Crop Circles Remembered Tutorial

 Crop Circles, Remembered Tutorial

Before starting this tutorial, I want to explain why I am calling it what I am.

Many years ago, more than 12, easily, after I had learned – somewhat! - how to use PSP, make tags, get better at my "skills", and while in a copyright compliant PSP group on Yahoo (Snaggers Annonymous - now on groups.io), as one of the challenges we did a tutorial called "Crop Circles" by A Diva's Delight, which their tag tutorial blog is no longer around - it appears to now be a makeup/beauty advice blog.  It's a shame, as that tutorial, and many written around that time, are now considered "old school" where you actually use the different tools in PSP, learned how they worked, and even used them as a point to leap off and try your own thing!  For those who are curious, these are two tags I made those many years ago:

All is not lost, however.  I was able to find it via the Wayback Machine and, even though it doesn't have any of the screenshots/images visible anymore, the steps are still there, so ..... with that in mind, I will use that as my inspiration for this tutorial.  It won't be exactly as the original ... just inspiration.  As you will see as you go through the tutorial, that the finished look for your tag is pretty much only limited by your imagination.

Here we go.

Ready?

This is the tag we will be making:

Easy level - Basic knowledge of PSP is needed.

Materials Needed

Paint Shop Pro  (used Version 9, but can be done on any version)

Scraps – None  (however if you would like to use them in addition to the tutorial, you are free to do so!)

Tube of Choice - I am using a tube by FTU artist, Michelle Hoefener 

Preview:

... tubes can be found in most © compliant tube share groups.  You could also use an element from a kit, or accent/embellishment - the sky is the limit!

A Dingbat of your choice – the original tutorial made a preset shape from one of the “letters” in the dingbat called “Crop Circles” (hence the name) – found HERE 

...we won’t be making a preset shape from it, instead using it like a regular font.  If you want to use a different dingbat, ones that look like designs and/or have an empty "middle" (aka "Fill") work best.

Outside Filters Needed 

These can all be found here:

https://www.lismibaebi.com/FiltersandPlugins/FiltersandPlugins.html 

Mura's Meister > Copies

VM Distortion > Radial Pox

Xero > Fritilliary

Filters Part of PSP

Adjust > Blur > Gaussian Blur

Adjust > Sharpen > Unsharpen Mask 

Drop Shadow

Optional Filters (for Name/Text)

Eye Candy 5 Impact - Gradient Glow

(can be found at link, above)

Fonts used

 FFF Executive - © info

Farming Times - Names   

👉 Please note that I typically add my drop shadows last.  I will give the drop shadow settings that I have used at the end of the tutorial HOWEVER feel free to use your own settings if/when you would like. 👈

**SAVE YOUR PROGRESS OFTEN**

1.  Install the font(s).  (Alternative:  You can open and minimize the font; it should show in PSP.  Personally, I use a font program called Cfont Pro and it's actually freeware, despite the name.  It temporarily installs the font and will uninstall it when you shut down your computer.)

2.  Any tubes or elements you have:  for each, click on Shift+D, and then close out the original(s).

3.  Open a new file, 700x700 pixels, transparent background.  (Don't worry, you will be able to crop/resize later on.  This size just allows more area to create and move things as needed.)

4.  Choose colors for your foreground and background, using your tube colors as a guide.  You could also use a gradient or a pattern as the background ("fill") if you so desire.  I am choosing dark gray for my foreground, and a medium-to-light pink shade from the tube for the background.

5.  With your text tool, choose the dingbat font you wish to use, with these settings (I am using the Crop Circles dingbat font, letter e/lowercase):

Size: 550  -- Stroke Width: 2.0 -- Anti-Alias: Smooth   Alignment:  Center

Kerning:  0.00 -- Tracking:  0.00

Background Color: closed (Null)

Once created, go to Objects - Align - Center In Canvas

Feel free at this time to resize this to your liking (bigger, smaller).  You want it to, more or less, take up most of the canvas, like this:

When satisfied, convert to raster.  Rename this "dingbat".

