Tips and Tutorials for PSP 8

Tortoise Shell Text

This tutorial is NOT to be scripted or made into a "Quick Guide" unless it is for your own personal use.

To do this tutorial you will need a working knowledge of PSP. If you are new to PSP, or have a problem doing this tutorial, you can find me at Raven's PSP Forum, be happy to help you out.

You also need my Tiger Gradient.
Click here to download. Unzip it and extract to your gradients folder.

This is an easy tutorial, I've included many screen shots to try to show each step in detail.

Step 1

Open a new image 600 X 300
Set the background to Transparent.

Step 2

Click on your background fill to open your Materials Palette.
Click on Gradient and find the gradient "mqc Tiger".

Step 3
Go to your Tool Bar, click on your Text Tool

.
Check your Tool Palette ( F4 will open it )and make sure it's set for Vector Text.

Click on your image with the Text Tool.
Choose your font and size. For sizes over 72 just type in the size you want.
Check "Anti-alias". Leave the "Stroke" at 0.
I set the Kerning to 135 to space out the letters.
You can leave that with "Auto kern" checked if you want.
Checking "Remember Text" will save your settings in case you have to start over.
Click Apply.

Go to Objects>Align>Center in Canvas.

(shown at 50%)

Step 4

Go to Selections>From Vector Object.
You need to keep your text selected for the next steps.
Go to Layers>Convert to Raster Layer. You cannot add effects to vector text.

Step 5

Go to Adjust>Blur>Blur Average.
Set it to 7.

Note: Thinner Text = Less Blur
Thicker Text = More Blur

Step 6

Go to Effects>3D Effects>Inner Bevel.
Use these settings. Click on Save . Save as Tortoise.

Step 7
Go to Layers>Duplicate, or click this icon

on your Layer Palette.

Step 8

Go to Effects>Artistic Effects>Chrome.
Use these settings.

Step 9

Open your Layer Palette.
Click the small arrow next to "Normal" on "Copy of Raster 2"
Set it to Overlay.

Step 10

Go to Layers>Merge>Merge Down.
Go to Adjust>Sharpen>Unsharp Mask.
Use the Default settings.
Go to Selections>Select None.

Step 11

Go to Effects>3D Effects>Drop Shadow.
These are the settings I used, use whatever looks right for your image.
It's best to keep your shadow on a separate layer so you can change it easily.

Step 12

If you want a matching background for your text make a rounded rectangular selection around your text.

Step 13

Open your Layer Palette, click on Raster 1 to select it.

Go to Layers>New Raster Layer or click on the first icon on your Layer Palette

.
Flood fill

with your gradient.
Your new layer will be added under your text and shadow.

Step 14

Go to Adjust>Blur>Blur Average. Set it to 23.
Use the Tortoise Bevel.
Go to Layers>Duplicate.
Go to Effects>Artistic Effects>Chrome. Use the same settings as earlier.
Go to Adjust>Negative Image.
Open your Layer Palette. Set the Blend Mode to Screen.
Lower the Opacity to 74% or whatever looks good to you.

Go to Layers>Merge>Merge Down.

Step 15

Go to Selections>Modify> Select Selection Borders

(Shown at 75%)

Step 16

Click on your background gradient to change the settings.

Go to Layers>New Raster Layer.
Flood Fill your border selection.

Step 17

Use Blur Average, set at 7.
Use the Tortoise Bevel.
Duplicate your layer.
Use the same Chrome settings as earlier.
Set the Blend Mode to Overlay.
Merge Down.
Use Unsharp Mask.
Selections>Select None.

Step 18

Open your Layer Palette and click on Raster 3 to highlight it.

Go to Selections>Select All.
Click on your image with the Magic Wand to select Raster 3.

Layers>New Raster Layer.
Go to Effects>3D Effects>Cut Out.
These are the settings I used, but use what ever looks good to you.

Selections>Select None.

Step 19

Note You can now easily select Raster 3 to replace the background and still keep your border.
Clicking on the eye for that layer will hide it without deleting it.

That's it, you're done.:)

Experiment, and have fun!

Tutorial Index

Tips and Tutorials for PSP 8