Calling Cards



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Things you will need for this tutorial
Jasc PSP
My selections
Font I used...open and minimize
Blade Pro Preset I used...put in your SBP environment folder
Picture/tube of choice for the right side
Calling Cards are a wonderful way to make sure you get your name and your URL out.  Make several types of Calling Cards to suit different purposes.  In Example.....a country look for visiting country websites, Holiday looks during festive times, food Calling Cards for visiting recipe sites, etc......  Changing the graphic and the color scheme but leaving your name the same will become recognizable to everyone, and may trigger a memory response in someone wanting to visit your site.  Make sure you leave everything on it's own layer so that if you change your mind later it will be so much easier.  Save often, and since these are Calling Cards, your name will already be on them so I won't remind you of that.  lol
This lesson is done in PSP 8 as that's all I use now.   It can be done in other versions also.  You need a working knowledge of PSP to complete this lesson.

1.  Open an image 600 x 600.  I know this is large, but it allows ample room, and resizing is done at the end.
2.  New layer.  Load SQflowerframe selection.  Flood fill with white if you are going to use a super blade pro preset.  An alternate would be a favorite color or gradient or pattern.  Your imagination is the limit.  Apply the SBP preset of choice if that's how you are going.  If you aren't, I would suggest that you apply your favorite bevel before moving to the next part.  I use this bevel quite often. 
 
3.  New layer.  Load SQflowerframe2.  Open the picture of your choice and do a copy, then do a paste into selection. ( If you do as one of my samples shows, flood fill with a matching color to your frame.  Apply a texture or leave plain.)  Move this layer to the bottom.  Leave selected and add a new layer.  Apply a cutout with these settings.  H & V 5, opacity 64%, blur 15.84  Add another layer and apply the same cutout only change the H & V to minus 5.  If you left it plain with no graphic, apply your tube or your logo now.

4.  New layer.  Load SQflowerframe3.  Flood fill this selection with a solid color from your graphic or your frame.  You will be writing on this side and don't want it too busy.  Apply a texture.  Sometimes I use this texture for a cross stitch look.  

6.  New layer.  Load SQflowerframe4.  Flood fill to compliment your original frame with a solid color or use the same gradient/pattern or SBP preset.  Add the same inner bevel if not using a SBP preset.  Use your magic wand to select the inside of this frame.  Add a layer, and flood fill with a complimentary color of your frame or graphic, or use the same color as your circle insets.  Add another layer and apply this cutout.  H & V 0, opacity 100% Blur 15.84  Select none.

7.  Turn off all the layers, but SQflowerframe4, the fill and the cutout.  Merge these visible.  Turn all the layers back on.  Position this frame where you would like it on the bottom of the main frame.  After you have it the way you like it, send this layer to the bottom.  Duplicate it and flip the image.  You may have to arrange the top one to get it just right.  DO NOT move the middle frame unless you turn off the bottom (SQflowerframe4) and merge the others visible.  Remember we have the cutouts on separate layers.  When you have it the way you want it, save as a psp file so that you can reuse it for something else.  You can at this point merge visible before you put the text on, but be prepared to zoom in and do erasing on the text because it's supposed to look like it's behind the frame.  Just make sure you erase on the text layer though. lol
8.  Now we'll do the text.  IMHO it looks the best when you put your URL in a plain font such as Ariel.  Makes it more readable.  Always do your text in vector so you can manipulate the size without any distortions.  I love the new psp 8, it just seems to be easier to adjust before applying.  If you use a light background, use a dark text.  Remember you are trying to be recognized by leaving your Calling Card at websites, etc. 
          A.  Put your name on the top frame.
          B.  Put your "remark text" in the side circle
          C.  Put your URL in the bottom frame.....in a plain text
Here's what I made while working along with you, a Thank You for visiting my website card.  Looks icky with this background, so remember not to get too wild with your colors, because when you present your Calling Card you want it to be able to go with the receiver's web page so they will be more inclined to display it for you.


Hope you learned something from this lesson.  If you have any questions, email me.
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