Thursday, December 13, 2018

Curvy Frame Tag Tutorial





This Curvy Frame Tag Tutorial is adapted from a stationery tutorial I previously wrote.

The mask is designed by me as well.


Needed:
*Paint Shop Pro
I used PSP X5 but other versions should
work fine.
*Mask: floraledgesmaskbymeshi.png
found here
*Tube (preferably one that has a matching background)
*Background paper/photo that is able to be cropped to a square selection. I do not recommend a lightly colored image.
I used Art/Tube purchases by Laguna and Kajenna from Pics For Design, that come with their own background(s).

Please do not use their art, or any ptu artwork, without purchasing it first, and giving proper credit.


Let's Begin:


1. File > Open
Background paper/photo


2. File > Open
floraledgesmaskbymeshi

3. File > Open your tube

4. Dropper Tool
Left click on a dark color for your foreground color.
Right click on a light color for your background color.
*It may be tempting to choose a medium color, but the frame effect may not turn out as well. If all you have is a medium color to choose from, lighten it in the Materials Palette.


5. Activate your background paper/photo now.
(If you prefer you can use the dropper tool for your colors from this -which is what I did for the umbrella one, but if you are using a one or two tone only image, you may want to use
your tube for your color choices.)


6. Edit > Copy


7. File > New > New Image
Settings:
Image Dimensions:
Width and Height = 350
Image Characteristics = Raster Background
Transparent = Checked

8. Selections > Select All


Depending on your graphic, do steps 9 and 10 or skip to 11.

9. Edit > Paste Into Selection


10. Selections > Select None

If you did steps 9 and 10 skip ahead to step 14.

11. Selections > Paste As New Layer


12. Move Tool
Move your graphic to where you like best in the square.


13. Image > Crop to Selection


14. Layers > New Mask Layer > From Image
Settings:
Source window = floraledgesmaskbymeshi
Create mask from = Source luminance
Invert mask data = NOT checked, OK


15. Layers > Merge > Merge Group


16. Image > Canvas Size
Settings:
New Dimensions:
Lock aspect ratio = Checked
1.000 to 1
Width and Height = 380
Placement = Center
OK


17. Selections > Select All (Ctrl + A)

18. Selections > Float (Ctrl + F)

19. Selections > Defloat (Ctrl + Shift + F)

20. Selections > Modify > Expand
Settings:
Number of pixels = 1

21. Layers > New Raster Layer


22. Effects > 3D Effects > Cutout
Settings (or use your own):
Vertical and Horizontal = 4
Opacity = 75, Blur = 10, Color = Black
Fill interior with color = Unchecked, OK

23. Layers > New Raster Layer

24. Effects > 3D Effects > Cutout
Settings (or use your own):
Vertical and Horizontal = -4 (minus 4)
Opacity = 75, Blur = 10, Color = Black
Fill interior with color = Unchecked, OK

25. Layers > Merge > Merge Visible

26. Selections > Modify > Contract
Settings:
Number of pixels = 1, OK

27. Selections > Modify > Remove
Specks and Holes
Settings:
Remove Specks and Holes = Checked
Square area smaller than = 50 x 1 pixels
OK

28. Selections > Modify > Expand
Settings:
Number of pixels = 4

29. Layers > New Raster Layer

30. Layers > Arrange > Move Down

31. Flood Fill Tool (F)
Settings:
Match mode = None
Use all layers = Unchecked (OR
Sample merged = Unchecked)
Blend mode = Normal
Opacity = 100
Fill with your Foreground (dark) color.

32. Selections > Modify > Expand

33. Layers > New Raster Layer

34. Layers > Arrange > Move Down

35. Flood Fill Tool (F)
Fill with your Background (light) color.

36. Effects > Texture Effects >
Tiles
Settings:
Tile Shape = Triangle
Tile Angularity = 27
Tile Size = 25, Border Size = 5
Smoothness = 20, Depth = 86
Ambience 27, Shininess = 94
Color = Right click and choose
your background (light) color
Angle = 74, Intensity = 62
Elevation = 28, OK


37. Effects > 3D Effects > Inner Bevel
Settings:
Bevel = 10, Width = 4, Smoothness = 25
Depth = 2, Ambience = 0, Shininess = 20
Color = Background (light) color
Angle = 315, Intensity = 50
Elevation = 30, OK

38. Selections > Modify > Expand

39. Selections > Modify >
Remove Specks and Holes

40. Layers > New Raster Layer

41. Layers > Arrange > Move Down

42. Flood Fill Tool (F)
Fill with your Foreground (dark) color.

43. Layers > Merge > Merge Visible

44. Selections > Select None


45. Image > Canvas Size
New Dimensions = 500


46. Activate your Tube
Edit > Copy


47.Edit > Paste As New Layer


48. Image > Resize
Settings:
Resample using = Weighted Average
Lock aspect ratio = Checked
Resize all layers = Unchecked
Both Width and Height = 15 Percent
or whatever percent will look work for you.


