Golden Window 
Sig Tag or Web Set
continued

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 make the golden window frame into a sig tag or welcome splash for a web set.  Click here to see a sample web set.  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
 

You will also need 

• the Art Texture plugin from Ulead.  Download that here.
• Eye Candy 3.1
• The window frame already made (return here if you haven't made it yet)

1.  Open up the window frame graphic you made in part one of this tutorial.  It should still be in layers.

2.  While that graphic is active, press Shift + D simultaneously to make a copy of the graphic.  Minimize the original if you plan on making the webset.  If you plan on making only the sig tag, then you can close the original.

3.  In top menu, click Layers--merge--merge visible.

4.  In Layer Palette, right-click on merge layer and choose New Raster Layer.

These instructions are for making a sig tag only.  If you are doing the web set, then continue on to Step #5  .

4a.  In top menu, click Image--Resize.  Mark the circle next to pixels, check resize all layers, set pixel size = 275. 

4b.  Activate the merge layer and in top menu click Effects--Sharpen--Unsharp Mask.  Apply these settings:  Radius = 2.00, strength = 30, clipping = 5

4c. Use your text tool and add a small "tag by . . ." tag to your picture.  I usually say "tag by RDB" in size = 8 or 10

4d.  Save this as your basic sig tag blank, in case you want to make more sig tags for friends!  In top Menu, click File--Save as, and save to your location as file type .psp or .tub.

4e.  Make a duplicate of the sig tag blank (Shift + D simultaneously)  and close the original sig tag.

5.  Now we will add the text on your sig tag or welcome graphic.  From the left tool menu, choose the text tool.  In the Text Options box set the width = 2, and line style= solid.  Set the foreground and background colors both to white.


6.  Click on the image and the Text box will open up.  Choose your font style.  I used Brush 455BT.  Choose your size, 72 (larger for the splash image).  Type in your name (or welcome in case of the splash image). Check floating & antialis.  Click ok.  While selected, move the name around to place it where you want it in your image.

7.  In top menu, click Effects--Plugin Filters--Ulead Effects--Art Texture.  click Edit.  Click on Palette #5 (gold).  Click ok. Click on one of the pattern samples.  I chose #6.  Click ok.

8.  In top menu, click Effects--Plugin Filters--Eye Candy 3.1--Glass.  Apply these settings:  Bevel Width = 21, Bevel shape = button, Flare spacing = 30, flare thickness = 16, opacity = 50, refractive = 30, color= #cococo, highlight brightness = 100, highlight shininess = 40, direction = 51, inclination = 73.  Click the check.

9.  Now add a drop shadow.  In top menu, click Effects--3D Effects--Drop Shadow.  Apply these settings:  vertical = 1, horizontal = 1, opacity = 82, blur = 5.9, color = black (#000000)  Click Ok.

If you are making a web set splash, skip to 10 a.
10.  If you are making a sig tag, you are now ready to save.  Since we have some transparent areas, you need to save as a GIF.  Set your background color to black.  Click File--Export--Gif Optimizer.  Click ok.  Then save to your location.  The file type should be as a compuserve (gif) file.

 
 

10 a.  If you are making a web set splash, you now need to add your background color to match your web set.  But we don't have them made yet.  So minimize your splash image for now.  You will finish it on the next page.

11.  Maximize your original template again, the one that still has all the layers.    Remember that it is 400 X 400.  Make a Duplicate (shift + D), and click Layers in top menu --merge -- merge visible.  Close the original.  In top menu, click Layers--Add raster layer.  Call this layer Text.  Make a second duplicate (shift + D).    Minimize one of the duplicates.  One will be the guest book image and one will be the creator tag for your new web set.

12.  On the first duplicate, we will resize by one-half.  In top menu, click Image--Resize.  Select percents and enter 40.  Make sure resize all layers and maintain ratio are selected.

13.  In top menu, click Effects--sharpen--unsharp mask.  Use the same settings in #4b:  radius = 2.00, strength = 30, clipping = 5.  Click ok.

14.  Repeat Steps 12 & 13 on the other duplicate image, but resize to 30%.

15.  Now you are ready to add the text.  On the larger image you will place the text:  guest book, sign, and view.  I used size 36 point.  On the smaller image you will place the text:  set by  ...  Make sure the blank top layer is active,  choose the text tool and make your text using the same font you used for the splash image.  Repeat steps #5(width size = 1 this time) - #9 on each image to make the text gold.

Here's what mine look like.  Yours will not have the background color yet.  *S* yes I used a different graphic for my web set. 
 

16.  You are now ready to add the background color, so minimize these two images.  If you are going to leave  the tutorial for a while save your three images (splash, guest book, and owner tag) as .psp or .tub images.
 

©  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.