Tutorials by d.a.w. DESIGN
Dog Tag Tutorial.
Step1. This is how I made my dog tag image thats in my Photoshop portfolio. Make a new document at 72Res white background. Click on the folder at the bottom of the layers palette to creat a new set. You will see a folder at the top of the layer stack called set1. Double click on the name set1 to rename it "dog tag". Make a new layer inside the folder (Click on create a new layer icon at the bottom).
Step2. Set your foreground colour to 50% Black (its the gray swatch on the top row in your default swatches palette).
Step3. Click on the Rounded Rectangle Tool, its in with the shape tool. Make sure the fill pixels is ticked, its on the options bar at the top 3rd from the left. Radius = 20pixels Mode =Normal Opacity = 100%. Draw your dog tag shape.

Step4.Click on the round circle with the f in it to bring up the layer stlyes. Add the following layer stlyes.




Click the new style button to save your style you have just made,
name it Dog tag.
Step5. Add anew layer, name it "Metal". Reset your colours to Black & White by pressing the D key. Ctrl+Click on the layer with all the styles on it (Layer1). So you have a selection (marching ants). Make sure you are working on the new layer "Metal". Go to FILTER > RENDER > CLOUDS.
Then FILTER > NOISE > ADD NOISE Amount = 10 Distribution = Gaussian, Monochromatic ticked, click OK.
FILTER > BLUR > MOTION BLUR Angle = 90, Distance = 25, click OK.
FILTER > SHARPEN > SHARPEN. Now merge the layer down. Ctrl+E.
DO NOT DESELECT IT.
This is what we now have
(see below).

Step6. Still with it selected make a new layer above your "Metal" layer . Rename it "Rust". Make your foreground colour #861316 and your background colour #714A06. Make sure you are on the new layer "Rust" go to FILTER > RENDER > CLOUDS. Then go to FILTER > NOISE > ADD NOISE Amount = 4, Distribution = Gaussian, Monochromatic ticked.
Your image should be like the one below.
(DO NOT DE-SELECT IT)

Step7. Now click the CHANNELS TAB and hit the save selection as a channel button at the bottom, it looks like a circle on a rectangular shape. You will see ALPHA1 channel come up. Click on it, your shape willbe all white on black. (see below).

Step8. Click on your layers tab and click on your "Rust" layer, Go to FILTER > RENDER > LIGHTNING EFFECTS with the settings below.
Click on the end of the Direction line to make it smaller so you can see the texture better. Click OK. SELECT > DESELECT.

Step9. Add a Drop Shadow and a Inner Glow.
(see below).


Step10. The frame Ctrl+Click on the "Metal" layer, make a new layer called it "Frame". Move it to so it's at the bottom of the layer set. Go SELECT MODIFY > EXPAND 10. EDIT > FILL with 50% Black
DESELECT. Click on the f at the bottom for the layer style, add a INNER SHADOW
and a BEVEL & EMBOSS
(see below).


Step11. Now you want a hole near the top. Use the Elliptical Marquee tool. Hold down SHIFT+ALT as you drag to get a nice round shape. Press DELETE.
Remember to delete on all the layers,
then DESELECT. Now you have a nice hole.

Step12. On the "Rust" layer go to the ERASER TOOL and take the SPATTER BRUSH size 59 and start to ERASE some of the rust to your liking. Now on mine the rust was too bright so go to IMAGE > ADJUSTMENTS > HUE/SATURATION and turn down the SATURATION. (see below).

Step13. Now for the text. New layer on top. Type in,
in WHITE what ever you want, the font I used was VERDANA. Ctrl+T for the TRANSFORM TOOL and type in -90 in the rotate option on the options bar, commit the text. Grab the move tool (V) to move the text, try to center it on the dog tag. Then add a BEVEL & EMBOSS STYLE to it. (see below).
Then lower the fill to about 30%. this will let some of the rust come through. You may have to play about with the bevel & emboss.


Step14. The Chain. Creat a new layer call it "Link" and make a small oval shape using the Elliptical Marquee tool and fill it with WHITE. While it is still selected click on the the channels tab and save selection. Gaussian Blur it FILTER > BLUR > GAUSSIAN BLUR with a radius of 2.0
Go back to your layers, click on link layer and FILTER > RENDER > LIGHTNING EFFECTS
(see my setting below). DESELECT.


Step15. Now go to IMAGE > ADJUSTMENTS > CURVES and alter the line so you get a metal look. (see my curve below).

tep16. Copy the link layer to make more links. Try to rotate the other links, not too much. When happy you can merge your link layers (if you want).
Add a drop shadow the default will do nicely. I also added a Pattern overlay on the links. All you have to do now is add a background to it.
Thats it hope you have enjoyed it.

Copyright © 2003 - 2006 Darren A. Winder
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