Ready For Spring Signature Tag Tutorial

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Ready for Spring Signature Tag Tutorial

This Tutorial was done in Photoshop CS2 by Jaimi Standifird AKA Digital Sophistication.

Tube (image) used is one of my commissioned tubes called Sweet Sophistication and can be found at http://popeyewong.com or you can email me directly for it at jaimistandifird@gmail.com. This is a free to use Tube (image).

Scrap kit used is called Ready For Spring by Sticky Kisses Designs and can be found at http://stickykissesdesigns.blogspot.com

Files from Scrap Kit needed; SKD_Ivy, SKD_Chick3, SKD_Bracket1, SKD_Frame1, SKD_Flower2, SKD_Flower1, SKD_FLower2, SKD_String2, SKD_Sunflower, SKD_Ribbon3, SKD_HangingEgg, SKD_Bow2, SKD_Basket, SKD_Paper4, SKD_Paper9, and SKD_Paper14.

Font used used for the text in Pink is called Rockwell Extra Bold, with a texturizer texture added to it. To add a this texture just go to Filter - Texture - Texturizer and then set your scaling and relief to your liking (making sure Texturizer is selected as well), then click Ok. The drop shadow added is set to an opacity of 60%.

Font used for the text in Green is called Segoe Script with a drop shadow set with an opacity of 50%.

When creating this Signature Tag, I used a drop shadow of 30% opacity on each layer used. You can increase or decrease if you choose to. To add a drop shadow, you will go to Layer - Layer Style - Drop Shadow.

While working on your Signature Tag you will be using your Layers Box(thats off the the right of you Photoshop screen) to keep track of your layers.

Let's get started .......

Got to File - New and name this Ready For Spring with the preset left at Custom, setting the Width to 1000 Pixels, the Height to 1000 Pixels, Resolution to 300 Pixels, Color Mode to RGB Color and 8 bit, with the Background Contents set to Transparent. Click Ok when finished.

Open up all the files you need and minimize them to the bottom of your screen. This saves time and allows everything to be right there when it's needed.

Maximize the Paper4, Paper9 and Paper14 files. Resize each one of these files down to your liking by going to Image - Image Size and selecting your the size you'd like them. You want to make them smaller then what they currently are.

When you're finished resizing your 3 paper files, click, hold and drag each Paper file to your new For Spring file in the following order; Paper4, Paper9 and then Paper14. They will all be centered on the page but with the Paper9 and Paper14 layer, you are going to tilt them to your liking. I tilted Paper9 to the right and tilted Paper14 to the left. To tilt your layers you need to make sure that Show Transform Controls is selected in your tool bar when you have your Move Tool selected and then move your mouse (arrow) around the corner or outside of the layer until you see a curved line with an arrow on each end. You then click and drag until the layer is turned to where you want it. Hit Enter or double click when finished. Add your drop shadow to each each layer. Now in your Layers Box you want to rename these layers. I renamed mine as follows; Paper4 to PinkBackground, Paper9 to GreenBackground and Paper14 to YellowBackground. To Change the layer name you need to double click on the text of each layer (in the Layers Box) and then type in the new name and hit Enter when finished. You should have 4 layers showing in your Layers Box. Make sure they are listed as so; PinkBackground, GreenBackground, YellowBackground and Layer 1. Layer 1 is your Ready For Spring file. You can leave it as Layer 1 or rename it in the Layers Box. Up to you. It will not change the file name, this is just simply for you to keep track of your different layers. Now minimize your original paper files back down.

Go to File - Save As and save your file as a Photoshop (PSD, PDD) file and name it Ready For Spring. You are saving it now and as this file type so that if something happens to your file while you are working on it, you will not have to go back and completely start from the beginning. It is always a good idea to save your work as you go. If not, you may just end up kicking yourself later on for not doing it.

Maximize the Frame1 file then click, hold and drag to the Ready For Spring file centering it. Resize to your liking and add your drop shadow. Rename this layer (in your Layers Box) to Frame. Minimize the original file when finished.

Maximize the Bracket1 file then click, hold and drag to your Ready For Spring file. You will do this a total of 4 times as you want to place it on each side of the Frame layer. Size down to your liking and rename each Bracket layer as Bracket1, Bracket2, Bracket3 and Bracket4 in your Layers Box. You then want to place your Bracket Layers below your Frame Layer. To do this, click, hold and drag each bracket layer in your Layers Box until each one sits below the Frame Layer. Make sure to add your drop shadow to each Bracket Layer and then minimize the original Bracket file back down. Go to File - Save to save your work.

