Creator of tag: Watch
FR of Tag+Tutorial: Silver

This tutorial will cover a lot of Pen Tool usage. Don’t worry if you don’t know how to use the Pen Tool, I’ll be going over it. Before I go through it this is the tag we’ll be recreating today:

Basic Pen Tool Tutorial

Open up a new image, it can be any size but I suggest 400×400 or larger.

Now you need to know what each of these buttons do. I’ve numbered these tools in order that I’ll be explaining them.

#1 is the Pen Tool, it’s located on the left tool bar. You can either click that image or click P on your keyboard. The rest of the Pen Tool tools will now show up.

#2 Is the Shape Layer tool. Before we use this one make sure you have #5 clicked. Now that you have done that make a point by clicking on the canvas. Add another point below the point you just made. Now add a point to either the left or right of the one you just made.  Upon doing that you’ll see that there is now a triangle of color. To close the object we just created you just simply click the first point. You should have something similar to this:
#3 This is the Paths Tool. We’ll do the same thing we just did, but instead of making a triangle make a square. This tool won’t fill in colors for you. You have to do that manually. What you do is create a new layer then right click on your canvas. You should get a menu and on that menu you’ll see “Fill Path” which will fill your freshly created path with your foreground color. You will also see “Stroke Path” which creates a line along the path you just made. Pretty basic right? Now we’ll go into creating curves with the Path Tool. Make a new point like normally then start to make a second point, but before letting go of the left mouse button drag the mouse up, down, left, or right. While pulling it you’ll see that it starts to curve and the more you pull in a said direction the curve grows larger.
Here are my examples:
#4 This is the Fills Pixel button, it’ll be grayed out and you can’t use it right now. It’s normally grayed out unless you’re working with the Shape Tools. And we won’t be going over the right now.

#5 This is called Pen Tool. This allows you to make points like we have been doing. Not too much to go over with this. Just if you are going to make points be sure to have this selected and not the next button.

#6 This is the Freeform Pen Tool. It’s freeform because it allows you to draw rather than make points. In order to use this you click and hold the left mouse button then draw. Not only can you use the Paths tool with this but you can also use the Shapes Layer tool. Go ahead and try that out, but with the Paths tool and with the Shapes Layer.
Here’s were we are at right now:

#7 This nifty tool is called the Rectangle Tool. It’ll allow you to create squares and rectangles. To make a square hold the SHIFT key down while dragging the mouse. I let go of the mouse button first then the shift key. Test this out with both the Paths tool and the Shapes Layer tool.

#8 This is the Rounded Rectangle Tool, it’s identical to the Rectangle Tool except it has rounded corners. Go ahead and test it out the same as 7.

#9 Ellipse Tool. This will allow you to make circles or ellipses. To make a perfect circle hold the SHIFT key tool like the above tools.

#10 Polygon Tool. With this tool you don’t need to hold the SHIFT key down because it will make the polygon (5 sided shape) equal on all sides.

#11 Line Tool. This makes a line, nothing more to add to this one.

#12 Custom Shape Tool. I enjoy this tool quite a bit. When you click on this tool you’ll have something pop up on your toolbar; it’s your shapes. #13 Go ahead and click the down arrow. A drop down menu will show up showing you some shapes. Now there are more than just those shapes. Click the arrow on the right and you’ll see another menu. At the bottom there are different shape categories you can choose from. Choose a shape and test it out
#14 Styles. I don’t really use these. I suggest trying them out just so you know what they look like. This has a drop down menu like in #13. You can use different styles. Just test it out and see what it does. If you don’t want the styles anymore go ahead and restart them and click the white box with a red line through it.

#15 Colors. Pretty simple. You click it and you can change the color to what you want your next path to be.

Now you just have to practice using the Pen Tool and you’ll get better. You won’t get better unless you practice. I know I didn’t go over everything but I haven’t used them so I can’t explain what they do for you.
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Now that we have the basics down we can start making this tag now. Excited? I hope so. Also, be sure to save often. You don’t want to have something happen and everything you just did get lost.

Step 1: Create a new document, this size for this one was 500×500. The background was filled with a1f9f0, you can choose your own color though.