49. Move Tool
Move to where you would like your tube to be placed.


50. Edit > Copy Special > Copy Merged


51. Edit > Paste As New Image
Take note of the name (Image two)


52. Activate your first framed image.
Layers > New Raster Layer


53. Layers > Arrange > Move Down


54. Flood Fill Tool
Flood Fill with your light color


55. Layers > New Mask Layer > From Image
Source window = Your New Image (Image two)
OK


56. Layers > Merge > Merge Group


57. Image > Resize


Percentage = 107


58. Layers Palette
If you want, you can change Blend Mode to Multipy, or whatever looks best.
Lower opacity if you'd like.


59. Layers Palette
Highlight your tube, and add shadow of choice.

I used:

Effects > 3D Effects > Drop Shadow

Settings:

Vertical and Horizontal = 2

Opacity = 50, Blur = 5, Color = Black or your Foreground (dark) color.

Shadow on new layer NOT checked OK

AND then again but with Vertical and Horizontal = -1 (minus 1)


60. Highlight your frame and add shadow of choice.


61. Highlight your top layer and add your copyright info.


62.You can add your name now, or merge visible and move your image up or down for more more room to place your name.

I used Summer Swirl, and JMH Bamboo Caps, respectively, free for personal use font(s) found at this site.

For the name I added the tile effect, changing the tile size to 15, the bevel, and my shadows.


63. Save as .png for transparent background, and/or .jpg for white.


I hope you enjoyed my tutorial. Have fun with it!
I would love to see what you made with it.

-Meshi





Saturday, December 8, 2018

Wavy Frame Tag Tutorial





Needed:Paint Shop Pro

This tutorial is rewritten, from a former stationery tutorial of mine, for tag making. 

I used PSPX5 but this can be done in other versions.

A Tube
I used a Creative Design Outlet tube from ©Renee Biertempfel www.artbyrenee.com.
Please do not use her art, or any ptu artwork, without purchasing it first, and giving proper credit. 


A background paper or photo to complement the tube.
I used an inspired by scrap kit by Gimptastic Scraps (for background paper and elements),
also purchased from Creative Design Outlet, here.


The free for personal use font I used is Another day in Paradise, and can be fount at https://www.dafont.com/.

No outside plugins required.

Let's Begin:

1. File > Open your background paper/photo.

2. Edit > Copy


3. File > New Image
Width = 663 Pixels
Height = 440
Raster Background and Transparent = Checked


4. Edit > Paste As New Layer

5. Use your move tool to where you like your image best. 
Alternatively, if you really like the images  you may have on your background paper or photo, you could Select all and paste into selection instead.

6. Crop Tool
Snap crop Rectangle to = Merged Opaque
Double Click or Apply (with check mark).


7. File > Open your tube

8. Edit > Copy

9. Edit > Paste As New Layer

10. Image > Resize
Resample using = Weighted Average
Lock aspect ratio = Checked
Resize all layers = Unhecked
Resize by Percent down to the center.
Don't worry about the size right now, we just need this to help make the frame match nicely.


11. Dropper Tool
Left click on your tube for a color for your frame. 


12. Layers > New Raster Layer

13. Image > Canvas Size
Settings:
Lock aspect ratio = Unchecked
Width = Original width + 20 = 683
Height = Original height + 20 = 460
Placement = Center  


14. Selections > Select All

15. Selections > Modify > Contract
Settings:
Number of pixels =10


16. Selections > Invert

17. Flood Fill Tool
Settings:
Match mode = None
Use all layers = Unchecked
Blend mode = Normal
Opacity = 100
Flood fill with your foreground color.


