Combined CT Tutorial for Melisende & Gothic Love

**This tutorial was written using Photoshop CC. I believe the instructions should work with various other versions, but they are not tested on any other version.  This tutorial is my own creation.  Any similarity to any other tutorial is not done purposely or knowingly (aside from the fact that the process is pretty similar in most tutorials).  If you do not know how to do some of the things I mention here (like mirroring an image, adding a drop shadow, resizing elements, etc.), check out my “Tips and Tricks” tutorial. **

Supplies:

PTU Poser – “Melisende” by Designs By Norella.  You can purchase the tube at the Designs by Norella store

PTU Kit - “Gothic Love” by Kai Kreations.  Available at Berry Applicious, Digifox Studio, Sensibility Scrapping, Mischief Designz, and Scraps And Company.

FTU Mask - "Mask 07 - Torn" by Aeval Amore.  Available for download on my blog, Aeval's Art.

Abbreviations:

DS – Drop Shadow

Settings I use:

DS Settings - Blend Mode set to Multiply, Opacity set to 75%, Angle set to 120 degrees, Distance 5, Spread 0, Size 5

Ready…..Set….Tag!

Open Paper 6 in a new canvas.  Double click on the layer to unlock it.

Add the Mask to the canvas and resize if needed so it is the same size as the paper.  Then drag the mask layer below the paper layer.

With the mask layer selected, select all (Ctrl + A) and copy the entire canvas (Ctrl + C).  You will see dashed lines surround the canvas. 

Click on the paper layer to activate it, then turn on quick mask (Press the Q key on your keyboard).  The dashed lines will disappear and that is ok.  Next Paste onto the paper (Ctrl + V) and turn your Quick Mask off (Q again). 

You will now see a dotted outline of the mask on your paper.  Press the button on the bottom of layers side bar that is a rectangle with a circle cut out of it.  The mask will now show. 

Right click on the paper layer and select Convert to Smart Image.  This releases just the mask.  The background layer of the mask will become invisible on its own.

Open a new canvas (Ctrl +N) 700 x 700, transparent background.  This will be referred to as the working canvas in my directions when switching between canvases.

Add the paper/mask combination from above to the working canvas.  Resize to fit the canvas.

Add Element 47 to the canvas.  Resize to fit the width of the canvas.  Position at the bottom to form a ground layer.  Add DS.

Add Frame 3 to the canvas.  Resize to fit on the canvas from the cobblestone to the top of the mask.  Right click on the layer and select “Blending Options”, Select the “Outer Glow” option.  In the Outer Glow options screen, change the Blend Mode to Hard Light, change the color of the glow to a soft gray, and reduce the size to 3.  Leave the other settings at their default and click OK.  This will help the words on the frame stand out.

Add Paper 2 to the canvas.  Resize to fit over the opening in the frame.  Move the paper layer below the frame.  Use the eraser tool to erase any overhang of the paper showing outside of the frame.

Open the poser in another canvas.  Use the marquee tool and draw a rectangle around the head of the poser.  Copy (Ctrl + C) the poser head and switch back to the working canvas.  Paste (Ctrl + V) the poser onto the canvas.  Resize to fit in the left side of the frame.  Position however you like best then right click on the poser layer and select “Create Clipping Mask” this will clip the image to the paper so none of it will be displayed outside of where the paper shows.

Switch to the poser file again.  Use the marquee tool and draw a rectangle around the top half of the poser.  Copy (Ctrl + C) the poser and switch back to the working canvas.  Paste (Ctrl + V) the poser onto the canvas.  Resize to fit in the right side of the frame.  Right click on the head layer and select “Blending Optiosn”, change the Blend Mode to “Luminosity” and click OK.  This will make the image grayscale.

Add Element 57 to the canvas.  Resize to fit on the canvas between the beach and the top of the tag.  Position so it is to the left of the face.  Add DS

Add the poser to the canvas as the new top layer.  Resize to fit and position to the left of the frame but slightly overlapping it.  Add DS. 

Voila!  The focal point of your tag is now created.

Now decorate your tag with any of the Gothic inspired elements from the kit.  Resize the elements as you add them to fit the proportions of your tag.  Experiment with rotating them and mirroring them for more variety.  In addition duplicate elements and use multiple times to fill in holes and add more pizzazz.  In this tutorial to indicate when I used more than one of the same element I will add (X#) by the name to indicate how many versions of the element I used. 

Here are all the additional elements I used from the bottom layers up.

• Element 53
• Element 26
• Element 17
• Element 38
• Element 40 (x2)
• Element 63
• Element 44
• Element 55
• Element 49
• Element 50
• Element 29
• Element 70
• Element 69
• Element 54 (x3)
• Element 57
• Element 56
• Element 20
• Element 68

Add your license and copyright info to the tag.

Add name and any other text of choice.

Save as PNG and go share with all your friends!

Thank you for trying my tut! I’d love to see how your tags turn out so if you like what you made, please post a copy here or show me on Facebook!