Step 2: Create a new layer. We’re going to apply some of the Pen Tool techniques we just learned. Go ahead and grab the Pen Tool and choose the Ellipse Tool and the Shapes Layer tool. Change the color, the creator used 00ff5a. Now make a circle, remember to hold the SHIFT key to make a perfect circle, then set the layer mode to Pin Light. Right click on the layer and click duplicate layer. Double click on the color on the duplicate layer here:

Change that color to 54ff00 and move this to the left of the first circle. Duplicate the layer again and change the color to 00ff1e and move this below the two other circles.
This is where we are at now:

Step 3: Now we’re going to start building rectangles. For this step we’re going to be using the Rectangle Tool along with the Shape Layer tool. Pick this blue 00ffe4, create a new layer, now make a rectangle in the bottom circle. Like this (I left the other circle in there so you can judge where to place it.)

Step 4: At the top of the rectangle we just made we’re going to make a top. First create a new layer. This layer uses the Shape Layer tool along with the Pen Tool. We’re going to be making a parallelogram, remember we are making a rectangular prism so it HAS to be the length of the rectangle you just made. The color of this parallelogram is 00c0ff. It should look similar to this:

Step 5: Closing in the rectangular prism. You’re going to make a rectangle on a new layer, with the Shape Layer and the Pen Tool, that follows the base rectangle and the parallelogram. The color used here was 00aeff. You should now have something similar to this:

Step 6: We just did the hard steps, so this one is going to be simple. Now hold down the CTRL key and select the rectangle and the parallelogram, be sure not to unselect the layer we just made. Now you’re going to duplicate these three layers 7 times. You can duplicate two different ways; one way is by going to the menu bar and clicking Layer>Duplicate Layer, or you can right click on the name of the layer then click Duplicate Layer. Either way will work. Now that we have duplicated it 7 times you need to grab the Move Tool (V), with it you’re going to select three layers above the first three layers (use the CTRL and select) and you’re going to move it above the rectangular prism. Do that until you have 8 rectangular prisms on top of each other similar to this:

Step 7: Select all of the layers we made for the rectangular prisms. Once you have them all selected hit CTRL+G it’ll create a group. Creating groups are useful in keeping you’re layers organized and under control so you don’t have many of them. With the group still selected duplicate it 3 times. To move a group you just click on the group and move it using the Move Tool. Hide the top two groups for now and we’ll work on the second group. What you’re going to do is flip it horizontally. To do this you’ll go into Edit>Transform>Flip Horizontal. Move it to the right of the first group. Unhide the next group and flip that vertically, some method for flipping horizontally but you click Flip Vertical. Move this stack above the first one. Unhide the last group and flip this horizontally and vertically, and move it above the second group but to the right of the stack we just placed. You should have something similar to this:

Step 8: Back to more Pen Tooling! For this step you’ll want the Paths and Pen Tool. The reason you want the Paths tool and no the Shapes Layer tool is because we aren’t making a shape we’re making a line. I hope you tested out making curves because that’s what we’re making. Make a curvy path like this:

Now create a new layer and change you’re foreground color to white ffffff. Right click on your canvas, you’ll get a menu, click Stroke Path. A window will pop up and choose Brush from the drop down menu. Click OK. Should have something similar to this:

The layer was placed under the circles we created. You can either click and drag it down there or you can, on the menu bar, click Layers>Arrange>Send to Back (shift+ctrl+[ ),

Step 9: Duplicate that layer. With the Move Tool we’re going to move the duplicate layer above the original, not too far. You can use the arrow keys to move a layer also. If you use the arrow key, hit the up key about 5 times. Duplicate that layer and move that freshly duplicated layer above the previous layer. Should have something similar to this:

This is where we are at now:

Step 10: Duplicate the last layer made and move it to the top left stack of rectangular prisms. Duplicate that layer and move it above the previous layer. Repeat the last sentence. You should have something around this:

For a little bit we’re just going to be working with duplicating layers. So hang tight before we do something with more than just the Move Tool.

Step 11: Duplicate one of the many wavy lines we have now. Using the Move Tool we’re going to move this duplicate line below the bundle we just made. Place it at the top corner of the first stack of rectangular prisms we made. Duplicate it and move it below that line, keep it close like we did with the other ones. Repeat the last sentence.

Duplicate the line again this time move it to the left side of the last stack we made. Again we duplicate the layer and move it above the line we just placed. Repeat the last sentence.

