Materials needed:

• Paint Shop Pro
• AAA Frames Foto - (optional)
• Mask - Zuzzana masks can be found here - Move the mask to your PSP Masks folder.
  Background Image - for this tut, I did a search on Morguefile.com for Winter scenes. This was by Jari
• Tube for the main subject - standing, dancing, moving tubes. Tube should be no taller than 500 pixels.  The tube I used was shared on the net.  It was done by Gerry.  You can find her tubes here.  Download the fairy tube here.  Gerry gave me kind permission to offer it with the tut!  :)
• Accent tubes - optional
• Font: Impact (or any FAT font)- installs with Windows or Office but can be found here:
  

Always remember, a tut is a guideline, it is not the do-all and end-all. Please, be creative when you choose your images, feel free to play with settings and tools and make the work your own. I love to see people outdo my examples. I take great pleasure in knowing that I inspired - not that I told you how to do it step by step.

Prepare your background image. I misted a cabin in winter scene -a photo I found on Morguefile by "jari" - How you do your background is your choice, but the simpler the better. You can use tubes or jpgs for the background. The background sets your theme, so choose complimentary graphics for this tag. I cut out much of the background, leaving only a few trees and a snowy cabin for this tag.  I also added edge effects to the image.

Open the main tube and your accent tubes.
Open a new image 800X 600 pixels, transparent background, 72 dpi.
Add a new layer. Make sure your top layer is selected.
Selections > Select All

Copy your background image.

Edit > Paste > Paste into selection. This may distort your image some, but let it be good for now.

If you used a tube or a mist for your background:
Selections > Select None
Pick a light/neutral color from your image (i.e. the snow or...) for your foreground color.
Flood fill the bottom layer with your light color.
Adjust >Add/Remove Noise > Add Noise
Gaussian, Monochrome Checked 8%.
Lower the opacity of your background image to make it a little softer, a little mistier.
For a snow effect, set the Layer/Blend Properties to Dissolve. Play with the opacity slider until you get a blend you like. (Try using other blend settings until you find something YOU like.

Layers > Merge > Merge Visible

Effects > Plugins > AAA Frames > Foto Frame
Default > Change the slider to 20 - 25 pixels.

OR: Create your own. Rectangle Selection Tool - Custom Selection: Top and Left: 25 Right: 775 Bottom: 575 Selections: Promote Selection to Layer Add a dropshadow: Vertical & Horizontal: 5 Opacity: 80 Blur: 9.00 Color: Black Repeat Dropshadow, changing V&H to -5 Layers > Merge > Merge Visible

Before you go any further: Use the rectangle selection tool to draw a small rectangle or square from the background. In my case, I drew around trees and snow. Edit > Copy Edit > Paste > Paste as New Image Effects > Image Effects > Seamless Tile -- Default Settings Minimize the new image for the time being. It will be your fill for your text later on.

Copy your main tube and paste it as a new layer in your main image. Use the mover tool to position your tube where you want it in your image. I moved mine just to the left of the middle of the image.

Duplicate your tube layer and hide the top layer. Make sure the bottom "Tube layer" is selected.
Effects > Distortion effects > Wind
From Left Strength 91
Repeat the wind effect.

Change the layer properties to Screen and lower the opacity to 60%. ** Again, play with the Blend Mode and Opacity until you find something YOU like. You can always come back to this layer and tweak it after you position your main tube.

Unhide the top Tube layer. Image > Resize > 75%, Resample using: Bicubic Lock Aspect Ratio CHecked, Resize All Layers UNchecked

Use the mover tool to slide your top tube back into place in the lower left side of the image.

Copy and paste your accents on a new layer. I used a sprig of holly tube. Move your accents (if they are large like mine) to below the main tube layer but above the blurred motion layer. Position the accent behind your model.

Layer > Duplicate twice so you have 3 layers of the holly accent. Select the top layer of the holly. Image > Mirror Image > Resize - 75%, All Layers UNchecked. Lower the opacity to 75% and change the Blend Properties to Hard Light.

Hide the middle accent (holly) so the bottom left accent is visible and selected. Make sure the bottom layer of your accent is selected and apply the wind effect twice to this layer. Change the layer properties to Hardlight and lower the opacity to 46%.

Unhide the accent layer above your blur.
Image > Resize 90%, All Layers UNchecked.

Use your mover tool to move your tubes around until they look good to you. Resize your tubes a little at a time until you like the way they look and feel to you.

Tip!  Be aware of how the viewer's eye will follow the information in your artwork. Normally, the eye will start at the upper left corner of an image and move left and down. The artist controls how the viewer will see the movement in the picture. In this case, it almost follows a V pattern, moving down the holly, along the fairy, across to the other holly sprig and up to the top right corner. Make sure the flow - the motion of your picture is smooth and pleasing when you are trying to create a feeling of friendliness in your work.

Add a drop shadow to your model and your accent tubes.

I used the same dropshadow settings as before.

Tip:  I work with multiple layers and do not merge until I have to. I may decide to move my images around after I add others.

Click on the top layer in your layer palette.
Layers > New Raster Layer

Floodfill with a bright color you selected from your tube or accent. I chose a lavender color -

Layers > Load/Save Mask > Load Mask from Disk Scroll to your chosen mask. Source Luminance: Checked Fit to canvas: Checked Hide all mask: Checked   Right click on the Group Layer Merge > Merge Group

Here's another opportunity to play with the Blends mode and Opacity. I changed my blend mode to Difference, lowered the opacity to 46% and drug the mask down below the three main tube layers. My mask layer changed from lavender to a Christmasy green when I changed the Blend Properties.

Almost there. All that's left is to add the text to your desktop.

When you are satisfied with the arrangement
Layers > Merge > Merge Visible

Change your Background (material palette) to the pattern you clipped from your background earlier. Choose a bright color from your image for the foreground.

Text tool:

Create as Vector, Font: Impact, Size 72, Stroke Width 2: Anti-alias selected, Line style: Default

Click somewhere in the top half of your image to bring up the Text Entry window and type your text.

Objects > Align > Horizontal Center of Canvas

Right click on the Vector Layer
Convert to Raster Layer

Select your Mover Tool and tap once on your text. Use the up or down arrow keys to move your text to where you want it.

Effects > 3D Effects > Inner Bevel Width: 20, Smoothness: 12, Depth: 8, Ambience: -38, Shininess: 0, Color: White, Angle: 315, Intensity: 45, Elevation: 66

Add a dropshadow to your text. Use the same settings as before.

I chose a different and smaller font for my signature, adding the same inner bevel and dropshadow as I did the large text above.

Export your work as a jpg at a compression of 8 for your desktop. Resize in small increments, 90% at a time to a size that is email friendly to use as a tag.

I hope you enjoyed doing this tut as much as I enjoyed writing it.

vetch