer, then move it around so it is somewhat centered under the frame. Go to Effects - Texture Effects - Blinds and use the following settings:

width: 5
opacity: 25
color: black
horizontal: unchecked
light from left/top: unchecked

Then go to Adjust - Brightness and Contrast - Brightness/Contrast and use these settings:

brightness: 15
contrast: 0

Go to Eye Candy Impact, Gradient Glow and use the previous settings.

8. Copy and paste Shamrocks01 as new layer then resize it 50% (be sure "all layers" is UNchecked) then go to Image - Rotate - Free Rotate using these settings:

Direction: right
Degrees: 90
All Layers: unchecked
Rotate Single layer around canvas center: unchecked

Center it (somewhat) within the frame, as seen on my tag. Sharpen, if needed.

9. Copy and paste Grass03 as new layer then resize it 40% (be sure "all layers" is UNchecked), then place it just above the mushroom layer.

10. Copy and paste Flower07 as new layer then resize it 35% (be sure "all layers" is UNchecked), then place it just above the top swirl layer, as seen on the tag.

11. Apply drop shadow to all layers (except mask layer and pixie layer) with these settings - or your preferred settings:

vertical: 2
horizontal: 0
opacity: 75
blur: 7.00
color: black
shadow on new layer: unchecked

(note: on frame layer, I applied the drop shadow twice)


On the pixie layer, use the following settings:

vertical: 0
horizontal: 0
opacity: 70
blur: 20.00
color: black
shadow on new layer: unchecked

(note: I didn't apply a drop shadow on the mask layer, however you may if you prefer.)

12. At this point, feel free to decorate further, using elements in the kit. When you have it all decorated, go to you layer palette, right click, then Merge - Merge Visible all the layers. Then resize to 450 pixels x 450 pixels - all layers checked. Go to Adjust - Sharpen. (You might need to do this more than once.)

13. Apply copyright information and tagger watermark. (I used Pixelette for mine.)

14. Merge Visible, save in .png format (to retain background transparency).

15. Apply name and place in center of bottom of frame area (see my tag for idea). For mine I used the font Doodle Journal, with #33582a as my foreground and background colors. I did stroke 3.0 and size 48 on the font, and used the following Eye Candy 5 Impact - Gradient Glow settings:




and then did the following drop shadow settings:

Vertical: 2
Horizontal: 0
Opacity: 75
Blur: 8.00
Color: Black
Shadow on New Layer: Not checked

And that's it!!

Thank you so much for checking out my tutorial and I would love to see your results!



*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Check out this wonderful result from Lorri, a fellow member on the Shewolf's Domain groups:



Absolutely amazing! Thank you Lorri, for sharing your result!!

Atomic Bop Tutorial

Atomic Bop Tutorial

This is the tag we will be making:




Moderate level - Some knowledge of PSP is needed.


Materials Needed

Paint Shop Pro (used Version 9, but can be done on any version)
PTU kit "Atomic Bop" by Immortal Dreams which can be bought at Scrappin Bratz
Poser from Lisa at Sophisticated Scraps
Chelle/WeeScotsLass Mask #127
Tag Template #34 from Kristin at Toxic Desirez
Gradients teom_085 and teom_130 (provided HERE)
Filters Needed: Eye Candy 4000 Glass and Eye Candy 5 Impact Gradient Glow
Fonts used: copy 10_56 (for copyright info), Tattoo Ink (for name/text)


1. Open PSP. Open tag template, click on Shift +D to duplicate, then close original. Delete the crediting layer. At this time, also open your mask and minimize in PSP.
3. Go to AB-Paper 10 from the kit - Copy, then go to the template and Paste as New Layer right above the Bars layer. Rename it Paper 10. Resize (Image - Resize) 65%, All Layers UNchecked.
3. Make Bars layer active then go to Selections - Select All.... Selections - Float .... Selections - Defloat. You will now have marching ants around the bars. Make the Paper 17 layer active by clicking on it.
4. Selections - Invert. Click on the Delete Button. Paper 10 should now be where the bars now are/were. Go to Selections - Invert. Now the inside of the bars is active again.
5. Apply the following drop shadow:

Vertical and Horizontal: 0
Opacity: 75
Blur: 12.00
Color: black
Shadow on new layer: unchecked

Go to Selections - Select None. Delete the bars layer.

