Beginner Tag Tut, Step 1

In this tutorial, we'll make a really basic tag using a picture tube that came with your PSP. I'll try to lead you through step-by step, but if you have any question, feel free to post them on the general board. Be sure to refer to the "Opening your PSP" in the tips and tricks section as we go. Have fun!!

1. Open your PSP, click on file, new, width and height both at 400 pixels, raster background checked, 16 million colors for color depth and a transparent background. Click ok.

2. Now, click on your picture tube tool. Got o the top and you'll see a box where you can view your picture tubes. Look through these and choose one you'd like to work with. Click on the picture you'd like to use, then place your cursor in the middle of your canvas, and click. You can change the size of your picture by clicking on "scale"and putting a percentage in - less than 100% for a smaller picture and more than 100% to make it larger, before you place your picture on your canvas

3. Now, we're going to make a really simple background for your tag. First, we're going to right click on "raster 1" on your layer palette, go up the list and click on duplicate. Then, X out the copy you just made, and highlight the raster 1 layer. By highlighting, you've selected that layer to work on.

Now, look to the top of your screen and you'll see where it says "effects". Click on it, then on texture effects and then on "mosaic antique". Put in the same settings as I have for this effect. If you want to play with other settings, that's great!! If you try one and don't like it, just hit ctrl-z and it will undo it.

Number of columns 85, Number of rows 77, Tile Diffusion 68

Grout width 1, Grout Diffusion 100

4. Now, we're going to un-x our original tube so we can see it again. Then, select your top layer, click on the "move tool" (right above the crop tool) and move the top layer slightly - I moved mine down and to the right. You can decide where you think yours looks best.

5. Just a couple of small things left to do before we finish this part. The first, is we're going to lighten our background a bit. To do this, move the slider by the layer on your layer palette, from 100% to 75%. Finally, we're going to add a drop shadow to our original picture, by clicking on effects, 3D effects, and drop shadow. The settings I've used are vertical 4, horizontal -6, opacity 64, blur 2, and color black. To choose your color, click on the colored square and with the dropper, click on the black square. Click ok.

6. Now to finish this part, we're going to merge our layers, so all the parts of our picture are on the same layer. To do this, go to layers, merge, and visible. Now, save this as a file name which you'll remember, as a psp file.

I've covered a lot of material in this tutorial and hopefully it's not too confusing. It's important to play with the settings and find ones you like. You may see other tutorials which do some things slightly differently - everyone has their own way and you'll find yours as you learn the program.

In my next tutorial, we'll put our name on your tag , and then we'll make it sparkle in a third tutorial.

Please do not claim my tutorials as your own. You are welcome to link to my tutorials, or print them out for your own use.But please do not copy them to your website, or take credit for them.

This tutorial was written by Ann. If there is any resemblance to any other tutorials, it's coincidental. Please do not claim this Tutorial as your own. Thank you.