Buttons or Labels - Part 2

Just a quick example of what effects you can achieve by varying the opacity of the shape as you draw it - The shape's opacity can be altered from the options bar.

From the top down 100% - 75% - 50% - 25%

This is the shape's opacity - NOTE you can also alter the entire layer's opacity (this one is named GREEN LABELS)

Carrying on now, I'll show you a few examples on a 'real' picture.

These examples will show you a few interesting things, and then you'll be able to develop your own style.

Here's the picture that we are going to label - it's from a small village (Roseto Val Forture) in Italy.

As most people have digital cameras now, they tend to get a lot of images, and if you want to you can add stylish labels to them.

Obviously you can rename the actual file, but once you are viewing it on screen it's sometimes useful to know the place/year/situation where you took the shot.

Once you have designed your label you can then reuse it on a series of similar images - with only a minor alteration if required i.e. names/dates.

Also you could use this technique to add your own logo or copyright etc.

Here we are then ... as in part one of this lesson use the rounded rectangle shape tool on a new layer.

Make the paint colour white for this lesson ...
keyboard - d then x

Drag out the shape as shown, if you are using my image then this is about the right size for this exercise. Adjust the size for your own images.

If you don't want to use white, then use any colour that suits ... but here's a top tip ...

With the shape tool selected, move the cursor into the image area and hold down the ALT key on the keyboard. See the new cursor shape? It's a little ink dropper.

Click the left mouse button and now the foreground colour has changed to the colour under the inkdropper!

This top tip is very useful, as it allows you to alter the colour without having to open the colour picker, or even moving the mouse much at all.

Now select the move tool (keyboard - m) or the top right tool on the toolbar and drag the shape to the approximate position shown.

Look carefully at the picture and note the tiny chain icon on the Layer 1 layer. Here's how to get it switched 'on'.

Click on the Background layer (make it active - eye & brush on)

Now click in the empty icon slot & viola!

And this does what exactly? It LINKS the layers together and allows you to ALIGN them...

Click on the 5th one along

The shape in now centered on top of the image!

Remember last lesson? We used the grid/snap combination to line up the shapes as they were all on the same layer - this time we used layer alignment as each 'part' of the label is on a separate layer.

Click on the chain again to UNLINK the layers. Click on the T on the toolbar (keyboard - t ). This selects the Type tool, I'm not going to go into much detail about this tool. It is similar to most 'word-processors' in it's basic functions - it DOES have advanced features etc., but I'm not covering those today.

Select your favourite font, size, colour etc.

Click on the image and then type your caption/title. DON'T use the return key (enter) to finish, as you are TYPING!

Use the tick box in the tools option bar (very top right) or use the enter key on the numeric pad

Once you have finished the text, take a look at the layer palette.

You now have a new layer (created automatically), with a 'T' icon and a 'name' of your text.

As before let's line up the layers- but first LOCK the Layer 1 layer's position (you did spend a while aligning it, so let's keep it where you want it!). To lock/unlock a layer's position click on the small cross next to the Lock: label (see the picture)

Now the Layer 1 Label can't be moved.

Click on the layer 1 layer and LINK the text layer to it (see above for a reminder!).

Make sure you select the move tool (keyboard - m), and click on the horizontal alignment tool, just as you did before.

Look at the picture here and you'll see that all the text and the shape line up neatly. Neatly, but not too much style ... yet

With the Text and the Layer 1 layer still linked use the keyboard (CTRL + e). You have now merged the layers together.

Now, in the layers palette, double click on the Layer 1 layer (NOT on the text - that'll allow you to rename the layer!) click to the right of the layer's name.

Look at the part of the picture showing beneath the box, & then look at the settings that I have used.

The Layer Style dialog enables you to apply MANY different effects to your layers.

So many in fact that some predesigned styles are kept in a separate palette - called Styles and this palette is normally docked with the Color & Swatches palettes.

With a layer active, simply clicking on any style will apply it instantly AND you can edit it too.

Finally a few examples of what you can achieve with this simple technique.

This version is the same as the one above (with the Layer Style stroke applied) , except that the layer's opacity has been reduced, this allows some of the background image to show through.

Another example.

Each label was made separately (and the text aligned etc.)

Then each label had a drop shadow effect applied (Layer Style again)

Finally each label was aligned 'by eye' to achieve this look

Quite a different looking image, but achieved very easily....

1. Create the 'shape' (on a new layer).
Shape tool.
Custom shape.
Click on the shape: drop down box
In this box (full of shapes) click the tiny arrow (top right)
Choose frames & answer yes.
Use the first frame shape.

2. Give the frame a layer style.
Either create one for yourself (as shown previously) or use one from the Styles palette

3. Delete the 'unwanted' areas of the image.
Create a selection the same size as the inside of the frame (or slightly larger) .
Make the image layer active.
Use the keyboard (CTRL + SHIFT + i) to invert the selection
Backspace (deletes the unwanted area)
Use the paint bucket tool to colour the 'empty area'

Done!

As usual, any Q's email me!

Next Lesson - Colour to Black & White