Maximize the Ivy file then click, hold and drag to the Ready For Spring file, placing it over the left side of the Frame. Size it to your liking and add your drop shadow. In the Layers Box, name this layer Ivy and then minimize the original Ivy file back down. Make sure your Ivy layer is above all other layers.

Maximize the HangingEgg file then click, hold and drag to the Ready For Spring file placing it in the top right corner of the frame. Size to your liking, add your drop shadow, rename layer as Egg in your Layers Box and then minimize the original Egg file back down. Make sure your Egg Layer is above all other layers.

Maximize the Bow2 file and if you'd like, crop your Tube (image) Now click, hold and drag to the Ready For Spring file placing it in the top right corner of the frame and sizing it to your liking. Add your drop shadow, rename Bow in your Layers Box and minimize the original bow file back down. Make sure your Bow layer is above all other layers. Go to File - Save to save your work.

Maximize your Tube (image) file then click, hold and drag to inside the frame. Place it around the center or off to one side if you'd like. Resize if you'd wish to, add your drop shadow, rename this layer Tube in your Layers Box and then minimize the original tube file back down. Make sure your Tube layer is above all other layers.

Maximize the Ribbon3 file then click, hold and drag to center at the bottom of the frame. Resize to your liking, add your drop shadow, rename this layer Ribbon in your Layers Box and minimize the original ribbon file back down. Make sure your Ribbon layer is above all other layers.

Maximize the String2 file then click, hold and drag to the Ready For Spring file placing it over the Ribbon layer at the bottom of the frame. Resize to your liking, add your drop shadow, rename this layer String in your Layers Box and minimize the original string file back down. Make sure your String layer is above all other layers. Go to File - Save to save your work.

Maximize the Basket file then click, hold and drag to the bottom right corner of the frame. Resize to your liking, add your drop shadow, rename this layer Basket in your Layers Box and then minimize the original basket file back down. Make sure your Basket layer is above all other layers.

Maximize the Chick3 file then click, hold and drag to the right side of the Basket (in your Ready For Spring file) and resize to your liking. Add your drop shadow, rename this layer Chick in your Layers Box and minimize the original chick file back down. Make sure your Chick file is above all others.

Maximize the Flower1 file then click, hold and drag to the bottom left corner of the frame (in your Ready For Spring file). Resize to your liking and rename this layer DottedFlower in your Layers Box. Add your drop shadow and minimize the original flower file back down. Make sure your DottedFlower layer is above all others. Repeat this same step for the Flower2 file but rename this layer GreenFlower and tilt this layer so that your DottedFlower is showing behind your GreenFlower layer. Repeat this same step again for the Sunflower file, but name this layer Sunflower. Go to File - Save to save your work.

Add the correct copyright information needed for the Tube (image) you used, including your license information. This step is to be taken if either one or both of these are required for the Tube (image) used. To add text, use your Font Tool and click on an empty space in the Ready For Spring file. Once finished typing you can select what you just typed out and choose your font, it's size and color. Make sure that this information is legible. Once finished you can place this text anywhere on or around your Signature Tag. Go to File - Save to save your work.

Go to Layer - Merge Visible to flatten your signature tag into 1 layer. You will see it went from multiple layers to just 1 in your Layers Box.

Select your Crop Tool and crop around the Signature Tag to get rid of any excess space that isn't needed. Double click or hit Enter once you've created the box around your Signature Tag.

Go to Image - Image Size and resize your image to your liking. Make sure that Scale Styles and Constrain Proportions are both selected before choosing your width and height. This way you just need to enter the size for your width or height allowing the other to automatically set to its correct proportion and nothing gets distorted. Click Ok when finished.

When working with Signature Tags I tend to use pixels for my sizing but when creating larger files, like ads, flyers, posters, etc I'll then use inches for my sizing.

Go to File - Save As and save your file as a JPEG or PNG and name it what you'd like to, if it isn't named already. I always create a JPEG and PNG file so I have either one to choose from depending on what I'd like to use it for or for where I need/want to post it.

You can add your name or greeting now or come back and do it later.