X Copies Tag

I wrote this tutorial on my own.  Any similarity to another tutorial is purely coincidental.  I claim the copyright to my tutorial. You are free to do whatever you please with what you make, but please do not take my tutorial.  Do not send the tutorial through email.  Only share my link.

This tutorial was created for some friends of mine who wanted to begin learning more about PSP.  It is intended for beginners to learn how to use masks.  If you have any questions, please feel free to Email  me.

To do this tutorial you will also need Paint Shop Pro.  I wrote this with  Paint Shop Pro X, but the steps may also be done in any version.  You may download a free trial at Corel.

Remember to save as a psp file often!

Save the mask below, by left-clicking on the image to open it in a new window, and then right-clicking on the large image of the mask.

1.  Open the Xxxcopies Mask and minimize.  Open the jpeg image that you would like to use in your tag.  Shift +D to duplicate it, and then minimize the original for later use.

2.  Layers > Promote Background Layer.  This will allow you to apply effects on the layer, and maintain transparency as needed.

3.  Layer > New Raster Layer.  Flood-fill this layer with white.

4.  In the Layer Palette, slide the opacity to 70-71%

5.  Right-click on one of the layers and choose Merge > Merge Visible

6.   Adjust > Hue and Saturation > Colorize.  Change the numbers to get the color you would like to use.

7.   Layers > New Mask Layer > From Image 

8.  In the Source window, choose XxxCopiesMaskRDB.  Select Create mask from Source luminance.

9.  Layers > merge > Merge Group (In PSP 7 you will have to choose Mask > Delete Mask)

10.  Effects > 3D Effects > Drop Shadow.  Apply these effects:  Vertical & Horizontal = 2, Opacity = 75, Blur = 5, Color = darker version of the color of your image (I chose a dark green).

11.  Open your graphic again.  Edit > Copy

12.  Click back on your mask image.  Edit > Paste as New Layer

13.  Drag the image to the bottom.

14.  Image > Add Borders.  Set Color = white, size = 25, Symmetric

15.  With the magic wand, click on the white border. 

Now you may flood-fill with any color or gradient, and then apply any effect that you wish.  I chose to use Xero > Frittilary plugin after using my mardi gras gradient.

16.  Save the image as a JPEG.  File > Export > JPEG Optimizer

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