6. Go to AB-Paper 15 from the kit - Copy, then go to the template and Paste as New Layer right above the Circle layer. Rename it AB-Paper 15. Resize (Image - Resize) 65%, All Layers UNchecked.
7. Make Circle layer active then go to Selections - Select All.... Selections - Float .... Selections - Defloat. You will now have marching ants around the circle. Make the Paper 15 layer active by clicking on it.
8. Selections - Invert. Click on the Delete Button. Paper 15 should now be where the bars now are/were. Go to Selections - Invert. Now the inside of the circle is active again.
9. Apply the following drop shadow:

Vertical and Horizontal: 0
Opacity: 75
Blur: 12.00
Color: black
Shadow on new layer: unchecked

Go to Selections - Select None. Delete the circle layer.

10. Click on the crop tool and go to Merged Opaque. Move the cropping window around so you crop away the drop shadowing along the outer edges of the template. Click the check mark to crop.

11. Make Notes layer active then go to Selections - Select All.... Selections - Float .... Selections - Defloat. You will now have marching ants around the notes. Add new raster layer right above the notes layer, then flood fill with the gradient teom_085. (In the gradient palette, use these settings: Angle 45, repeats 6, radial).
12. Using Eye Candy 4000, Glass, apply these settings:

Use the following drop shadow:


Vertical and Horizontal: 0
Opacity: 75
Blur: 8.00
Color: black
Shadow on new layer: unchecked

13. Do the same thing with the stars, using gradient teom_130. (The only change is, when using the Eye Candy 4000 filter, change the bevel profile to button.)
14. Click on the background layer. Take a paper of your choice (I used AB-Paper 12) and copy and paste as new layer just above the background layer. Resize (Image - Resize) 70%, All Layers UNchecked. Go to Layers - New Mask Layer - From Image and use these settings:



11. Go to Layer Palette, click on the Group - Raster 3. "Right click", go to Merge - Merge Group. Resize (Image - Resize) 110%, All Layers UNchecked. Apply drop shadow used on papers layer.
12. Copy and paste poser from kit - place it in the center of the tag. Resize (Image - Resize) 70%, All Layers UNchecked. Line up her legs along the lower areas of the bars. (see my tag for idea) Move the poser layer to just under the Words layer.
13. Do with the words layer the same steps you took for the stars. (You might need to zoom in to flood fill the letters. If you do, remember to zoom back to 100% when you are done.) When done, go to Eye Candy 5 Impact, Gradient Glow and apply the following settings:



Apply the following drop shadow:

Vertical and Horizontal: 1
Opacity: 75
Blur: 5.00
Color: black
Shadow on new layer: unchecked

14. At this point, apply elements as desired. (You may need to move your poser around - do so as needed/desired.)
15. Apply © information, scrap designer, tagger watermark on new layer. When happy with the look, merge visible.
16. Apply name/text to tag.

And you are done!

Thank you so much for checking out my tutorial and I would love to see your results if you try it!

Popeye Love Tutorial

Hello and welcome! This is the tag we will be making today:

 

 

 

Now, it can be made either animated or non-animated. The animated directions are towards the bottom, after the **.

 

Moderate level - Some knowledge of PSP is needed.