18. Effects > 3D Effects > Inner Bevel
Settings:
Bevel = 2
Width = 10
Smoothness = 50
Depth = 8
Ambience = 15
Shininess = 25
Color = White
Angle = 315
Intensity = 30
Elevation = 60


19. Selections > Select None

20. Image > Canvas Size
Settings:
Add 80 Pixels to Width and Height
Width = 763
Height = 540


21. Effects > Distortion Effects > Wave
Settings:
Horizontal and Vertical displacement:
Amplitude = 5
Wavelength = 25
Edge mode = Transparent


22. Image > Resize
Settings:
Width and Height = 85


23. Layers > Duplicate

24. Image > Flip Vertical

25. Layers > Merge > Merge Down


Optional:
If needed, move the background so that it fits inside the frame to your liking. Make sure not to have gaps close to the insides of the frame. If you did this, highlight your top layer for the next step.


26. Magic Wand Tool
Settings:
Mode = Add (Shift)
Match mode = RGB Value
Tolerance = 0
Use all layers = Not checked
Contiguous = Checked
Feather = 0
Anti-alias = Checked 
Inside = Chosen
Select transparent section outside your wavy border.  


27. Selections > Modify > Expand
Settings:
Number of pixels = 4 


28. In Layers palette:
Highlight your background paper layer.


29. Edit > Clear
(Or delete key on your keyboard.)


30. Selections > Select None

In Layers palette:
31. Highlight top layer.


32. Magic Wand Tool
Select inside every other hole = 14


33. Selections > Modify > Expand

In Layers palette:
34. Highlight background paper layer.


35. Selections > Promote Selection to Layer

36. Change your foreground to the pattern you
see of your image in the Material's palette
patterns section. Angle = 0, Scale = 100


37. Flood Fill Tool
Flood fill with your pattern.


38. Effects > Reflection Effects > Pattern
Settings:
Use the dice (Randomize Parameters) to find something you like.
Note: You could flood fill with another color from your tube and add an effect, or use a gradient or pattern.


Optional, but I really like it.:
39. Adjust Blur > Gaussian Blur
Settings:
Radius = Anywhere from 0.50 - 8.00. You choose what looks best.


40. Selections > Select None
Note: You may choose to keep the background in the rest of the frame. If so, skip ahead to step 50.

In Layers palette:
41. Highlight top layer.


42. Magic Wand Tool
Select inside the other 14
transparent holes.


43. Selections > Modify > Expand

In Layers palette:
44. Highlight background paper layer.


45. Selections > Promote Selection to Layer

46. Flood Fill Tool
Fill with your pattern.


47. Effects > Reflection Effects > Pattern
Settings:
Use the dice (Randomize Parameters) to find something you like.
Note: If you need to, copy your background paper or tube and paste into selection and try the dice again. Or flood fill with another color from your tube and add an effect, or use a gradient or pattern.

Be creative. :)

Optional:
48. Adjust Blur > Gaussian Blur
Settings:
Radius = Anywhere from 0.50 - 8.00. You choose what looks best.


49. Selections > Select None

50. Time to either use your tube size as is or paste it on and resize it again, and move to your liking. 

If you need to delete some of it, just place where you want it and use your magic wand to click inside the holes of the frame, as well as outside the frame, if need be, then with tube highlighted click delete on your keyboard.
Add other elements if you'd like, resizing as needed.


51. Adjust > Sharpness > Unsharp Mask (for tube and any elements layers)
Settings:
Radius = 1.00
Strength = 47
Clipping = 5
Luminance only = Checked


52. Effects > 3D Effects > Drop Shadow
Settings:
Vertical = -1
Horizontal = 1
Opacity = 50
Blur = 5
Color = Black
Shadow on new layer = Unchecked


53. Edit > Repeat Drop Shadow

In Layers palette:
54. Highlight Top (frame) layer.
Edit > Repeat Drop Shadow


55. Add word art and/or name (I used a pattern of the background with frame for my fill), and add shadow 2 - 3 times, or shadow of choice. You can add a masked paper behind if you'd like.

56. Resize to your liking. Adjust sharpness if needed. 

57. Add your copyright information. 

58. Crop Tool
Snap crop Rectangle to = Merged Opaque
Apply/double click.


You can save your frame for use another time, and/or merge visible all layers.

Save as a .png for a transparent background.


I hope you enjoyed my tutorial. Have fun with it!
I would love to see what you made with it. 

-Meshi