Eye of the Storm Tag
Tutorial

This tutorial was written for April 2nd 2006
by Sandie © Artwork by EssexGirl, All Rights Reserved.
please do not copy it, or put it anywhere else without my written permission.
This tutorial originally appeared at Grafix Nut House and EssexGirl.uk.com
Graffix Nuthouse is now closed

*NOTE*
Sometimes the links for filters change, it's difficult (and a lot of work) to
keep changing them on individual pages, so I have created a page with
links to filters and programs that I have used in my tutorials.
That way it is easier for me, because when there are changes I will
only have one page to update and hopefully better for you, because I'm
less likely to miss a page out when doing the updates :)

You will find links to filters/programs used in this tutorial Here
the link will open in a new window

Filters and programs used in this tutorial :-
Paint Shop Pro
Mura Meister Copies
Xero Porcelain(optional)

Materials :-
There is a text file included in the zip, which says where the items go
My mask, heart-panel tube, silver pattern and purple gradientHere
If you prefer the mask in jpg format you can get itHere

A font of your choice. The font that I used is called
Saginaw Medium and is available from FONTTRADER.com

A tube of your choice. I have used the artwork of Gary George
His beautiful artwork can be seen at www.garygeorge.com

Step 1.
Open the tube you are going to use. For the foreground
of your materials palette, choose a dark colour that will
go well with your chosen tube, or you could use black.
Change the background of your materials palette to 'pattern'
Click on the 'Background and Fill Properties' box and from
the dropdown list of patterns choose the silver_speckle
pattern, or a silver pattern of your choice.
Angle=0 Scale=100 Texture=unticked

Minimise the tube, so it will be out of the way.

Step 2
Go to File...New...and open a new image
Width=500
Height=400
Raster Background
Transparent

Flood fill with your foreground colour (I used #280430).

Change the foreground of your palette to 'Gradient'
Click on the 'Foreground and Stroke Properties' box
and from the dropdown list of gradients choose
sg_purple-shades (or a gradient of your choice, that
will go well with the colours of your tube).
For the style I used 'linear'
Angle and repeats=0
Invert=unticked
Texture=unticked

Go to Layers...New Raster Layer.
Flood fill with your gradient.
Go to Layers...Load/Save Mask...Load Mask from Disk...
Choose the sg_eye-of-the-storm mask
Create mask from = source luminance
Orientation = Fit to Canvas
Options = Hide all mask
invert transparency=unticked

Go to Layers...Delete...when asked if you want the mask
merged into the layer below, click yes
Go to Layers... Merge... Merge Group...

Step 3
Open up your tube, go to Edit...Copy...
minimise it again and on your main image
Go to Edit...Paste as a new Layer
Depending on the size of your tube this layer may need
to be resized. If your tube is too large, go to
Image...Resize...Resample using Bicubic,
make sure the all layers box is unticked.
The amount of resizing will depend on the size of your tube
use my next screenshot as a rough guide.
Move into a position that you like, using the Mover Tool.
My tube is on the right side of the image (in my second
example at the end of the tutorial it is on the left side).

I used a misted tube, so I didn't add a drop shadow, but
if the tube you use is not a misted one, Go to
Effects...3D Effects...Drop Shadow...
Vertical and Horizontal= -2 (minus 2) opacity=75 Blur=10

Step 4
Open the sg_heart panel tube, duplicate (shift+d) and close
the original. You will probably need to change the colour of
the tube, so unless you are using purple in your image, go to
Adjust...Hue and Saturation...Hue/Saturation/Lightness
Move the Hue slider until you find a colour that goes with
your image, adjust the saturation as well if necessary

Go to Edit...Copy...
You can close the tube now (or save it in the new colour).
Back on your main image, go to Edit...Paste as New Layer...

I applied Xero' porcelain to this layer to soften it a little
bit, this is optional, but if you wish to do so, go to
Effects...Plugins...Xero...Porcelain...use the default setting

Go to Image...Resize...Resample using Bicubic,
make sure the all layers box is unticked.
Resize between 50% and 75% (I used 50%)
Use the mover tool to move the heart panel tube to the
centre and a little above the bottom of the image.

Step 5
Go to Effects...Plugins...Mura Meister...Copies...
In the dropdown list of presets at the bottom left
Choose 'Line', in the middle box of the 3 in the centre
change to 'H-Tile', change the 'number' setting at the
top right to '1'. The rest of the settings stay the same
Here is a screenshot

Go to Effects...3D Effects...Drop Shadow...
Vertical and Horizontal=2 opacity=75 Blur=5

Step 6
To add a border go to
Layers...New Raster Layer...
Selections...Select All...
Selections...Modify...Select selection borders...
Inside, border width=5, antialias=unticked

Flood fill the selected border with the silver pattern
from the background of your materials palette (right click)
Go to Selections...Invert...
Effects...3D Effects...Cutout...use these settings
Vertical and Horizontal offsets=0
Opacity=100
Blur=10
Colour=Black
Fill interior with colour=unticked
De-select

Finish by adding your text using the font and colour of
your choice. Give it a drop shadow with these settings
Vertical and Horizontal=2 opacity=75 Blur=5

Add any copyright information to your tag, go to
Layers...Merge...Merge All...
Resize as necessary.

I hope you have enjoyed this tutorial
Here is another example I created using a different tube.

My artists permissions list can be viewed Here

If you wish to contact me you can find an email address to use included on my Site Map

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