Checkered Fantasy Forum Set

Checkered Fantasy Forum Set

You will need:
Toxic Desirez Textures 1 -5, which can be downloaded HERE
Bokeh Textures by FroozenTears, which you can download HERE
(Or other textures of your own choosing) 
My supplies HERE, which include the checkered background, my star cluster tube and font.
Xero plugin (optional)
Eye Candy 4000 (optional)




This tutorial was written using PSP 9, but is compatible with other versions.   This tutorial was also written for those with a working knowledge of PSP.

Keep in mind that some tubes will work better than others, and always feel free to play around with any settings to suit your own preferences.


Open a new transparent image, 600 x 250.
Selections>Select all. 
Copy the checkered background and paste into selection on your
canvas.  Ctrl+D to deselect.
Use your magic wand with these settings:

Click on one of the black squares and they should all select.
New raster layer.
Choose one of the textures (I chose Texture 1), copy and paste into
selection on your canvas. 
Selections>Invert.  Modify>Expand by 3.  New raster layer.
Choose another texture (I chose Texture 3).  Copy and paste into selection.
Duplicate this layer.  Add noise with these settings:

Drag this layer below the original layer.
Add drop shadow with these settings:

Repeat but change V & H to -2.  Change blend mode of this layer to Darken.
Highlight your top layer and add a new raster layer.
In your materials palette, choose two colors.  I chose #7886cd for foreground
and #fa84dd for background.  Change foreground to gradient with these settings:

and flood fill the new layer.
Change blend mode to Hue.  Deselect.
New raster layer.  Selections>Select All. 
Copy the Bokeh Texture, Image 9 and paste into selection.
Change the blend mode to Overlay and change opacity to around 48.
Deselect.  Add noise, same as above.
Open your tube.  Copy and paste as a new layer.  Resize if needed (if
using the same tube I used, resize 80%)  and position to your liking.
Duplicate.  On the bottom original tube layer, add gaussian blur with a radius
of 2.  On the top tube layer, change blend mode to soft light or hard light,
whichever you prefer and looks right for your tube.
Close all layers except the two tube layers.  Merge visible.  Duplicate.
Effects>Plugins>Xero>Ultraviolet with these settings:

Change blend mode to Color (Legacy).  Merge Visible.  Re-open the other layers.
On the merged tubed layer, add a drop shadow with above setting but change color to white.
Add new raster layer.  Selections>Select All.  Modify>Contract by 4.
Invert.  Flood fill with gradient.  Add noise, same settings as above.  Ctrl+Y to apply again.
Add drop shadow with these settings:

Apply again but change Vertical to -1 and Horizontal to -2.  Deselect.
Copy the stars and paste them as a new layer.  Arrange them as you like.
Change blend mode to Luminance.  You can also add your own embellishments if you choose.
Add copyright information.
Add your name. For my name I selected one of my squares with the
rectangle tool, copy merge and pasted as a new layer, then seamless
tiled it and used it as my background pattern, foreground nul.  Then I added
the same noise.  Then I added Gradient glow with these settings:

Duplicate.  Merge down.
Drop shadow with these settings:

Adust>Sharpen.
Save as .jpg and you're done :-)  Do not close this yet, we will use it to make your avatar.

Now to make your avatar!

Open a new transparent image, 150 x0 150. 
Close all layers on your main image canvas except all your texture layers
and the stars (or your embellies).  Copy merged.
Paste as new layer on your avatar canvas.  Find the position you like.
Now open your tube layer on your main canvas, copy and paste as a new
layer on your avatar canvas and position and resize as you like (I resized
my tube by 50%).  Sharpen if needed.
New layer.  Select All.  Modify>Contract 3. Invert.
Flood fill with same gradient we used earlier.
Add drop shadows as before.  Ctrl+D.
Now add your copyright and initial as we did before and we're done :)

Another example:

Please feel free to link to this tutorial, and/or print it out for your own personal use, but DO NOT copy it in ANY way to put on-line, pass out, or re-write without my permission.  Any resemblance to any other tutorial like this is purely coincidental.  My tuts are registered with TWI.  Thank you.  This tutorial was written April 1, 2012.   ©Sharon Murray

Kinky Angel Forum Set

Kinky Angel Forum Set

This tutorial was written using PSP9 but is compatible with other versions.
It was also written for those who have a working knowledge of PSP.

Plugins needed:
AAA Frames
Alien Skin Xenofex 2 (Constellation) (this is not a free plugin)
Xero (Porcelain)
Font of choice (I am using BankGothic Md BT, which comes with Windows)
Tube of Choice: I am using the awesome work of Lady Mishka. This piece was commissioned for the PSP Party Central forum so you cannot purchase it, but you can check out and purchase her other great stuff at PSPTubesEmporium. If you would like a chance to earn this exclusive tube, join me over at PPC and tell them Shazza sent you! :)

Let's get started!

Open your tube in PSP.
Open a transparent image, 600 x 200.
Selections/Select All.
Flood with colour from your tube (I used #8440ad)
Effects/Plugins/Alien Skin Xenofex/Constellation:

Adust/Blur/Gaussian blur: 0.5.
Effects/Illumination effects/Sunburst:

Duplicate. Effects/Plugins/AAA Frames/Foto Frame:

Use your rectangle selection tool and make a selection around the foto frame:

Selections/Invert. Hit delete. Merge down. Ctrl+D.
Copy your tube and paste as a new layer. Place her to the right of your canvas. Duplicate. Change the blend mode to the top tube layer to Soft light.
Effects/Plugins/Xero/Porcelain:

Hide background layer and merge visible.
Unhide background layer. Duplicate. Image/Mirror. Resize to 135% (size may vary depending on your tube) and position her.
Adjust/Sharpness/Sharpen. Duplicate. Change blend mode on top layer to Soft light.
Hide all layers except for your top two tube layers and merge visible. Unhide all layers.
Add drop shadows to tubes:

Highlight your bottom layer.
Use your rectangle selection tool again and draw out a rectangle the size of the inside frame box as before.
Selections/Invert. Highlight your tube layers and delete. Ctrl+D.
Get your rectangle preset tool, width set to 1.
Set foreground to black, background to null.
Draw out a narrow rectangle the length of your canvas, approx. 590x175.
Convert to raster.
Get your eyedropper tool and right click for dark background colour (I used#8726b0) and left click for a light colour from your tube (I used#a675c5).
Set foreground to foreground-background gradient:

Flood fill your rectangle.
Add your name. Merge down with your rectangle layer.
Drag this layer between your two tube layers.
Add copyright info and save.

AVATAR:

Open up transparent image, 125 x 125.
Copy the background layer from your main image and copy as new layer on the avatar canvas. Move until it's where you like it and Merge all (flatten).
Effects/Plugins/AAA Frames/Foto Frame with the same settings as before.
Go back to main image and copy the tube on the right, and paste as new layer on your avatar image and mirror.
Resize 90%. Position her where you like and hide the layer.
Highlight bottom layer.
Use your rectangle selection tool and draw a selection around the foto frame border as above. Selections/Invert.
Highlight your tube layer and hit delete. Ctrl+D.
Unhide your tube layer. Add your name and your copyright and you're done :)