~Supplies~
~PSP - any version, I've used X
~Tube of choice - This cutie patootie I'm using is done by artist
Stephanie Fizer
and you can purchase her tubes at
AMI.
Please don't use them without a license.
~Filters - I always recommend Eye Candy 3.1 Drop Shadow for your
shadows, but it's optional.
~Brushes of choice
~Font of choice - I've used A&S California Plug, a pay font.
~My supply zip - includes box present shape and Rainbow Coffi
flowers.
~♥~Let's Begin~♥~
1. If you use psp x then you have this preset shape in your folder.
Open a new transparent image 650x650 and stretch it out using a
color from your tube - Objects - center in canvas - convert to
raster. If you use psp 9 or lower, open the shape I included -
Selections - select all - float - defloat - Layers - add new raster
layer - flood fill with a color from your tube (I used #da0421) -
select none - delete original image. Rename this layer "main box".
2. Using your freeform selections tool set to rectangle, trace
around the forefront square as pictured below:
Once done - Selections - promote selection to layer - select none.
Rename this layer "frame"
3. On this new frame layer - Selections - select all - float -
defloat - Layers - add new raster layer - flood fill with another
color from your tube (I used #3360a5) - select none. Delete original
promoted layer.
4. Now we're going to add some perspective depth to the box. Grab
your pen tool and put the same color you used for the main box in
your foreground in your materials palette. Highlight the main box
layer - draw out 2 triangles as pictured below:
Tap inside each of these triangles with your magic wand - Selections
- modify - expand 1 - flood fill with the same color - select none -
Layers - merge down.
5. Grab your pen tool again and bring up the same color in your
materials palette - move the selecter up a notch darker shade - make
one line across the bottom right side as so:
If yours is too strong an "edge", you could add a little
Gaussian
blur to it. Merge down.
6. Now we'll create the "inside" of the box. Stay on the main box
layer - tap inside with your magic wand - Selections - modify -
expand 2 - flood fill with a bit darker color than you used on your
frame color (I used #254597) - select none. Rename this layer
"inside walls".
7. We need to add some perspective inside of the box too, so grab
your selections tool again set to rectangle and pull out the shape
below aligning with the far right corner and bottom left corner of
your main box:
Add a new layer and either flood fill with a shade darker than your
inside walls, or another color from your tube, a scrap paper -
whatever you like. I chose the color #1a3065 because I made a
pattern to match my tube back there later on in the tut.
YIKES - we need to get rid of some of that obviously. Highlight your
inside walls layer again in your layer palette - Selections - select
all - float - defloat - move to your new back wall layer - invert -
tap delete - select none. Grab your pen tool one more time and add
another line using this same darker color in the inside walls as so:
Adjust - blur - Gaussian blur 2 to soften this line a bit.
8. Now that your box is done, it's just a matter of decorating it as
you like and with what matches the tube you've chosen. Here is what
I did for this tag -
**To make the red stripes - Preset shapes tool set to rectangle -
foreground null, background set to #b50823 - pull out one thin
rectangle shape over your back wall layer in your layer palette.
Duplicate it 7x and manually move them evenly spaced across back
wall.
**For the white dots - grab your pen tool again - white in your
foreground - line style set to dots - width 3.00 - draw down the
middle of each stripe. I used the same dots outside of my frame
layer.
**For my back wall design - I cheated and used a scrap paper. But
you can decorate yours with brushes!! Be creative. :)
9. C/p your tube so it "sits" inside your box. I added a heavy drop
shadow using Eye Candy 3.1 drop shadow (315, 6, 10, 75 & then 220,
6, 10, 75) because my background is very busy and I needed my tube
to pop out.
10. Open the Rainbow Coffi flower - c/p them so they're over-hanging
the box. If you need to recolor them to match your tag - grab your
target brush, set the shape to circle and everything else default
setting - put the color you want to change the flowers to in your
foreground materials palette & carefully run your mouse over each
flower, being careful you don't paint the leaves. Once satisfied,
add a nice drop shadow to these as well.
11. Add your name and your artist's copyright information, merge
visible and enjoy your adorable tag.
I hope you've enjoyed this back-to-basics tutorial!