6.  Choose a dark color from your tube and make it your foreground color.  With the "dingbat" layer still active, go to Adjust - Color Balance - Manual Color Correction.  In the window on the left will show your current color ("Source"), on the right will show the color you are wanting ("Target").  I am using a dark pink from my tube (#da0d8b), so it will look like this:

7.  Copy your tube, Paste as New Layer. Make duplicate layer of tube, close out the original for now.  On the duplicate tube, make sure your tube is centered.  Resize it by 50% (you may need to modify this a bit depending on the tube you are using) - be sure that "resize all layers" is NOT checked.

8.  Mura Meister > Copies with these settings:

Duplicate this layer.  Image > Rotate > Free Rotate:

Direction: Right

Degrees:  90

All Layers:  Not checked

Rotate single layer around canvas center:  checked

Merge down.

9.  Adjust > Blur > Gaussian Blur of 15.00.  Rename this layer "Blur".

10.  Hide this layer for the moment and go back to your "dingbat" layer, make it active.  With your Magic Wand (Selection Tool > Magic Wand), click on the inside of each area of the shape as well as outside the shape (you will see the marching ants in the areas you choose).  For my chosen shape, I clicked where the green X's are:

(I tried to click on the inside of the shape however even with a feather of 0, and even trying to zoom in, I still had problems - this was an easier "work around".)

11.  Go back to your "blur" layer, unhide it / make it active.  Then hit Delete. Your "blur" area should now be inside the lines of your shape.  Move this under the dingbat layer.  Selection > Select None.

11.  Go to your original tube layer, make active (unhide it).  Be sure it is centered and then Edit > Copy Merged, Edit > Paste > Paste as New Layer.  Be sure it is exactly lined up with the other elements on your tag (use your move tool if need be).  Once satisfied, Adjust > Blur > Gaussian Blur:  20.00 pixels.  While on this layer, apply Xero > Fritilliary with these settings:

Duplicate this twice, so you should have 3 total layers of this.  Merge all 3 Fritilliary layers into one, and then move it under the blur layer.  Duplicate it twice.  On one of those duplicated layers, resize by 80%, "resize all layers" unchecked, Resample using "Smart Size".

You should now have something like this:

On the other duplicated layer, Adjust > Blur > Gaussian Blur ... by 10.00.

12.  While still on this layer, Image > Resize by 90%, all layers unchecked, Resample using "Smart Size".   Then apply VM Distortion > Radial Pox with these settings (mine is through Filters Unlimited 2, however they should be the same if you use the filter directly):

Repeat filter with same settings.  Resize this layer by 90% with previous settings.

13.  Using your crop tool put these settings in your toolbar, and then click on the check mark to use the settings:

(click on this to enlarge if you need to see the settings clearly)

14.  If you wish to add anything else - accents, scraps, word art, etc - now is the time.  I am not adding anything to mine, so I will continue to the next step.

15.  At this time we will resize it.  Go to Image > Resize and use the following settings:

Be sure to pay attention to the areas with the pointed hand.  (You don't have to worry about the settings under "Print Size" since we aren't printing this out.)

16.  Going to each layer, use the following:  Adjust > Sharpen > Unsharpen Mask .. with these settings:

(For a short cut, after you click on each layer, hold down Ctrl + Y and it will "repeat last action" which will be the Unsharpen Mask with these settings)

17.  At this point, add drop shadows to your different layers.  I used the following on my tube and the dingbat font shape:

18. Add your crediting info, and your name.  If you wish to use the settings I did for the gradient glow on my © info:

Eye Candy 5 Impact > Gradient Glow (using a medium pink shade from the tube):

After I applied the gradient glow, I duplicated it, then gaussian blur by 5.00 and then moved it under the original.  I set that layer property to Multiply, 100%.  I set the original © info layer to Hard Light, 100%.

Save as .png if you wish to retain background transparency.

19.  You're done!!   I'd love to see what you come up with and thanks for checking out my tutorial!

How To: Using Tagbacks Tutorial

 Hello everyone!!

Today's tutorial is a bit different than the usual tutorials.  This isn't a tutorial on how to make a specific tag.  Instead it is how to use a particular element that is sometimes used in creating signature tags (aka "sig tags"), and that element is commonly referred to as "tagbacks", however they have also been called "backgrounds" and even "templates" (not to be confused with "tag templates").  