 

 

Materials Needed

Paint Shop Pro & Animation Shop (used PSP9 and AS3, but can be done on any version)
PTU kit called Game of Love by Staceys Designs which can be bought at Katelynn's Designs
Tubes by Popeye Wong which are Free To Use and can be found here (thanks Popeye!)
Mask - OvalSlatsMask.jpg – HERE

 

 

Filters Needed:

Xenofex 2 – Constellation

Filters Unlimited 2 (Paper Textures)

Fonts used:

FFF Professional (for copyright info)

Doodle Journal (for name/text)

 

 

 

DIRECTIONS

 

 

1. Open PSP. Open New File, 600 pixels x 600 pixels, 72.000 resolution, transparent. (Don't worry if it looks too big now, we can crop it down later.) Also open your mask and minimize it in PSP.

2. Copy and paste the triple circle frame, do your best to center it. Feel free to close out the original.


3. Taking your preset shape tool, choose the ellipse (not the circle, but the oval), foreground and background medium gray, line width 2.0, draw an oval over one of the circles in the frame, like this:

Be sure that the edges of the gray ellipse/oval shape is wider than the inner space of the frame area. Once you have it how you want it, convert layer to raster. Duplicate it twice, then move them so you have an oval under each of the oval areas of the frame. We will be using these gray ovals as a template of sorts for the background and the pictures/tubes. Close all layers except the ones with the gray ovals, then merge visible, then move them under the frame layer. You can now unhide the other layers.

4. Copy and paste one of the papers from the kit (I am using Paper1). Feel Free to resize the paper (be sure 'all layers' is UNchecked ... I resized mine to 500 pixels x 500 pixels). Make the 3 oval layer active, then go to Selections - Select All.... Selections - Float.....Selections - Defloat. Go back to the paper layer, make active, then go to Selections - Invert, then click on the Delete key. You should now have the papers in the same area as the gray ovals. Move the paper layer below the frame layer but above the gray ovals layer.


5. Now, with the marching ants still active, copy and paste your tubes that you will be putting in the frames. When you are happy with how they are, just simply click the Delete key (since you have already Inverted the selection, it is set to delete everything outside of the frame area). Make sure that the image/tube layers are between the frame layer and the paper layer. Go to Selections - Select None.


6. Now, we have 2 frame areas that have doodles over them so we need to do something about it. Duplicate the images that are in that area, then move them above the frame layer. Take your eraser brush and use the following settings:

Shape: circle
Size: 25
Hardness: 100
Step: 25
Density: 100
Thickness: 100
Rotation: 0
Opacity: 100

You are going to delete the bottom area of the tubes that overlap the frame area, like this (feel free to zoom in on the area to help you see better):

7. Feel free to add drop shadows to your tubes (bottom images ONLY - don't add a drop shadow to the top ones that you erased), and feel free to add your favorite drop shadow on the frame.

8. Go to the paper layer and make active. Go to Filters Unlimited, then Paper Textures, and choose the Filter Paper option and use the following settings:

then click Apply. This will give some texture and definition to your frame's background. Don't worry about the outer edge that you might see - it will be gone when we crop down our final tag.
Close out the gray oval layer and the bottom layer (which should be blank) and Merge Visible everything else.

9. Move the frame up a little from the center. Take another paper and copy and paste it to the tag (I used Paper7), moving it below the frame. Resize it 600 pixels x 600 pixels (all layers UNchecked). Go to Layers - New Mask Layer - From Image and use these settings:

Merge Group. (Be sure you only merge the mask group - do not include the frame layer in this merge.) Move the frame and/or mask layer, if needed, so that the frame is centered on the oval slats. Unhide the very bottom layer and flood fill it with a complementing color from either one of your images/tubes or the kit (I am using color #ca7e9e).

