Sinamin's "Sit On This" Tagging Tutorial

This tutorial is copyright owned by Tags-N-Tubes. If you would like to provide a link to this tutorial for a graphics design group or tutorial link list, please write me at sinamin@tags-n-tubes.com.

I'd like to thank Joseph Linsner for generously extending his permission to me to utilize his work in this tutorial. Please visit his website at http://www.linsner.com.

For this tutorial you will need:

• PSP 7.02
• Eye Candy 3 (you can download a free version of this program at http://www.photoshopcafe.com/)
• A large tube of a sitting image. If you wish to use the one I used in this tutorial, you can download it here.
• Complementary tube to add to your image. If you wish to use the rose tube I used in this image, you can download it here.
• A "fat", non-script text font. I used Davida. If you wish to use the same font, you can download it here.

Open sinamin_erotic24.tub. Shift D to duplicate. Close the original tube image.

We are going to be working on a very large palette, which we will resize later.

Go to Image, Canvas Size. If you are using my tube, resize your palette to 600 x 800. If you are using another tube, add about 100 pixels in width and about 15 pixels in height. You can indicate to center your image both horizontally and vertically, as we'll be moving it anyway.

Layers, New Raster Layer, Arrange, Send to Bottom.

Since we are creating a email signature tag, we are going to fill this bottom layer with white, so that the tag "floats" in the body of your email. If you use a different color for your emails, flood fill this layer with the color you use as your email background.

Activate Layer 1, the layer that your tube is on.

We are now going to downsize our tube a bit. Depending on the text you are using, you may need to downsize it again later. I am assuming you are working with my tube, this step will vary or may not need to be done at all, depending on the tube you are using.

Image, resize, 85%. Be sure resize all layers is NOT checked. Effects, Sharpen, Sharpen.

Image, resize again, 85%. Effects, Sharpen, Sharpen.

We do our resizing in two steps. I find that resizing an image any more than 85%, reduces the clarity of the image, even after sharpening.

Now, activate layer 2 (your background layer), in your layer palette. Go to Layers, New Raster Layer. Name this layer text.

Chose a color for your text. I used #1D4D39. Lock out your stroke color and set your fill color to the desired color of your text.

If you are using the Davida font, and did not install it, simply open it and minimize it. It is now available in your font list in PSP.

Now open your text palette and type your desired text. We want our text overly large, I used a font size of 120, but yours will vary depending on your text. Experiment with what works for you, remembering that you need it large enough to allow the legs of this tube to dangle between the letters. You may need to downsize the tube even further to permit this, particularly if you are using a font size less than 120. Be sure if you do downsize the tube further that you do so in increments of not less than 85%.

Apply your text. Do not deselect your text. Position your text so that she is sitting on the text and her hand is resting on top of the letters.

Go to Effects, 3D Effects, Drop Shadow.

Color	Black
Opacity	100
Blur	0
Horizontal	1
Vertical	1

Go to Effects, Texture, Blinds.

Width	2
Opacity	44
Color	Black
Horizontal	Checked
Light from Left Top	Checked

While your text is still selected (do NOT deselect), go to Effects, Plug In Filters, Eye Candy 3, Inner Bevel and use the following settings:

Bevel Width	10
Bevel Shape	Rounded
Smoothness	4
Shadow Depth	58
Highlight Brightness	77
Highlight Sharpness	19
Direction	111
Inclination	59

Deselect your text.

Now, reposition your tube (Layer 1). Two of your letters will be slightly covered, but the name will still be easily decipherable. You may need to resize your tube at this point to be sure the text can still be read. If necessary, reposition your text as well.

Now open sinamin_erotic20a.tub Shift D to duplicate and close the original tube image.

With this tube active, Control C to copy it. Now, go to our design palette, and activate our tube layer, Layer 1. Layer, New Raster Layer. Name this layer, Rose.

With the Rose Layer active, hit Control E on your keyboard. This will paste the rose as a new image in this layer. Reposition as desired. If you wish, once you have it positioned resize the rose as you wish. I left the rose full sized, but this is a matter of personal taste.

With the Rose Layer still your active layer, click on your eraser tool and zoom in on your image, so that you can clearly see where the rose vine is overlapping your text.

I used the following settings for my eraser, but this will vary, depending on your font size:

Shape	Round
Size	15
Hardness	40
Opacity	100
Step	25
Density	100

Now carefully erase portions of the vine laying over the lettering. I chose to make mine look as if it was weaving in and out. Experiment with what you like.

Once you are satisfied, go to your Background Layer (Layer 2) and hide this layer in your layer palette. With the Rose Layer still active, go to Layers, Merge, Merge Visible.

Now, let's add a perspective shadow to our image! We're almost done!

Make your background layer visible again.

Make your Merged Layer your active Layer.

Go to Effects, Plug In Filters, Eye Candy 3, Perspective Shadow and use the following settings:

Vanishing Point Direction:	78
Vanishing Point Distance:	37
Length:	99
Opacity:	27
Blur:	0
Shadow Color:	Black

Now you just need to crop your image, removing the excess borders in your palette. Then, you can resize your graphic, remembering to do so in increments of not less than 85%, sharpening each time.

Below is an example of the same technique used with a reclining tube and for the signature tag I used to write this tutorial.