I have heard/read that some people have never used these before, don't know how to use them and would love to know how so this "how to" will give some ideas on how you can use them.  There is no right or wrong way to use them, and the only limitation is your imagination.  I will show some examples of different ways I sometimes use them, starting with very basic usage to a little more involved  ... and then you can go from there!  At the end of this "how to", I will provide a small zip-file of tagbacks that I have accumulated through the years, plus the ones I use in this "how to", so you can try creating with them yourself!  A lot of the layered files originally came in either .psp or .pspimage format - I have converted them to .psd so they can be used in most graphics programs ... and that is what you will find in the zip-file.  Single layered will be in either png or jpg format.

Back when they first started showing up in groups and such, their sizes would usually be no larger than 500x500 pixels, and sometimes smaller ... mostly because tags tended to be smaller then.  That being said, you can certainly resize them to a larger size - just be sure to sharpen (or use unsharpen mask) if you are not trying to achieve a blurry look.

For these examples, and to make things a bit easier, for the tube, I will use one from FTU artist Lia (www.linmida.com).  I have placed it on a new file, 500x500 pixels, transparent background.  This is what we will work on and build on, to keep consistency, and to be able to really show how these can be used and how just switching one for another can make a difference.

1.  Simple Background

For this, I am simply placing a tagback in a color that complements the tag, under the tube layer.  For this first example, I used the tagback named 7-10-04_silver&gold_jolinda.png:

As you can see, it make a very simple, very basic, easy and friendly-for-beginners kind of tag.

If you duplicated the tagback and then slightly blurred it, then applied a filter - such as PSP > Weave - you'd really have the start of a good beginner-level tag. 

2.  With a Mask, Preset Shape and/or Cut out

Another interesting way to use tagbacks is with a mask. I will use these 2 masks for these examples:

Using a mask gives a very unique kind of look and feel, and the same tagback can give very different looks depending on the tagback.  For example, using a very simple heart shaped mask with the same tagback used above, we get something like this (with a solid white layer under to help see the effect more):

or a flower:

and now with the tube:

Now imagine blurring the tagback before applying the mask, or duplicating it after the mask and then applying a filter like we did for a simple background.  

And here is another tagback (10.01.04-fadedstarsbacks~jojodezines1), using the same flower mask:

Here, I've used it as the pattern fill with a star preset shape (with black as the outline color):

and with the tube:

And with some slats ("cut-outs") ... with this I did the whole Select All > Float > Defloat thing and then Invert and Delete, just like you would with a scrap paper or pattern or texture:

You could also do this with a dingbat font, or even a fat/wide font!

As you can imagine, just using it as a simple background, or with a mask, preset shape and/or cut-out, or even a font can open up a whole bunch of creative ideas!

3.  With a Tag Template

You could use the tagback to fill in the gray areas of a tagback (similar to how you would use a scrap paper or even flood-fill) to give a clever look.  You could also use them as a simple background or as a mask or with a mask in the background.

I am using tag template:  TemplateByFD.psd  (Foxys Designz)

(as this is not my template, I cannot share it)

I'm just going to show a couple of ideas, such as using it on a main piece of the template, and on one of the minor things, like the layer of light gray hearts.

For the main piece, the darker rectangle in the middle ... Again, like the slat, you would do Select All > Float > Defloat > Invert > Delete, regardless of which part of the template you are going to do.

The rectangle (I moved the tagback around slightly to where I liked it the most):

And applied on the two lighter gray hearts which are on the same layer on the tag template:

I resized the tagback by 110% so that both hearts would be covered.

Now from here you could do all kinds of things.  Add some elements or frames.  You could duplicate the layers, add filters, and more.  Use scraps from kits ... the sky is the limit.  Try all kinds of ideas and bring out the creativity in you!

Here are a couple of tags I have made using tagbacks (most were done many years ago):

I hope this tutorial helped those who either never worked with tagbacks, or wondered how to better utilize them in your sig tags and other digital creations.

And here is the zip-file of a few tagbacks that you can use to let your creative side fly!  And no, you do not need to credit them when using them.

As always, happy creating!

On Point Tutorial

 ON POINT TUTORIAL

This is an "easy-to-moderate" level tutorial, as it will use some tools found in PSP as well as some filters.  This can also be good for those who are beginners wanting to expand their knowledge and/or are getting used to the program, or for those who have been away for a while and need a "refresher" course!  This also leaves room for variations, such as using scraps and/or accents - or not!  You could also add word art or other kind of decorations.  I always encourage adding your own special touches!

