Texting Fun
This tutorial is the property of hollys closet.com and has been written as an assignment for Winni's How To Write Tutorials Lessons. You are welcome to link to it but do not claim it as your own.
What you'll need:
- PSP (I use version X but this can be done in any version) You can get a preview copy of version X2 Here
- A tube of your choice. Here is the Norma Giannoni tube I used, an artist who has given permission to my forum. Whatever artist you use be sure you have permission to use their work and always remember to credit the artist on your tags in the fashion they require.
- For this tutorial I used Comic Sans MS which seems to be my favorite standard font.
- All settings will remain the same unless stated.
Preparation
- Open your tube. Shift D and close the original.
- On your materials pallete select a dark and light color from your tube for the foreground and background.
- Depending on the tube either Ctrl/C and Copy as a new image. Or if it's a one layer png file use your selection tool to copy as a new image and delete the copyright. Remove the tuber's information as well.
- Minimize both images.
Now we're ready so let's begin.
Step 1
Open a new 400x400 pixel transparent image.
Set your material pallete with the foreground color dark and the background null.
Preset Shape Tool/Eclipse.
Draw a circle leaving room for writing text on the outside. As with any vector image you can adjust the size by pulling the nodes
Shift/D to make a copy and minimize it. You will be using it later.
Reopen the background color.
Step 2
Convert your original image to Raster and save it with the name you want for the finished tag.
Remember to save often.
Open the Magic Wand
Select the circle
New Raster Layer. Floodfill with background (lighter)color.
Step 3
Selections/Modify/Contract/2
Selection/Invert
New Raster Layer. Floodfill with foreground (darker) color.
Selection/Invert
Step 4
Highlight the center circle layer
Layers/Arrange/Bring to Top
Effects/3D/Drop Shadow
1, -3, 7, 70
Effects/3D/Cut
cut,-5, -5, 100, 12 fill interior with "background color" checked
I changed the color because PSP made the interior transparent. This may not happen to you so check it before changing.
Selections/Select None
Layers/Merge/Merge Visible
Hope you've been saving but in any case this would be a great time to do so.
Maximize the vector image we made earlier
Copy/Paste as a new vector layer on the main image
Text Tool change the color pallete to a color that will show up on the backgrounds.
The alignment is set to left so the text will begin where you start on the circle.
Move the tool to where the A has a smiley under it and click.
Type your text. It will appear on the top of the circle.
Note:You can adjust the location of your text by spacing either in the front of it while typing or after you apply it by manipulating with the rotation in the vector image as shown here:
Open the Vector Layers and x out the eclipse layer. Layers/Convert to Raster Layer
Effects/3D/Drop Shadow same settings as before.
Step 6
Maximize the original vector image
Image/Flip
Copy/Paste as a New Vector Layer on the main image.
Open the text tool and repeat what was done earlier as follows:
Text Tool change the color pallete to a color that will show up on the backgrounds.
The alignment is set to left so the text will begin where you start on the circle.
Move the tool to where the A has a smiley under it and click.
Type your text. It will appear on the inside of the circle wherever you started it.
Adjust the location as shown above.
Open the Vector Layers and x out the eclipse layer. Layers/Convert to Raster Layer
Effects/3D/Drop Shadow same settings as before.
Step 7
Open your tube Copy/Paste as a New Layer.
Resize to suit your tag.
You can decide whether you want it on top of the text or below it by moving the layer.
Add a drop shadow if you wish.
Step 8
Add copyright and watermarks on separate layers so you can adjust the opacity.
Save/Export as a jpeg.
And you're finished.
Here is another sample I did as a test.
