Chainlink Tag

I own the intellectual copyright for the written tutorial.  What you make is yours, but please do not take my tutorial.  Share only my link.

This tutorial is intended for a beginner to create the chainlink shapes.  If you have any questions, please feel free to email me.

To do this tutorial you will also need Photoshop CS3 - CS4.  You may download a free trial at Adobe.

Remember to save as a .psd file often!

Download the supplies.

1.  Open the Chainlink_Dragonbreath.png file.

2.  Image > Image Size. Set width and height to 50 PERCENT

3.  Edit > Define Pattern  Close file

4.  Open new, transparent image, size 500 x 500 pixels

5.  Edit > Fill > Pattern and choose the Chainlink pattern you added.

6.  Choose the Custom Shape Tool

7.  Set the shape tool to the shape of your choice, and to black color.

8.  Draw a large shape over the chainlink

9.  Right-click on the shape layer and choose Rasterize Layer

10.  With the magic wand select the shape.

11.  Selection > Modify > Contract Selection by 3 pixels

12.  Press the Delete key.

13.  If you choose, create another shape and follow the same steps to delete the inside.  Note:  the shapes do not need to be the same.

14.  If you do create more than one shape,  Right-click on the top shape layer and choose Merge Down

15.  With the magic wand, click on the outside of the shape

16.  In the Layer Palette, click on the bottom layer.  Then press the DELETE key.  Select > Deselect

17.  Right-click on top layer and choose Merge Down.

18.  Hold the CTRL key down and click inside the thumbnail (see arrow).  This should select all of the shape and chainmail

19.  If you want to change the color,  Edit > Fill > Color (or pattern or gradient) of your choice

20.  Right-click on the layer and choose Blending Options

Click on the WORDS  Drop Shadow.  Set:  Blend Mode = Normal, black, Opacity = 100%, Angle = 120, distance = 1, spread = 0, size = 1

Click on the WORDS Bevel and Emboss.  Set  Style = Inner Bevel, Technique = smooth, depth = 100%, direction = up, size = 5, soften = 0

21.  Now decorate.  Add a tube or image.  on the tube:  select > All, Edit > Copy.  Click back on the chainmail:  Edit > Paste.

22.  If the tube/image is too large,  Edit > Transform > Scale.  Click on the lock between width and height in the toolbar.  Then drag one of the corners inward towards the center of the tube to shrink it.  Click on the green check when you're satisfied with the size.

23.  Here's my decorated stars.

24.  Now add some text.  Choose the text tool.  I chose Comic Sans font, size 60 px, color black

25.  Type your text.  DO NOT CLICK on the text check yet.

26.  Now we're going to add a text effect.  While the text is still in cursor format, click on the text effect icon (see pink circle).  Choose a style.  I chose Arc, Horizontal, Bend = +20%, Horizontal & vertical Distortion = 0%

 Please do not remove this tutorial from my site.  Share my url.