Tutorial 3
Images for this tutorial are at the bottom of
the page.
The tools and built in filters that I have shown you
how to use thus far are the ones that I use the most. I was going to do
some of the other tools but I thought that I would do a few more things with
these tools and show you some other effects you can get just by changing the settings.
I am also going to include a couple of graphics for you to pick
from or you can use one of your own. Just remember that if you use one of
your own you may need to play with your settings a little to get the desired
effect. But that's what these basics are for... just to get you so you
feel comfortable enough to play.
A review:
Make sure you have your graphic in 16 million colors. If you
can't change the color setting.. it's already in 16 million colors.
Make sure you resize your graphic to the size you want it to be
before you start playing with it. As an example.. if you are working with
a 400 by 500 pixel graphic.. your drop shadow settings would have to be at
least tripled to get it right. It also takes alot less time for your computer
to make the changes on a smaller graphic.. I am impatient when it comes to
waiting for the computer to do something! LOL
A tip that Shaun passed on to me: Make sure your stationery
enhances your mood, your feelings, your message. Not over powers
it.
While it is fun to play with textures on the writing area of your
background image.. to much texture makes it really hard to read.
I will do some textured backgrounds in a future tutorial and show you how to
change them to make them a little easier to use.
Saving your image as a .jpg is a little better than a .gif file as
you can control the size of it better. When saving.. after you select
.jpg for the format you will see an options button.. saving between 50 and 65%
is a good size and seems to maintain the image pretty well. Reds are hard
to work with.. they tend to get fuzzy for some reason when you compress
them. So if you are working with red you may need to up the setting for
compression to around 80% or more.
OK.. on to today's lesson:
You have picked out a graphic, increased color depth if needed,
and resized it. I am using the rainbow music image.
The first thing I am going to do is removed the trademark... make
sure your background color is the same as the image that you are working
with. If it's not white... you can use the color picker, and the click on
the line with arrows on your color palette. This reverses the order of the
colors.
Now using the selection tool that allows you to select a geometric
shape... it is a little rectangle made of dotted lines on your tool
bar. On the tool control.. select rectangle.. feather 0 uncheck
antialias. Select the logo by drawing a rectangle around it with this
tool. Cut it from the image. [Keyboard shortcut ctrl-X] Right
click to unselect the area.
Now using the color picker.. pick a color from your image.. you
are going to use this color to make a simple frame. Try using a lighter
color in the image so that you will be able to see the effects easier... after
you get the hang of it you can go to a darker color. After you have
selected your color, on the color palette.. click on the line with the arrows
and make the color you just picked your background color.
Go to image/add borders... I am going to use a 20 pixel border
here. You can make it whatever size you want.
Using the magic wand... select the border.
Now go to image/noise/add and set the setting to about 15% and use
uniform setting.
Image/effects/cutout try these settings... and play with them from
here..
to see the effect you have if you play with the settings... click on the proof
button.. it allows you to see the effects with out making it a permanent
change.
Uncheck Fill interior with color
Shadow color: Black
Opacity: 65
Blur: 15
Vertical: 0
Horizontal: 10
You will see it gives your frame a rounded look.
When you get it how you want it click OK.
Keeping your frame selected go to image/effects/drop shadow
Try these settings:
color: black
Opacity: 55
Blur: 8
Vertical: 6
Horizontal: 6
Click OK.
Go back to the drop shadow and for the vertical and horizontal settings but a
minus (-) sign before the numbers. Click OK.
Right click to unselect your frame.
You have now made a 3D frame!!! Congrats!!!
OK for this next step don't worry about what color you use for
your foreground color as you will be removing it. Select any color.
Then select the text tool.. the big T
I am going to show you how to do your name in a cutout
effect. Click on the image at the bottom or on the frame.. in this case
since the image is near the top of the frame and I have some white space I am
going to do it on the white right under the image. If your image goes
from top to bottom.. click on your frame.
Select a font that is kind of fat.. I am using the Herald Font,
with the bold setting size 10. Type Stationery by Yourname.
click OK.. then if your signature needs to be centered or moved do
it now.
Look at your layers control.. see the floating selection layer?
Right click on it and delete it. You will still see your signature but
there is no color in it.. it now matches the color behind it.
Leaving it selected click on Image/effects/cutout.
Use these settings:
Uncheck Fill interior with color
Shadow color: black
Opacity: 55
blur: 2
vertical and horizontal:1
Click OK.
Leaving this selected: click on Image/effects/drop shadow.
OK if you are working on a white background the first number will
be for you... if you are working on a color.. the second number will be for
you.
Color: black white
Opacity: 55 65
Blur: 2 1
Vertical:1 1
Horizontal:1 1
Click OK.
Right click to unselect it.
You have now done a cutout signature on your image!
Make your background...use... white... use... a color darker than
the frame... use a color lighter than your frame... use a contrasting color...
use your imagination and sense of style! Want a little texture to your
background? Before pasting your image to it.. add about 10% noise to it. copy
and paste your image on it.
Images for
this tutorial: To save these images,
right click and select the Save As option.
