CT Tutorial for America and Stars N Stripes

**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 – “America” by Designs By Norella.  You can purchase the tube at Design by Norella store

PTU Kit- “Stars N Stripes” by Crystals Creations.  Available at any of the following stores: Dzines From the Heart, Pimp My Tags w/ Scraps, Scrap Candy, Treasured Scraps, Twilight Scraps, Whisprd Designz, and Scrapping Dollars.

 

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 7 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 combined mask from above and resize to the fit the canvas.  Make sure this becomes your bottom layer.  It will stay the bottom layer of the tag.

Add Element 40 to the canvas.  Resize to fit the width of the canvas.  Position at the bottom of the canvas.  Add DS.

Add Element 30 to the canvas behind the layer for Element 40. Resize to fit the canvas above the word art. Position in center.  Add DS.

Add Paper 5 to the canvas.  Resize to fit behind the frame so that the entire opening has the paper behind it.

Add your poser to the canvas on top of all your layers.  Resize her so she fits on the left side of the canvas standing on top of the word Stars. Add DS. 

Switch to the PSD file of your tube. Use the Rectangular Marquee Tool to draw a box around the head area of the poser.  Copy (Ctrl + C) the selection and return to your working canvas.

On your working canvas make sure the paper layer is selected then paste (Ctrl + V) the copied selection.  Resize the selection so that the head fits to your satisfaction in the center of the frame.  Use the Eraser tool to erase any overhang of the pasted layer.  Use the menu to open the Filter Gallery (Filter > Filter Gallery).  Select the Film Grain Artistic Filter.  Set Grain to 6, Highlight Area to 3, and Intensity to 7.  This creates the film posterish effect.

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

Now decorate your tag with any of the patriotic elements from the kit.  Resize the elements as you add them so 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 35 (x2)
• Element 10 (x2)
• Element 7
• Element 29
• Element 27 (x2)
• Element 39
• Element 26
• Element 25
• Element 23
• Element 22
• Element 32
• Element 38
• Element 36

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!