No Scraps- The Darkest Hour

We have a Tagger task (challenge)

in our forum here where members

make a forum banner style tag

using a texture or texture pack I post & any other 

materials, etc. that I might add to the challenge.

No scraps are ever used on these challenges,

thus making the tags more old-school style.

For the most recent task we have in our forum,

we had to use a texture of choice,

a banner mask of choice, and an element from a PNG pack.

I had fun making mine & decided to write it as a tutorial.

This tutorial can be used by other forums.

Please just link to this post & not copy/ paste my words.

Thank you.

It should be noted that the date of this post

is the creation date of the tag & the tutorial.

On with the tutorial:

This tutorial is borne from my own manipulated lil' mind. 

Any similarity to any other tutorial(s) is purely coincidental.

This tutorial was written for those who have a working 

knowledge of PSP and was written using PSP X2, 

tho' any version should work. 

Texture: I'm using two from lollipop3103's 

'#65:Halloween' texture pack here.

Banner Mask: I'm using banner mask 1 from 

Scraps Of Enchantment here.

PNG Element: I'm using the moon (#14) from Evey-V's 

'The Darkest Hour' PNG pack here.

*Leave a thank you for the pack. 

Tube or image: For my tag, I am using a tube 

from Yuriko Shirou which I had bought at CDO.

Do NOT use any artwork unless you have a license to do so 

& have purchased or obtained the tube legally.

Filters: Mura's Meister- Copies

Penta- Jeans (optional)

Eye Candy 4000- HSB Noise 

Eye Candy 4000- Gradient Glow 

Fonts: Pixel font of choice for watermarks/ copyrights.

Spooky for name(s).

This is a PTU font from Creative Design (Designer) at 

Drop Shadows: 2 2 50 8, black 

2 2 50 8, black/ -2 -2 50 8, black for border 3

0 0 50 4, black (for name)

Let's do this! 

Open a new image- 700 X 250 px. 

Flood fill with white.

Copy & paste your tube or image of choice

above the white background layer.

Resize 80% depending on what you're using.

Next, apply Mura's Meister- Copies- Wall Paper:

Duplicate this layer.

On your duplicate, add a Gaussian Blur of 5.

Then change the blend mode on this layer to Screen at 100%.

Next, copy & paste a texture of choice.

I used texture #3.

I did not move this texture.

Crop to canvas.

Change the blend mode to Luminance (L) at 75%.

Copy & paste the same texture again.

Move the texture to where you want it.

I moved mine up so the branches were in my tag.

Change the blend mode of this one to Soft Light at 100%.

Crop to canvas again.

Next, copy & paste another texture of choice.

I used texture #1.

Apply your banner mask of choice to this layer:

Source Luminance.

Invert mask data Unchecked.

I used Banner Mask 1.

On your mask layer- merge group.

Next, copy & paste your PNG element of choice. 

I am using the moon with the branches (14_Evey-V).

I did not resize mine.

Place to the left of the tag.

Duplicate it.

Change the blend mode of the top layer to Dodge at 50%.

Add a drop shadow to the bottom moon:

2 2 50 8, black

Now, copy & paste your tube or close up.

Resize if needed. (I did not resize mine).

Mirror & position to the right of the tag like shown in my tag.

Duplicate this layer.

On your duplicate, add a Gaussian Blur of 5.

Then change the blend mode on this layer to Screen at 50%.

Add a drop shadow to the bottom closeup/ tube layer:

2 2 50 8, black

Copy & paste your tube again.

Resize 40% or as needed.

Place this one on the left side.

Duplicate this layer.

On your duplicate, add a Gaussian Blur of 3.

Then change the blend mode on this layer to Dodge at 50%.

Add a drop shadow to the bottom tube layer:

2 2 50 8, black

Add a new layer. Name this border 3.

Flood fill this layer with #232120.

Selections- Select all- Modify- Contract by 8.

Delete. Select none.

On this layer, add a drop shadow:

2 2 50 8, black, Shadow on New Layer.

Go back to your border 3 layer.

Add another drop shadow:

-2 -2 50 8, black, Shadow on New Layer.

Add a new layer above your border 3 layer.

Name this one border 2.

Flood fill this layer with a foreground/ background gradient:

Angle- 45/ Repeats- 4

For mine I used the colors: #f1ba7e & #a02a02

but you can use what ever colors you wish.

Selections- Select all- Modify- Contract by 6.

Delete. Select none.

Add noise to this layer:

Uniform- 30- Monochrome Unchecked.

Then apply Penta- Jeans at default settings.

Add a new layer. Name this border 1.

Flood fill this layer with #000000.

Selections- Select all- Modify- Contract by 2.

Delete. Select none.

Now is a good time to add your proper copyrights & watermarks.

Next add your name.

I used the Spooky font with #a12700 for my text color.

Duplicate the name.

On the top name layer, I used Eye Candy 4000- HSB Noise at default settings.

On the bottom layer, add a gradient glow:

Add a drop shadow to this name layer:

0 0 50 4, black

Finally, merge visible.

Save as a PNG & enjoy. 

Thank you for reading.  

I hope you enjoyed trying this tutorial.

I'd love to see your results.

You can send them to me at:

MagikD[@]live.com

(remove the brackets in my email.)

Have a great day!

Stay safe & make good choices! 

*hugz*