Duplicate the line again but move the layer so it’s UNDER the rectangular prisms we made. Then move the actual line to the top right prism, towards the bottom of it. Duplicate and move it above the previous line. Then do it again.
Should now look like this:

Step 12: For this next step you’ll need some space brushes. You can find some at deviantART.com. Here is the link to the one I have previously downloaded:
http://keepwaiting.deviantart.com/art/Lost-In-Space-Brushes-PS7-36129901Once you download that it’ll automatically be placed in PhotoShop for you. Once it’s done downloading, save your work, close out of PS, and open it up again. Create a new layer. Choose the Brush Tool or hit B on the keyboard. Right click on the canvas and the different brushes should show up. Scroll down until you see one with the number 294. Click around the canvas. The creator of this tag made duplicates of his layers. Then once he got a solid effect he merged the layers together. Then duplicated the merged layers 5 times and moved each layer around. You can do it that way or just use one layer and brush every where. An easy way to brushing that everywhere would be to change the scatter of the brush.

Once you click that you’ll get a window. Looks like this:

You don’t have to follow the settings I have. You’re probably wondering what scatter does. Well, when you click the mouse button instead of just getting the brush used once it’s used a few times and scattered else where.
Now we’re here:

One step closer to finishing this tag.

Step 13: Create a new layer. Image>Apply Image. The layer was then flipped horizontally. The creator added text to it. You can add text to it if you wish or you can choose not to. It’s completely up to you. Here’s our finished tag:

About the Author

Silver is a super moderator on the forums of renowned website PlanetRenders, and messes around with graphics in my spare time. She enjoys helping people out whether it’s with graphics in any way, shape, or form, or in any other part of life.

About the Author

Silver is a super moderator on the forums of renowned website PlanetRenders, and messes around with graphics in my spare time. She enjoys helping people out whether it’s with graphics in any way, shape, or form, or in any other part of life.

Just a quick sidenote, there are many sources of C4D renders, and you can find many through just a quick Google search. However sites such as planetrenders (as linked above) have a large C4D gallery.

You will be selecting the Clone Tool from the Tool Box in your Photoshop or by clicking on the S key on your keyboard.

After selecting the Clone Tool you will need to adjust the Opacity. I prefer to use the setting of 50% for text removal, but you can adjust it to whatever your preferance would be.

The next setting to adjust will be for the Flow. The setting for this will vary on what you are working on.

When removing text at first in a dark area you can leave it at a heavy setting of 100% (full strength).

The above setting you see is used for touching up the image to correct the edges of the clouds (on the wallpaper). I use the setting of 26% and then down to 13% for any final touchups. The setting of 26% allows you to slowly see what your work area is looking like, in the event that you need to adjust your direction. Brush size is up to you as well as what type you prefer, that is up to personal preference.  Direction of the brush when cloning is important and should be kept in mind to prevent unwanted touchups or if you need to match up edges etc..

After making your adjustments to the settings for the clone tool you will notice ( depending on the type of brush ) a white circle representing the brush on the following image.

In order to select the area  you will be cloning from you will first need to think about your selection.  Keeping in mind to stay somewhat close to what you are working on cloning out, colors shapes edges etc.. all need to be thought out. The next step when you find the area you will be cloning from, you will be clicking on the left Alt key and left clicking your mouse to complete this step.

If you have correctly completed the previous step in this tutorial you will see a Cross shape (in the upper right corner of this image) that designates your selected area to clone from. You will also see in the above image what I was referring to as for the 26%  Flow setting. Adjust the settings to what you feel comfortable with or works best for you to give you the desired results, the settings I suggest are what works for me. In the next image you will see more of the text being removed with the clone tool.

* Remember to keep an eye on the direction you are moving your clone tool, as sometimes you might end up creating an edge with the brush which you will notice in the following image. look to the left of the clone tool to see what I am talking about.

After removing the text from an area you will want to refer back to the original image to make your adjustments. In this case I need to add clouds and some of the lights in the image to hide the straight edge first created by the removal process. Carefully selecting the next area helps to provide you with a better end result. On this step I would suggest a lower rate of Flow around 13% to complete your clone work, once again keeping in mind direction of your brush strokes and referring back to the original image for reference.

With patience and practice you can easily edit out text/ blemishes in any image. The image below is what was achieved with the use of the clone tool, and some settings adjustments.

Thank you for taking the time to read my Clone Tool Tutorial and I hope that it helps you in making those texted images more usable for your graphics needs.

About the Author

Hawk is a moderator and legend from PlanetRenders, and takes the “No Challenge too big” approach to rendering.

He can also be found at his personal web page http://home.comcast.net/~prhawks_nest/index.htm

It’s easier than you think to make a flash portraits slideshow for Christmas. You can create professional flash thumbnails slideshow to show your favorite Christmas photos and pictures and you can upload it to the website as a flash banner.

