To create this set you will need

An Image at least 600px wide

I used A Photo I found at Morguefile

My Mask

Just Right-Click and save to your own computer

You may use this Mask in any way you wish,

but please keep the filename intact

 

Xero - Porcelain

Xenofex 2 - Constellation

 

Ready?

Let's Begin!

Open the mask in PSP and minimize it

Choose a light color for your BG and a dark one for the FG

Make a FG/BG Gradient on the FG

Angle 90 - Repeats 1

 

Let's prepare the Image

Use your Rectangular Selection Tool

Draw out a Rectangle that Puts the Focal point of the Image in the Center

Image - Crop to Selection

Resize to 600px Width

Edit - Copy

New Image - 600x400

Edit - Paste as a New Layer

Arrange - Send to Bottom

Highlight the Top Layer

Fill with the Gradient

Effects - Distortion Effects - Pixelate

Height and Width 13

Effects - Edge Effects - Enhance

Effects - Edge Effects - Erode

Effects - Edge Effects - Enhance

Arrange - Send to Bottom

Highlight the Top Layer

Play around with the Blend Modes here

I used Overlay for the Sample above

and Multiply for the Sample at the bottom of the page

Merge Down

Make a Custom Selection

Promote Selection to Layer

Deselect

Image - Free Rotate - Left - 15 Degrees

All Layers and Rotate unchecked

Xero - Porcelain - Move the Blue Channel Slider to 0

Drop Shadow - 0, 0, 100 and 20

 

New Layer - Fill with your Dark Color

Layers - New Mask Layer - From Image

Merge Group

Play around with the Blend Modes again

I used Multiply for the Sample above

and Difference for the Sample at the bottom of the page

 

New Layer

Make sure it's at the Top

Fill with your Light Color

Select All - Contract 3 - Delete

Invert Selection

Duplicate this Layer Twice for a Total of Three Layers

Keep Selected

On each of these Border Layers

Xenofex 2 - Constellation

Make the Fill Color your FG Color

Hit the Random Seed Button once for each Layer

Hide the Top Two Layers for now

Add your Name, CR Info and License# if necessary

 

Now Let's get what we need for the Forum Tag and Avatar

Shift+D to copy your Tag - TWICE

 

First we will make the Avatar

On the First Copy

Delete Border Layers,Name, CR and Mask Layer

Crop Tool - 150x150

Move it to where you want it

Hit the Green Check Mark to Apply

Apply the Mask like we did for the Tag

Add the Border Layers like we did for the Tag

Add CR info and your Initial

Set this aside for now

 

Now for the Forum Tag

On the Second Copy

Delete the Border and Mask Layers

Make a Custom Selection

Move your Name and CR info inside the Selection

Crop to Selection

Apply the Mask like we did for the Tag

Add the Border Layers like we did for the Tag

Make sure your Name and CR are where you want them

Set this aside for now

 

Animation

Starting with the Tag

Fire up Animation Shop (AS)

In PSP

Edit - Copy Merged

In AS

Edit - Paste as New Animation

In PSP - Hide the Bottom Border Layer

Unhide the Middle one

Edit - Copy Merged

In AS

Edit - Paste After Current Frame

In PSP - Hide the Middle Border Layer

Unhide the Top one

Edit - Copy Merged

In AS

Edit - Paste After Current Frame

View Animation to make sure it's right

Save as a Gif

 

Animate the Avatar and Forum Tag the same way

 

Another Sample also using a Photo from Morguefile

If you try any of my Tutorials

I would love to see what you made!

Please leave a link in the comments section on my Blog

 

Tutorial Idea, Tags/Avis ©Shirley Franklin

www.shirleyswebworks.com