CT Tutorial for Monsterina 1 and Halloween Dolls

**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 – “Monsterina 1” by English Rose Designs.  You can purchase this Halloween cutie at her store, English Rose Designs.

PTU Kit - “Halloween Dolls” by Ginnibug Designz.  Available for purchase at PicsForDesign.

FTU Mask - "Mask 11 - Blurry” by Aeval Amore.  You can download the mask 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 hdp3 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.  Right click on the layer and select “Blending options” turn on DS and IS (Inner Shadow).

Add Element hd64 to the canvas.  Resize to fit most the width of the canvas and position at the bottom.  Add DS.

Add Element hdm to the canvas.  Resize to fit the width of the tag.  Position so it slightly overlaps the road.  Add DS.

Add Element hd10 to the canvas.  Resize to your liking and position in the center of backdrop.  Add DS.

Add Element hd36 to the canvas.  Resize to fit the width of the canvas.  Position the fence so it meets up with the road and is in front of the scarecrow.  Add DS.

Add Element hd50 to the canvas.  Resize to about half the width of the canvas.  Position at the top in the upper right corner.  Add DS.  Right click on the layer and select “Duplicate layer”.  Move the duplicated layer to line up with the end of the first so it reaches from the end of the original element to the upper left corner.

Add Element hd55 to the canvas.  Resize to your liking and position in front of the fence on the left side of the canvas.  Add DS.

Add Element hd18 to the canvas.  Resize to your liking and position in the upper left corner.  Add DS.

Add Paper hdp1 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 top half of the poser.  Copy (Ctrl + C) the poser and switch back to the working canvas.  Select the frame layer and paste (Ctrl + V) the poser onto the canvas.  Resize the poser to display to your liking and position in the center of the Frame.  Erase any part you don’t want to show using the eraser tool.  Add DS.

Add the poser to the canvas as the top layer.  Resize to fit on the canvas and position to the right of the canvas to look as though she is standing on the road.  Add DS.

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

Now decorate your tag with any of the fun Halloween 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 hd5 (x2)
• Element hd4 (x2)
• Element hd1

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!