Shadowed Background

This tutorial was written using PSP 8 by me on November 3rd 2003

(I have included some instructions for PSP 7 where they differ)

For this tutorial you will need the following:

PSP 8, A Tube and A Font

No outside filters were used.

Please don’t copy or move my tutorials

If you would like to use my tube and font you can download them here

1. Open your tube and remove any watermark layers. Save the tube for later use.

2. Open a new transparent image 500 x 500 and add a new layer

3. Flood fill with a colour … It doesn’t really matter what colour as you will delete this layer later

(If you use PSP 7 you’ll have to choose the colour you want the mask to be and flood fill your layer with your chosen colour as you will not delete this layer later)

4. Layer, New mask layer, From image … In source window find your tube and select it.

5. Selections, From Mask and then in your layer palette right click on the mask layer and select merge, merge group

(In PSP 7 choose Masks, New from Image and invert mask data. Then choose Mask, Delete and answer yes to the popup. Create the following drop shadow on the existing layer and reduce the opacity of this layer to about 50% or whatever you like)

6. Create a new layer and add a drop shadow. Use a dark colour from your tube as the shadow

7. Delete the Layer with the mask. You should have a fairly transparent image of your tube.

8. Make your tube active and copy and paste as a new layer onto your transparent image. You’ll need to resize it. If you’re using the tube I supplied resize by 60 – 70% or smaller if you want more shadow showing behind your tube. Make sure all layers is unchecked and I always use resample  Bicubic.

9. Add a drop shadow to your tube layer. Use the same setting as you did before but change the colour to black.

10. Floodfill Raster 1 with a colour from the tube as a background using #F6E5D5 if you’re using my tube or any colour you choose.

(In PSP 7 Close the visibility of all layers except the bottom one and floodfill Layer 1 with a colour from the tube as a background using #F6E5D5 if you’re using my tube or any colour you choose. Make all layers visible again.)

11. Make sure you are on your top layer and add a new layer for your text.

12. Choose two colours from your tube for your text, with a stroke width of 2. I’m using #9E7F6A for the foreground/stroke and #F4C7A5 for the background/fill.

13. Add your text and apply. I used Morpheus size 48.  Position your text where you want it and while still selected add an inner bevel

14. Add the same drop shadow as we used previously and deselect

15. Merge all and flatten and resize to whatever suits you. I resized mine by 70%. You can leave it as is or add a border of frame around it. Whatever you like.

I hope you enjoy the tutorial and if you need any help, please let me know. Here’s my finished result