Wicked Balloons


Supplies:

Tube and Scrap: scrapwdd_yurikoshirou-19.htm
Font: https://www.creativefabrica.com/product/bald-eagle/ref/7253/

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


First off, unzip all supplies.


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. (You can resize later, when prompted.)

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.

If you want to save your tag as a PNG, then use white. It is easier to see what you are doing. You can always hide the background layer before saving.


You can drag and drop items straight from your file browser into the canvas. This makes it faster to place items. You can also go to File > Place to put the elements, but I find the drag-and-drop method much faster.

Today, I am going to show you how to place elements EXACTLY where they should be placed.

Hopefully, you are placing your elements on your tag using Smart Objects. I always use this method, because no matter what you do to the tags, the elements are not affected. You can distort, warp, resize, rotate, etc without actually altering the elements. This is really handy when you want to change something in your tag as you are creating. The elements retain their properties, even when you use standard filters.

To make sure you are using smart objects, check in your settings.

Go to Photoshop > Preferences > General in your top app menu.

This is what my preferences look like:

Now that we have ensured that Smart Objects are in use, let’s continue!

I use the “drag-and-drop” method of placing elements. So browse to the scrap kit and choose the elements in the order instructed.

First, we have: HeatherT-ScrapflowerCUHop-iDSD2013-Flower-YellowDahlia

Now that the element is placed on the canvas, we want to do a bit of adjusting. Go to Edit > Free Transform…

At the top of the window, there are quite a few number options. Each one of these numbers controls where the element is placed, including the rotation. Enter exactly these.


Next: agnesingap_elements_vol25_ (9)


ScrapWDD_Enamorte-Package-92 (11)


ravenwood_0013_bouquet


ravenwood_0012_rose


ScrapWDD_YurikoShirou-Package-16 (9)


ScrapWDD_IB-YurikoShirou-October2020-bt (21)


ScrapWDD_Enamorte-Package-92 (30)


ScrapWDD_YurikoShirou-Package-16 (40)


19-2-YurikoShirou (tube)


ScrapWDD_YurikoShirou-Package-16 (16)


cumagi327_E1


SekadaDesigns_cu52_element(21)


hiclipartgt


This concludes the elements used. You should have something that kind of looks like this:

(I know I have my copyrights on this image, but DO NOT put yours until after you have resized.)

Now, back to the frame element layer.   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. I am using: teal goth_0010_x

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: (I removed the tube temporarily, just in case you want to use a different one.)

I love the way these shadows look, but I hate how strong they are around the outside of the tag, so I am going to fix that.

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 bottom 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: (you should have your tube also included in this selection.)

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.

But… now it’s TOO clean, right? We need a little bit of shadows…

Right click the group layer and choose “Blending Options.”

Add the shadow of your choice. Here is the one I have used:


NOW is the time to resize your tag. Hide the background layer of the tag and then go to Edit > Trim.

This will take out any empty space around your tag.

Now go to Image > Image Size, and put in the size you would like.

Don’t forget to constrain the proportions by clicking on the chain link icon.

Now go back to the menu.

Image > Canvas Size:

This will make sure you don’t have any slightly cut off shadows around the tag. It just makes it nicer.


TEXT! Woohoo! Finally!

Highlight the group in the layers panel.

Add a new layer to make sure you are actually outside of the group. You don’t want the text and copyrights in there. The masking will potentially cut off parts that you don’t want cut off.

Don’t forget your copyright text!

Now add your copyright text. it is IMPORTANT to do this after you have resized your tag. (this is also the reason I left off the tube above, so I didn’t have it added where I haven’t resized, yet)

Next… 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:

And here we have our completed tag! You can now save it as a PNG or a JPG file. I prefer using the Export feature, so I know it is at the proper resolution for web-display.

Be sure to hide the background layer if you want to save a transparent PNG file.

Here are the settings I used: (one for PNG and the other for JPG)


And for my “Forever List” flyinghearts