IRISH BLESSING ARCHED SIGN

Created February 26, 2002 © Copyright Moon's Designs Updated 3-0-02
Property of Moon's Designs
This is my creation, any similarity to other tutorials on the Internet is unintentional.
Please do not copy or place this tutorial or any graphics to any other place without written permission directly from me. Thank you

 

I saw a similar arched sign in one of my Crafts Magazines and had been wanting to make this when my computer fried. Larry has now built me a fantastic machine and with St. Patrick's Day fast approaching I knew I had to get this done. *smiles* We will be using strictly JASC's PSP tools, no outside filters, and learning a different way to do curved text. I used St. Patrick's Day tubes from JASC and another that I collected along the way. Unfortunately I can't remember where I picked up the Leprechaun, but if you do a search in Google for St. Patrick's Day tubes I'm sure you will find hundreds of them.

You can use this tutorial for any holiday or occasion by changing your text and decorations. Remember, my tutorials are only guidelines to help you accomplish a certain creation. Please feel free to be inventive and take whatever liberties you would like. I encourage each of you to do your "own thing" and make your creation yours!

This tutorial is written in and for PSP Version 7.04 and assumes you have a working knowledge of PSP at an beginner-intermediate level. I am sure this can easily be done in Version 6 with a few adjustments in paths but I have only used Version 7 so I can't make promises *S*

JASC's PSP (30 day free trial)- You can get it HERE
JASC's St. Patrick's Day tubes ~ You can get it HERE
**follow their directions for using the Tube Convertor
My texture preset ~ You can get it HERE
**unzip into your JASC's PSP Presets folder

Step 1:
Open a new image 400x500, 16 million colors, transparent background. Set your foreground color a dark green. I used #141C14. The size is large so we can see what we are doing. You can resize your sign upon completion of the tutorial.

Step 2:
Add a new layer and name it base. Pick up your selection tool, , set at Rectangle, antialias checked and draw a rectangle at the bottom of your image approximately 335x35. I started at coordinates 30, 445 and drew across. If you look at the bottom left of your work area you will see your coordinates.

Flood fill with your foreground color. Keep selected. Go to Effects-->3D-->Inner Bevel and apply the following settings:

Deselect and Save.

Step 3:
Add a new layer and name it arch. Change your selection tool to Ellipse and draw a large ellipse similar to what I have below.

Change your foreground color to #FDF2DB and flood fill your ellipse. Deselect and save.

Step 4:
Change your selection tool back to Rectangle and draw a rectangle around the lower part of your ellipse.

Press your delete key to remove that section of your oval. Deselect. With your mover tool move your ellipse so it sits on your base. Go to Effects-->Texture Effects-->Textures and apply the md-arch preset.

Go to Effects-->3D-->Inner Bevel and apply the same Inner Bevel as before. Save. You should have something that looks like this:

Step 5:
I had originally done the text on a curve by using the freehand draw. I have a Wacom Graphire tablet, and it is much easier for me to draw a line than those using a mouse. My friend and tutorial tester, SueCat, found an even easier way to do this. Open your preset shapes and select the Ellipse, Retain Style CHECKED and Create as Vector Checked. Don't be afraid of the vector, we need it as a vector for the text to work properly as a curve. *winks*

Starting at the upper, left side of your arch draw out an ellipse to the lower right.

Step 6:
Add a new layer and name it text. Make your background color the color you want your text. I used #055B05. While on the text layer, pick up your text tool and place the cursor on the line and when you see the letter A with a curved line beneath it, , click on the line. Choose the font and size you want to use and make sure Floating and Antialias are checked. Make sure you have Center indented (I have an arrow showing you where). I used the Garton font that I found at the Font Freak and set the size at 32. There isn't a size 32 in the drop down list; you have to type it in. Type in the saying that you want and click OK.

While it is floating you can move the text down on your sign with your mover tool. When you are happy with where it is placed, deselect and save. Go to Effects-->3D-->Drop Shadow and apply the following settings:

Step 7:
We don't want the line there and it is easily removed. Go to your layer palette and highlight Layer 3, click the garbage can and say yes when the screen asks if you are sure that you want to delete that layer.

Step 8:
I wanted a little something across the bottom of the sign. Add a new layer and name it bottom decoration. I used the Fleurons Ding that I got from the Font Freak, of course you can use anything that you like. I chose the letter M and made 8 M's across the row and added the same drop shadow. I thought it dressed it up a little bit.

Step 9:
Add a new layer and start adding your Shamrocks and whatever other decorations you would like to your sign. I made a new layer for each one so it would be easier to move them around.

When you are done with your decorating you can add a background and/or frame, merge all layers and export it as a tube or save it as a gif. You will probably want to resize your creation before sending it to your groups if they are using this tutorial as a lesson. If you aren't familiar with resizing and sharpening please view my resizing tutorial HERE.

I hope you have enjoyed this tutorial as much as I did creating it for you. A special thank you to my tutorial testers, Suz, Suecat, Beckie, Minis, Elkay, Terri and Randie.

Obviously this tutorial may be used for any type of holiday. I mainly named it Irish Blessing because of the time of year that I wrote it. On of my users used this tutorial for a Halloween Grahpic and is allowing me to share what she did with all of you. Thank you Willow, you did an outstanding job on the tutorial! Click on the graphic to view Willow's wonderful site!

The PSP Magic group used this tutorial as one of their lessons and the results were outstanding! If you would like to view what they did, just click HERE.