Here you can learn how to make a Christmas flash portraits slideshow gallery in this tutorial.

Watch the personalized Christmas Flash slide Demo with music and get inspired to make your own flash photo gallery. It’s also a great way to showcase products on your website with a stunning dynamic flash banner slideshow.

Created by Flash Gallery Factory
Step 1: Install Flash Gallery Factory

Install your downloaded flash photo gallery creator first. Since the Flash Gallery Factory includes two modes: Gallery Mode and Slideshow Mode, you should choose a mode first. Here you can choose both Gallery and Slideshow mode to make your dynamic flash photo gallery.

Step 2: Add photos & background music

The program will go to “Browse” tab by default .Just drag the photos to storyboard directly. Regarding to adding background music, please click “Add Music” button.

Step 3: Select a template for Christmas flash portraits slideshow

In Gallery Mode, the templates includes “Advanced” templates and “3D Theme” templates. You can choose any of the free flash templates you want. Just click to apply the template.

Step 4: Publish the Christmas flash slideshow gallery

Preview and if you are satisfied with your work, you can publish your flash photo gallery in swf, html or exe formats, or you can mail the flash photo slideshow gallery to your friends directly as a gift.

Download Free trial version to have a try now!

Tips:

1.You can edit your photos to different effects by click the “Edit Photo” button.

2.If the duration time of the background music doesn’t match your photo gallery, you can edit it by click “Edit Music” button.

3.It allows you add hyperlinks on images by right click the photos and choose “Photo Properties”.

Simple flash making is a good way to keep these precious memories as a flash keepsake, which can be used to enhance your photo presentation with stunning and colorful 3D effects.and share with friends and families on website, blog or MySpace.

Thanksgiving is a holiday overflowing with joy. It’s a wonderful time to take photos of family members and friends.As families gather, the cameras come out to capture magical moments of Thanksgiving to enjoy and share through the years!

Here are a few tips to help you take memorable pictures that loved ones will thank you for.

Wanna have a try now? Download the Flash Gallery Factory Free Trial Version to get started!

step 1: choose a mode

You may find that the software includes Gallery and Slideshow two modes . To make 3d flash gallery, please choose Gallery Mode.

step 2: Import photos

After selecting single or multiple photos, drag and drop them to the storyboard, which locates at the bottom of the interface. You are allowed to add up to 500 photos in one gallery. If you want to delete the photo, just right click on the photo and select “Delete Photo” item. If you want to add background music, just use the “Add music” built-in tool above the storyboard.

step 3: Select 3d template

Flash Gallery Factory 4.8 version provides 60+ free flash photo gallery templates including 25+ free 3d flash template.To make 3d flash curve screen gallery, please choose below template:

Choose left down items to set background image or just change background color.

step 4: Add image caption and description

Click “Edit photo” button or double click on the photo and it will turn out a new window. Choose “Properties” Tab and click “Caption & Description” item to edit your image caption and description. Finally, click ok to close the window.

step 5: Preview and publish

Preview your 3d flash image gallery by click the start button in the bottom of the right screen. If you are satisfied with your work, you can publish your flash photo gallery to swf, html, exe, or screensaver formats, or you can mail the 3d flash image gallery to your friends directly as a gift.You can set an end hyperlinkas well by click the “Publish Setting”, and select the “Action at the end of the show” to input your link.

Follow the tips below and create a Father’s day slideshow in only three steps!
What you will need:
1. digital photos
2. slideshow software (I recommend Photo Story Platinum)

Think about photos and songs you want to use in the Father’s Day slideshow . Photos of the family throughout the years, vacations, old pictures, whatever you can think of that would add a memorable touch to th e Fahter’s Day slideshow , DVD album you are creating.

Add photos:

Drag and Drop Your favorite photos to the “Story Board”. Touch up every picture with the built-in editing tools and effects such as rotate and crop photos to match the screen resolution, and add effects and adjust brightness/contrast as you like.You can easily organize the photos in your Fahter’s Day slideshow , DVD album and set duration of each photo to suit your music.

Select Animated Styles:

Preview animated styles first and then double click or drag & drop your selected styles to the StoryBoard,or choose add random styles to all. Add Music and Voice :Select a song that is meaningful for you and your family.MP3, WAV or WMA file will be accepted. You can even use your own vocie your Father’s Day slideshow , DVD album . The built-in audio recorder allowing you to record a voiceover for your Father’s Day slideshow , DVD album .