This is the tag we will be making:

Easy-to-Medium Level - Basic knowledge of PSP is needed.

Materials Needed

Please note that I am providing all the supplies in a zip-file for those who want to use all of it, however I am also providing individual download links for those who just want to use some of the supplies, and use their own stuff for others.  Link is at bottom of Materials list.

1.  Paint Shop Pro  (used Version 9, but can be done on any version) 

2.  WordArt - ncb_magificent_obsession .png

3.  Textures - You will need 2 that look well together (unless you don't mind using the same one for two different steps).  I used textures from ArtPlusLove on Deviantart - #012 and #020.  We'll be using them like patterns/backgrounds in this tutorial.

4.  Mask - WR-layeredmask-02-2022.jpg

5.  Shape - On Point 4-Way Diamonds 

6.  Scraps:  A.  donnaK08-elements (they come in 5 different colors, they are FTU, I have included them in their own zip-file)
B.  winni[1]fleur.psd

7.  Tube/Photo of Choice - I am using "Marie" by zebrush, which was purchased from Pics For Design.  This is a PTU tube so please do not use if you do not have the license.  I am not sure if this artist is selling elsewhere.

» »  All Supplies I used, minus the tube, HERE, zipped up. « «

• Filters Needed • 

Outside Filters:

1.  Mura's Meister > Copies
2.  Xero > Fritillary 
3.  Xero > Porcelain
4.  Eye Candy 5 Impact > Gradient Glow 

Filters Part of PSP:

1.  Texture Effects > Mosaic-Glass

PSP Tools Used

1.  Crop
2.  Image Resize
3.  Apply Mask
4.  Gaussian Blur
5.  Freehand Selection Tool
6.  Manual Color Correction
7.  Unsharpen Mask
8.  Drop Shadow

Fonts used

1.  © Info:  FFF Executive 
2.  Names:  Olietta Script

» » Please note that I typically add my drop shadows last.  I will give the drop shadow settings that I have used at the end of the tutorial HOWEVER feel free to use your own settings if/when you would like. « «

*If you have difficulty seeing the screenshots, click on them to enlarge.*

👉👉 *If you find a step missing, or have questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch with me and let me know!*  👈👈

On to the tutorial!

1.  Install the font(s).  (Alternative:  You can open and minimize the font; it should show in PSP.  I use a font program called Cfont Pro - it temporarily installs the font and will uninstall it when you shut down your computer.)

2.  Open a new file, 700 pixels x 700 pixels, 100 ppi, transparent.  For the rest of the tutorial, I will refer to it as the "tag file".  (Don't worry, we'll be able to crop down and resize it later.)  At this time, also Shift+D on your tube (this will make a copy of your image) - then close out the original, then minimize it for the time being. 

3.  Flood fill your tag file with white, which will help make things easier to see.  Copy and paste the diamonds on to the tag file - center with the move tool the best you can.  Once it is placed, go to Selections > Select All, Select > Float, Select > Defloat, Select > Invert.  Copy and paste one of the textures as a new layer (I used #020).  Make the texture layer active and then hit the Delete button.  Select > None.  You can delete the diamonds template layer as we are done with it.

4.  Using your crop tool, and while the white layer is still visible, choose the merged opaque option:

and then apply.  This will get rid of any part of the texture file(s) that may have been missed earlier when we did the Invert/Delete in the last step.

5.  Copy and paste the other texture as a new layer.  If you need, resize it up/larger so that it fits the size of the tag file.  I resized mine by 125%.  Be sure "resize all layers" is UNCHECKED.

6.  In your layer palette, right click on the layer with this 2nd texture. Go to New Mask Layer > From Image and use these settings:

Right click on the layer again, go to Merge > Merge Group.  Resize the mask layer by 85%.  Move it to the bottom, just above the white layer.

7.  Duplicate the mask layer, resize it again by 85%.  Adjust > Blur > Gaussian Blur ... radius: 6.00 . 

8.  Go to Effects > Texture Effects > Mosaic Glass and apply these settings:

Resize by 95% - be sure "resize all layers" is UNCHECKED.  Set the layer property to Hard Light, 100%

9.  You should now have something like this:

10.  Copy and paste your tube as a new layer.  Resize as needed.  (I had to resize mine by 50%, twice.)  Place it as desired.