10. Take the winged heart element and copy and paste it to your tag. Bring it to the top, and resize it by 75% (all layers UNchecked) and place it under the frame, centered. Apply your favorite drop shadow to it. Take the Forget Me Nots element, resize it by 75% (again, all layers UNchecked), and move it over to behind the left side picture in the frame (see my tag for idea). Duplicate flowers, then Mirror. Erase whatever is hanging over the bottom of the frame areas. Take your selection tool and choose the upper area of both of the flower layers. Go to Edit - Copy, Edit - Paste as New Layer. (You will need to do this twice - once for each flower layer.) If needed, place them directly over their corresponding flowers. (They may copy and paste right in the same area, in which case no moving is needed.) Move both of these above the frame layer, then erase all the parts that hang over the framed images. Apply your favorite drop shadow to the bottom flower layers (not the top ones that you erased).

11. Copy and paste the decorated flower, resize by 40% (all layers UNchecked). Sharpen, if necessary. Place it below the left frame oval area and bring to top. Apply the following drop shadow:

Vertical: 0
Horizontal: 0
Opacity: 75
Blur: 15.00
Color: black
Shadow on New Layer: not checked

Duplicate, then mirror. Delete the gray ovals layer. Crop your tag, like this:

then (if you wish to make this non-animated) Merge Visible. (If you wish to make this animated, do NOT merge visible.... go to directions, below, starting at the **.) Resize so that it is about 500 pixels wide. Apply copyright information and name/text, as shown in my tag at the top.

And you are done!

**To make tag animated**

1. If you wish to animate your tag like I have in my tag, first, close out the bottom layer and the slat/mask layer. Merge Visible all the other layers. Now unhide the bottom layer and slat/mask layer. Go to the mask layer (with the slats) and make active, then duplicate it twice (so you should have 3 layers of it). Make the top slat/mask layer active (will most likely be one of the copied layers). Go to Xenofex 2 - Constellation and use the following settings:

2. Then go to the middle mask layer, make active, then go to the Constellation filter again, this time hitting the "Random Seed" button twice, then "ok". Do the same thing to the bottom mask layer.

3. On a new raster layer, apply your copyright information, bring to top.


4. Ok, now - here comes the fun part. Close out the bottom 2 mask layers so that only the top one is showing. Go to Edit - Copy Merged ... Edit - Paste as New Image. Now, close out the top mask layer, and unhide the middle mask layer. Go to Edit - Copy Merged. Then go over to your other image and make it active (click on it) and go to Edit - Paste as New Layer. Now, go back to what you were working on, close out the middle mask layer and unhide the bottom one. Do the same thing that you did with the middle mask layer: Copy Merged, then go to the other image (which now has 2 layers) and click on it, then go to Edit - Paste as New Layer. You should now have 3 layers. This will be what you bring over to Animation Shop. Save as follows:

Now, in Animation Shop, go to File - Animation Wizard and choose the following when they come up:

*Same Size as the first image frame (next)
*transparent (next)
*Upper left corner of the frame, With the canvas color (next)
*Yes, repeat the animation indefinitely, 30 (next)

Click on "Add Image" and browse to where you saved your .psp file (be sure that "File Type" is for Paint Shop Pro Image). When you have it, click Next, then Finish. It will now open up your tag, in frames.
To check the speed of your animation, go to View - Animation. (Just click on the "X" in the upper right to stop the animation.) To Save this as a blank, go to File - Save As and save it in .gif format.

To add a name, go back to PSP and, on the top layer, apply text, and add any kind of effects you would like. When you have your name the way you like it, go to File - Copy. Then go back to Animation Shop and go to File - Paste as new animation. You are going to need 3 frames to match up the 3 frames of your animation. So go to Edit - Copy then Go to Edit - Paste After Current Frame (do this twice - to give you 3 frames of the name). Go to your tag, then go to Edit - Select All.... Edit Copy.... Edit - Paste as New Animation. Go to your names and go to Edit - Select All .... Edit Copy. Then go to your tag and go Edit - Select All, Edit - Paste Into Selected Frame. You will notice that you are able to move it around... do so until it is where you like it, then left click on your mouse - this will place it where you want it, in ALL the frames. When satisfied, save it as a .gif.

And you are done!!

I would love to see what you make if you try this tutorial!!

Thanks for looking!