Dark Side


Supplies:

Tube: EnysGuerrero-44-1
Scrap: scrapwdd_ib-enysguerrero-44-1
Font: andara
Mask: AoRK-Mask-101 from Package 3
Cloud Pattern: DarkSide-cloudPattern.jpg

Please do not use any of the licensed supplies without purchasing them first.


First off, unzip all supplies.

Open the mask you would like to use.  You don’t have to use the one I have chosen.

Select > All
Edit > Copy
Select > Edit in Quick Mask Mode
Edit > Paste
Select > Edit in Quick Mask Mode (uncheck)
Layer > Layer Mask > Reveal Selection
Layer > Layer Mask > Apply
Layer > Matting > Remove Black Matte
Right click the layer thumbnail in the layers panel
Select Pixels
Layer > Layer Mask > Reveal Selection
Layer > Layer Mask > Apply
Save this as a .psd on your desktop (or wherever you want)


Open a new canvas.  I always use 800×800 pixels.  Be sure your resolution is 72 Pixels/Inch. This keeps your tag at web viewing standards.

I usually add a color fill layer to the tag so it is easily changed should I use it on a different color website.  Layer > New Fill Layer > Solid Color…
White usually works with most websites.

You can drag and drop items straight from your file browser into the canvas. This makes it faster to place items.

Browse to the mask that you just saved in your computer’s file browser.  Drag it onto your tag. Don’t forget to set the Transformation by double clicking the layer on the canvas, or clicking the checkbox at the top of the window. Or you can just hit enter. wink

Next, choose the paper you would like to use on your mask. Drag the paper onto the canvas above the mask, just like before.

Now you have two layers in your layers panel. (because I totally needed to tell you that)

In your layers panel, right click on the paper layer and choose Create Clipping Mask.

That’s it! How easy is that?


Now, time for the elements! This is where the real magic begins.

Instead of telling you exactly where to put what and what size to use, I am just going to show you a animated image of what I did. This way, you can create your own version of the tag without doing exactly what I have done.

When placing your elements, you can transform them again by going to Edit > Free Transform. Just be sure you hold the shift key to constrain the proportions.

As you can see, it is pretty random.  I just place the items where I think they might work. You don’t have to place your elements exactly where mine are. Make your tag unique wink

Now, back to the frame element layer. You have a frame, right? If not, you can skip this part.  We need to add a fill layer to the picture frame.

Highlight the layer UNDER the frame in your layers panel.  Now drop the paper you would like to use onto the canvas.

Grab your selection wand from the tools panel.  If you can’t find it, check out the basics page for a better understanding of the tools layout.

The Selection Wand options should look like this at the top of your window:

Click on the center portion of the frame.
In the upper menu of Photoshop, click on Selection > Modify > Expand…
Expand your selection by 2px.
Now highlight your paper layer. 

Go to Layer > Layer Mask > Reveal Selection.

Now you have a fill to your frame. Easy Peasy!


We definitely want to add some shadows to our elements.  Without shadowing, the tag will just look flat. The secret to a good tag, is a good shadow effect.

Right click (or ctrl+click) a layer and choose “Blending Options.”
I add a drop shadow and an outer glow.  The glow enhances the effect a bit.

Now after you have hit OK, right click the layer again and choose “Copy Layer Style.”
Highlight all of your element layers (click the top one, then shift + click the bottom one) and right click again.  This time, choose “Paste Layer Style.”

It makes a HUGE difference to add shadows:

Those shadows hanging over the edge are horrible, though, so let’s get rid of them.

Highlight all of your layers, except the background layer.

Go to Layer > Group Layers.

This adds a group to your layers panel. However, you will need to expand it by clicking on the little arrow beside the group icon.

Now that the group is expanded, let’s continue. Right click the thumbnail of your mask layer and choose “Select Pixels.”

As you can see, the marching ants are all around your layer!

Now right click the next upper element layer’s thumbnail and choose “Add Transparency Mask.”

You can also use a keyboard shortcut.

Hold Shift and CTRL (cmd on mac) on your keyboard and simply click on the thumbnail of the next element layer. Repeat this for all element layers. DO NOT include the paper layer! This will select the entire canvas. We don’t want that.

After you have included all of your element layers in the selection, go back to the paper layer. Hold Shift and CTRL (cmd for mac) and click on the black and white mask thumbnail of your frame.

This will include the inner portion of the frame in your selection.

This is what you should have now: (Ignore the little black blips at the bottom… the recording glitched lol)

Highlight the group in your layers panel.

Go to Layer > Layer Mask > Reveal Selection.

This will chop off all of the unnecessary shadows and leave your tag clean in the background.


Now that we have all of that done, time to add the next details.  Tube and text.  Fun!

Highlight the paper layer we placed “inside” the frame.

Now drag and drop your tube onto the canvas. Resize and adjust it to your liking. Always make sure you constrain your proportions while resizing.  Hold the Shift key while you drag the corners.

Add the same drop shadow you did before.  (Unless your tube fits entirely in the frame, then you don’t need a shadow.)

Don’t forget your copyright text!


Highlight the top layer of the layers panel.

Grab your text tool and add the name you would like.  Be sure to have your foreground color set to a matching color in the tag.

Position it just where you want it and add a layer style.  This is mine:

That leave us with the non-animated version of the tag!  If you wold like to keep the JPG version, you can save here.  Simply File > Save As…  and choose the jpg option from the drop down box at the bottom of the dialog.


Here’s where it starts getting complicated. We want to add animation!

Make sure your Animation Panel is open.  Window > Timeline (or Animation, if you are on earlier versios)

You will need to click the “Create Frame Animation” button. If you do not see this button, please refer to THIS page for more information about the timeline.

You will see that your first frame is already there. 

You saved the DarkSide-cloudPattern.jpg, right? Good! Open that as a new file. File > Open… and browse to the file.

Now go to Edit > Define Pattern…

Name it “DarkSide-cloudPattern” just so it is easier to find when it comes time.

You can now close the pattern.

Back to your tag!

Highlight the layer: ‘ScrapWDD_IB-EnysGuerrero-44-1 (8)” (or whatever layer you would like the animation to appear over. Preferably towards the back.)

Go to Layer > New Fill Layer > Pattern…

The next popup will ask what you would like the name the layer. I just leave it at default, but you can name it as you wish. Click ok.

Scroll to the pattern that you just saved. If you hover the patterns, it will tell you the title.

Click ok.

In the layers panel, change the blend mode of the pattern layer to Overlay. You can do this by selecting the option from the dropdown box at the top of your layers panel.

Right beside the Blend Mode dropdown, there is an option for Opacity. Enter 20%.

In the animation panel, duplicate the frame by clicking on the plus sign.

This will give you two frames in the animation panel.

Using the Move tool, drag the pattern layer over about 4 good swipes. This will give enough play room to make sure you don’t get skipping frames.

Go back to the first frame in the animation panel.

If you look at the top right of your panel, there are 4 horizontal lines. Click that and choose “Tween…”

In the popup window, enter these settings.

You should have 5 frames in your animation panel. You can enter a higher number if you like, but it won’t make a whole lot of difference.

Oh, right!  Don’t forget to set your frame delay.

Highlight all of your frames in the animation panel. Highlight the first frame and then hold shift. Click on the last frame. Now all frames are highlighted.

Click on the little arrow beside the time of the last frame. This will bring up a popup for more “delay” options.

You can now click play at the bottom of the animation panel to check out your creation!


Now you will need to save your animation as a gif file.

In your animation dialog, use these settings:


And now for my “Forever List”