Choose Output Fomats:

Click the “Create” tab and Preview the video ,choose “Create DVD”, author the DVD Menu and choose the menu template, then burn the Father’s Day slideshow on your DVD disc and display it on TV . Creat DVD is the best way to output your father’s Day slideshow if you plan on sharing it with the entire family. Gather everyone of your family to the living room and present the Father’s Day slideshow , DVD album tribute to Dad.It’s super easy to create a custom DVD menu and lets you burn multiple copies of your DVD to have as backups or to give to other family members.

Small tips:

For Dads that are always in a hurry : Is Dad always in a hurry? Use the output features to put the Father’s Day slideshow you have created on his Iphone,Blackberry or iPod. It’s great way for Dad to carry around his special father’s Day slideshow when he is on the road.No matter where he is,he will carry your love with him.

Add Custom Captions and Effects Add descriptive text to your slideshow, customize the color, size, font to create an introductory Title.At the end of your special Father’s Day slideshow DVD album insert a credit. List out all the people in the photos, who created the show, who helped etc.. anything you want to say.

Movie Story provides stunning transition effect and professional-looking menu templates to create good-looking family slideshows with music. And above all, it’s as easy to use as 1-2-3. Proverb goes that life is simple, but we can glorify it. Yes, you can! Now create a family slideshow with very old or recent digital photos and after burned onto DVD disc, play it on your TV and have fun with your family.

Step 1: Import your Family photos/video and music

Download Wondershare Movie Story and install it. In the Slideshow tab, you can import your prepared photo and video into the program through the Add Photo/Video button. And if required, you can also edit the imported photo/video using the built-in tools issued by double-clicking photo/video thumbnails on Storyboard.

Creating a Family photo slideshow with music will captivate your audience more easily. You are recommended to make a Family photo slideshow by adding traditional Family songs. See below to learn how to add background music. If required, double-click the added music file in the music table to trim it so as to match your slideshow.

Step 2: Change transition or motion effect

By default, once you import photo/video, random transition effects would be applied automatically. However, you can change them as follow:

You can also specify motion effect (also known as Ken-Burns effect) to desired photo. To do so, click the pentagram on photo thumbnail to open the Motion Effect panel and do as the below image illustrated:

Step 3: Apply Family DVD menu template

Only If you want to burn your family slideshow onto DVD, SVCD, VCD Disc, is it necessary to configure a professional menu. After switching to Menu tab, simply double-click the Family DVD menu template on the left hand side to apply it to your family slideshow.

Step 4: Burn DVD or create video

It’s time now to burn your family slideshow onto disc or create video in various formats. See the screenshot below:

Note that you need to specify the save path if you select a video format. It will take some time for the program to generate the final family slideshow, which depends on the video length. If you choose to create your family slideshow into video formats, you can then upload it to YouTube and share with others by sending the URL. Prior to that, you may need to sign up in YouTube.

Now, all is done. Enjoy it!

Wanna have a try? Download Here

Here is a link to the psd that accompanies this tutorial: [Link]

What all your hard work will amount to:

Step 1
Create a new document and make sure the resolution is correctly set to “72 pixels/inch” and the color mode is RGB Color (8 bit).

Step 2
Using the text tool , type in some text using a fairly thick font. I used “Tiranti Solid LET” which I actually don’t know where I got from but congrats to whoever made this font.

Step 3
Ctrl + Click on the thumbnail of the layer. This will select the outline of the text.

Create a new layer and then switch over to the gradient tool.

Select the first type of gradient (foreground to background).

Then select two colors that similar for the foreground and background.

Make sure you have these settings before proceeding further.

Now create a gradient from the top to the bottom of the text.

This should be your result so far.

Step 4
Create a new layer for the reflection (the button to the left of the trash can).

Press “D”, then “X” to select white as your foreground and black as the background. Now select the foreground to transparent in the gradient tool settings.

Make a slightly smaller gradient this time.

Ctrl + D to deselect and then lower the opacity to about 80%.

While still on the reflection layer, and make an elliptical selection (with the elliptical marquee tool) like the one shown below.

Press delete.

Step 5

Right-click on the first layer and then select “Blending Options”. Select “Outer Glow”, and match up the options with the screenshot.

Create a new layer, move it all the way to the bottom but just before our original text layer, and then D and then X. Now Alt + Backspace to fill the space with a nice white background.

Final Result:

Here’s the PSD: Shiny.PSD

The best feature about startlogic as well as webhostingpad is the fact that they are cheap as well as dedicated. Now powweb is also trying to introduce similar packages. The serverpronto is working on these lines too.