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Swirl Tag Background

Object: To make a swirled backdrop for images and text.

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This Tutorial was made using PSP 8 and EyeCandy 4000
BUT.. you don't have to use Eye Candy to do this tute!
You can still make a Swirled Backdrop, you just won't have the smeared effect.

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~ Step 1 ~

Open PSP 8.
Open a new image about 400 x 400.
OR
Open the image you are making this swirled background for. Then open a new image about twice that size.

~ Step 2 ~

Select your paint brush with the round setting.
Select your first color.
Either whatever you want or a color from your image.
Make a dot.
Select another color and make another dot.
Keep doing this until you have several dots in something like a circle.

~ Step 3 ~

Select your Warp brush.
Choose a size that will cover your dots.

Apply the Warp Brush.
Click and hold until you like the amount of swirl.

~ Step 4 ~

Select the Magic Wand.
Use a tolerance level that will allow you to select all of each color.
Click on one of the swirled colors.
Holding the 'shift' key, continue to select the other colors until you have it all.

~ Step 5 ~

Select Adjust... Add/Remove Noise.
Add some noise.

~ Step 6 ~

Select the Deform tool.
Hold down the 'shift' key to skew the bottom right and top left nodes. Push them inwards.
Let go of the 'shift' key
Grab the node sticking out from the middle and twist the swirl so it is level.
You can play with pushing the corner nodes about to straighten the image however you like.
I ended up with mine kinda squished but level.

If you don't have Eye Candy, you can stop right here and use this image for a tag background.
Fiddle with that deform until you have something you like.
Save it as a PSP file to use anytime.
Put it on a background. Give it a drop shadow. Add your goodies.
Do whatever you like.
Have fun with it! 8-)

If you do have Eye Candy, let's continue.

~ Step 7 ~

Effects browser... Plugins... Eye Candy... Motion trail.

Apply.

~ Step 8 ~

Flip your image.
Effects browser.. Plugins... Eye Candy... Motion trial.
Adjust the settings for the bottom.

You can save now as a .psp file for use anytime..
Or
You can add your Text and/or Image...

~ Step 8 ~
Add your goodies!

I just grabbed the first image I found and pasted it onto the swirled back. While it was selected I added a drop shadow. Then Deselected.. CTRL D.

Copy your image and paste as new. CTRL C then CTRL V.
Cut.. CTRL X.
Add your background color and CTRL E to paste back.
Your image will be perfectly centered if you move your cursor away from the image when you do CTRL E.
Then simply click and there ya go!

Save your image as a .jpg

Enjoy!

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This Tutorial was Created By ~Pink~ March 29, 2004. {In a hurry I might add. LOL!} Any resemblance to any other tutorial is purely coincidental. I've never seen it done before, so to the best of my knowlege, I made it up.