Silent Night


Supplies:
I am using a bundle package from Sarah Richter
These images
Mask(s) of choice. 
Font:  Amazon

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


This is going to be a large animation.  The filesize may not be suitable for some uses.

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.

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.

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. 

Next, choose the paper you would like to use on your mask.

Drag the paper onto the canvas above the mask.

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

Now, time for the elements!

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.

As you can see, it is pretty random.  I just place the items where I think they might work.

Now, back to the frame element layer.  We need to add a fill to the picture frames.

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 wand options should look like this at the top of your window:

PointSample

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.  Repeat this with the other frame.

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 a layer (topmost works fine) and choose “Blending Options.”
I add a drop shadow and an outer glow.  It enhances the effect a bit.

shadow
shadow

Now after you have hit OK, right click the layer again and choose “Copy Layer Style.”
Highlight all of your 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:

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

Choose where you want your main tube to be placed. 

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.  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.  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.

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.

Highlight the paper frame that is below the double frame layer in your layers panel.

There are 5 images in the image pack that I provided.  Choose 3 of these images and drag them onto your canvas.

Highlight all three of these layers in the layers panel.
Resize them (Edit > Free Transform) to fit inside the top-left portion of the double frame.

Hide the top two of these images, keeping the bottom one unhidden.

In the animation panel, duplicate this frame.
Unhide the second image in the layers panel.  DO NOT hide the first.
In the animation panel, duplicate this frame.
Uhide the third image and hide the second.  DO NOT hide the first.

Now you have 3 frames in your animation panel.

Highlight the first frame.  Now click on the horizontal lines in the top right corner of the panel.  Choose “Tween…”
Make sure you pay attention to the numbers and checkboxes from here out.

Now highlight the 7th frame in your animation panel.
Click on the horizontal lines in the top right corner of the panel.  Choose “Tween…”

 Highlight the 13th frame in the animation panel.
click on the horizontal lines in the top right corner of the panel.  Choose “Tween…”
Pay attention to the very first dropdown box in this step!  Notice it says “First Frame” instead of “Next Frame.”  Be sure you change this.  Otherwise your animation will be … off.

Pay CLOSE attention to the numbers I am about to say.

Highlight the first frame of your animation.  Duplicate it 4 times.
Highlight the 11th frame in your animation.  Duplicate it 4 times.
Highlight the 21st frame in your animation.  Duplicate it 4 times.

You should have 30 frames in your animation.  You can shorten this by decreasing the number of “Frames to Add:” in the Tween panel.

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

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

In your animation dialog, use these settings:

I hope you have enjoyed this tutorial!