Golden Window 
Sig Tag or Web Set

I claim the copyright to this tutorial.  You are free to do whatever you please with the graphic you make, but please do not take my tutorial.  Do not send the tutorial through email.  Only share my link.

The purpose of this tutorial is to learn how to make the golden window frame.  This method can also be used for  signature tags.  It is written for beginner to immediate level.  Please feel free to email me if you have any questions.

To do this tutorial you will also need Paint Shop Pro.  I used Paint Shop Pro 7.0 .  You may download a free trial at Jasc.

Remember to save as a psp file often!

Before we begin, you might want to study the PSP tool bars.  I have labeled the tools on another page.  Click on the link and it will open a new page.  You may want to keep this page open while you work on the tutorial, to refer to the names now and then.  PSP Tools

In this tutorial you will learn how to make the window effect.  At the end of the tutorial you will find links that will show you how to turn the graphic into a sig tag or a layered web set.

You will also need 

• the Art Texture plugin from Ulead.  Download that here.
• Krusty's Volume 1 Filters.  Download that here. (Click on Krusty's FX 1.0.1 vol. I,II & III--Need Vol. I  Transparency Editing Tools)
• Eye Candy 3.1 
• tube of your choice (preferably at least 350 pixels)

1.  Click New File in the top menu bar.  Enter these settings:  width=400, Height=400, Resolution=72.000 pixels/inch, Backround color=transparent, image type=16.7 Million Colors (24 Bits).  Click Ok.  This is a large area, but  we will crop and resize when we are finished.

2.  Choose the flood-fill tool (paint can) from the left menu and flood the new image with white.

3.  Open up the tube you wish to use.  In top Menu, click Edit--copy.  then activate your new image and click Edit--paste--as new layer.  In the Layer Palette, click on the bottom (white background) layer to activate it.

4.  In to menu, click Effects--Plugin Filters--Ulead Effects--Art Texture.
Click Edit on the first screen:

Click on Palette #5 (gold)  In the Hue settings (top bar) change the number to make the gold colored.  You can play with the numbers to find the color you like best.  I chose 160 on top, 0 on bottom.  You can NOT leave it gold.  Once you pick your color, click ok.  Remember what number you used if you plan on making the web set.

Then pick one of the patterns.  I picked #6

and your picture looks like this:

5.  In top menu, click Effects--Plugin Filters--Eye Candy 3.1--Swirl.  Apply these settings:  Whirpool Spacing=33, Length = 15, Twist = 100, Streak Detail = 20, Warp= on, Smooth = on

6.  In the Layer Palette, xright-click on the background (bottom) layer and chose duplicate.  X out the bottom layer.  Activate the duplicate (middle) layer.  Then in Top Menu, click Effects--Plugin Filters--Krusty's FX vo. 1--Transparency Grid.  Apply these settings:  Grid size = 46, align x = 0, align y = 0, lines size = 32, lines opacity = 255, grid opacity = 0, Preserve Transparency on/off = 0.

Your picture will look like this (Remember bottom layer is X-d out)

7.  In side menu, click eraser tool and in tool options set the size = 5.  Now erase part of the grid on the edges.  Leave some jagged edges.  The design is up to you. Here's what mine looks like:

8.  In the left menu, choose magic wand and select the outside edge.  I clicked on the left side, and then holding down the shift key, I left-click with the wand on the right. (Holding the shift key is necessary to select two different regions that are not joined).

9.  Remove the X from the bottom layer and activate the bottom layer.  You should still see the marching ants.  Click the delete key.

10.  Now X out the bottom layer again and activate the middle layer. 

11.  In the top menu, click Selections--all. Click Selections--Float.  Click Selections--Defloat.  The marching ants will surround the grid.

12.  In the top menu, click Effects--Plugin Filters--Ulead Effects--Art texture.  Click Edit, Choose Palette # 5 (gold).  Click Ok.  Choose Pattern #6.  Actually, you may choose whichever pattern you like.  Click ok, and the grid is now gold.

13.  In top menu, click Effects--3D Effects--Inner Bevel.  Apply these settings:
bevel = pie shape, width = 14, smoothness = 15, depth = 12, ambience = 0, shininess = 50, color = white, angle = 315, intensity = 50, elevation = 30.  Click Ok

14.  In top menu, click Colors--Adjust Brightness & Contrast. Set Brigtness = 50 and Contrast = 0.  Click ok.

15.  Take the X off the bottom layer, and your picture should look like this!

16.  Now save this picture as a tube with the layers NOT merged. (File--Save As.  Choose location, set file type to .psp or .tub)

Now you have a template to use to make a sig tag or a web set.
 
 

©  Dragon's Breath (aka The Dragon Lord),  2003.  This tutorial and my PSP  graphics are copyright to The Dragon Lord, 2003.  Please do not remove this tutorial from my site.  Share my url.