"Flying High"
Click picture for larger view
If you are already an owner of the Digital Flags DVD then you
know about the flags having the same wave
and the functionality that comes along with that. By very simply pasting one
over the top of another you can
use a soft edged eraser to blend them together. Here are a few examples of
blending.
Click picture for larger view
Click picture for larger view
That is pretty self explanatory so for today's tutorial we
will be taking it a little further and using a couple flags to get a more
unique design. We will be using Adobe Photoshop, Digital Flags and
Wrapture Half Body Wraps.
First we will open The Burnout File in Blue from the Wrapture Half DVD.
Click picture for larger view
Next we are going to draw a work path using the Pen Tool.
The work path should follow the outside edge of the checkered flag while leaving
none of it exposed as in the next picture below.
(It is ok to draw a little outside of the checkered flag area as long as you are
not leaving any showing)
To make the shape perfect the first time is not easy so you should get the basic
shape with the Pen Tool
using as few nodes as possible,
and then come back with the Convert Point Tool to refine the edges.
Click picture for larger view
Tip: holding the ctrl key while using the Pen Tool will allow
you to manipulate a point without finishing the shape,
release it to continue adding points. Also the space bar will toggle to your
hand tool allowing you
to pan across the image while creating the shape.
Now that we have created a shape to fill with the American
Flag, open it and drag it on to the Half Wrap.
I have used the Skewed American Flag to avoid a hard line vertically through my
design.
Click picture for larger view
For the next step you will need to select the shape layer you
made in the Layers Palette
and load selection on it (Select/Load Selection). When you have the marching
ants around the shape layer
switch to the flag layer (which should be on top) and click Layer/Layer
Mask/Reveal Selection.
Your image should look like this.
Click picture for larger view
Now we don't need the shape layer any more so delete it. If
you notice in your layers palette there is now
a mostly black box "chained" to your flag layer. If you click the chain it will
disconnect them and you can move the flag around
independent from the mask. Use this to position the flag in the hole. Next add a
layer style of an Inner Shadow
to the flag layer.
Click picture for larger view
Now we could finish here but I think I would like to see some
checkered flag at the bottom.
First create another shape layer around the bottom grey portion using the same
technique as earlier.
Click picture for larger view
Next we will open the Checkered Flag From the Digital Flags DVD and drag it on to our Half Wrap.
Click picture for larger view
Load Selection on the shape layer and add a layer mask to the
Checkered Flag as before and don't forget to
"unchain" the mask from your Flag layer. Once you position your flag how you
want it, it should be something like this.
Click picture for larger view
Finally we will add an Inner Shadow on the Checkered Flag layer the same as with the American Flag.
Click picture for larger view
The original .EPS file for the Half Wrap will still fit if you
haven't changed scale
which means this is ready for output.
Here are a few examples to get you thinking...
Click pictures for larger view
I hope you have enjoyed this tutorial.
If you have suggestions or comments please email them to:
email: grant@auroragraphics.net
Grant Dorsey