11.  Choose one of the spike sets from the winni[1]fleur.psd file.  I chose the grayish one.  Copy and paste it onto your tag file.  Using Mura Meister Copies, apply these settings:

Resize 90% ("resize all layers" not checked) and move to just above the mask layers.

12.  Go back to your 4-way diamonds with the texture.  Using the Xero > Fritillary filter, apply these settings:

13.  Duplicate this layer and then apply Xero > Porcelain with these settings:

Set the layer properties to Hue, 100%.

14.  Going back to the original 4-way diamonds with the texture, using your Freehand Selection under your Selection Tools, go around one of the diamonds, and then in your layer palette right click and to got "Promote Selection to Layer".  Select > None.  Move it to the top of your tag file (don't worry, this is temporary - just to help to see placement.)  Resize it by 80% and then move it over to the left, somewhat overlapping the far left point of the diamond in the 4-way.

See my example, above, if you need.  (Note, the gradient glow is already applied as I added this screenshot and the next screenshot AFTER posting the tutorial ... this was done to clarify and show these two steps.  The gradient glow is applied in step 15.)

Once placed, duplicate.  Image > Mirror.  Merge Down.  They should now be on the same layer.  Move this under the 2 diamond layers.

15.  Going to the bottom layer of the 4-way diamonds, apply the Eye Candy 5 Impact > Gradient Glow with these settings:

Apply the same settings to the 2 side diamonds we just made in Step 14.

16.  Copy and paste the word art to your tag file.  It is pretty large so you will need to resize it to the size you desire.  For reference, I resized mine by 35%.  Again, resize all layers UNCHECKED.

17.  Go to Adjust > Color Balance > Manual Color Correction:

A window like this should open.  The window on the left is how it looks currently.  The window on the right is how it will look after the "new" color is applied.  Be sure that the hide/show previews is activated (pressed down, the yellow square in the screenshot):

You will need to show the source color (the current color) and the target color (what you want to change it to).  With your mouse, click on the black color in the left window with the left button of your mouse - this should change your source color to black (if it wasn't already).  Again, with your mouse, using the right button this time, click on a color in your tube to choose it as the target color ... you should see this show up in the right window.  I used the same color as I did for the gradient glow since my tube has mostly black in it.  Click OK when satisfied with the color.

18.  Using the Gradient Glow we just used, apply the same settings except change the color to white, and change the glow radius to 12.00, Soften Corners to 5.00 and the Overall Opacity to 75.  

19.  At this point, if there is anything else you would like to add, now is the time.

20.  Once done, hide the white layer.  Using your crop tool, use the same settings you used before.  Adjust the border(s) as desired - I made it slightly larger on the top and sides, and cropped it to just where the tube ends at the bottom, allowing enough space for the credits under the word art.  Once cropped, unhide the white layer and crop again with the same settings.  

21.  Go to Image > Resize Image and use these settings, making sure that you have "resize all layers" CHECKED and be sure to use PIXELS and not PERCENT:

Keep in mind that your tag might be a little different size after the crop, so use my resize settings as an estimate.  I try to keep my tags around 550 pixels on the largest side, give or take.

22.  On EACH LAYER you will apply the following PSP Filter with the following settings:  Adjust > Sharpen > Unsharpen Mask:

(For a short cut, after you click on each layer, hold down Ctrl + Y and it will "repeat last action" which will be the Unsharpen Mask with these settings)

23.  Go to your word art and duplicate it.  Apply Gaussian Blur, radius: 5.00.  Move it under the word art.  Change layer property to Hard Light, 80%.

23.  Now apply your desired drop shadows.  I am using the following, using the Drop Shadow that comes with PSP (Effects > 3D Effects > Drop Shadow):

For the tube:
V:  3
H:  -3
Opacity:  40
Blur:  20.00
Color:  Black

For everything else except the word art and mask layers:
V:  0
H:  0
Opacity:  50
Blur:  10.00
Color:  Black

24.  Apply your credits and name - I also used the gradient glow settings in step 18 on both, and changed the layer property to Luminance (L) 95% on the name.
And you are done!

Thanks for checking out my tutorial!  I hope you liked it and had fun creating.
I'd enjoy seeing your results if you'd love to share!