BLINDS

B L I N D S

This tut was written on November 15, 2010.
It is written using PSPX; I'm sure the same effects are available in other versions.

SUPPLIES
A tube.
I'm using the work of Celine.
This tube was part of the 2010 MPT Christmas Gift.
You need to purchase a license to use this work, and can find other tubes by this artist, at MPT.

The following filters:
MuRa's Meister - Copies
DSB Flux - Bright Noise (optional)

Font of choice (I'm using "Uplink")

Let's begin!

Open a new image, 600x250

Fill with a color from your tube.

Effects - Texture Effects - Blinds using the following setting:

Effects - Edge Effects - Enhance.

If you are animating:
Duplicate this layer 2x (for a total of three.)
Apply DSB Flux - Bright Noise set at 25 to each layer, click the radial button before Mix each time.

Add your tube as a new layer.

MuRa's Meister - Copies using the Wallpaper(rotate) preset.

Adjust - Blur - Motion Blur set at Angle = 315, Strength = 100.
Repeat.
Effects - Edge Effects - Enhance.
Repeat.

Selection Tool - Custom Selection using the following setting:

Selections - Invert.
DELETE
Duplicate this layer, then Image - Flip.
Layers - Merge - Merge Down.
Duplicate this layer, then Image - Mirror.
Layers - Merge - Merge Down.

Set this image aside for a moment.

Open a new image, 400x400.
Fill with your color.

Add this new image to your previous image as a new layer.

Image - Free Rotate - Right, 45 degrees.

Effects - Image Effects - Offset using the following setting:

Crop to size (600x250.)

Selections - Select All.
Selections - Float.
Selections - Defloat.
Selections - Invert.

Highlight the blurred layer.
DELETE.
Selections - Select None.

Delete the solid layer.

Duplicate the blurred layer.
Image - Mirror.

On the mirrored layer, Selections - Select All.
Selections - Float.
Selections - Defloat.
Add your tube, moving into position.
Selections - Invert.
DELETE.

Duplicate the tube layer.
Image Mirror.
Change the layer setting of this layer to SOFT LIGHT.

Merge the two BLURRED layers together.
(Highlight the top blurred layer, then Layers - Merge - Merge Down.)

Selections - Select All.
Selections - Float.
Selections - Defloat.
Selections - Modify - Select Selections Border using the following setting:

Add a new layer to the top, and fill the selection with your border color.
Selections - Select None.

Add a blurry drop shadow to your merged blurred layer (I used 0, 0, 100, 25, black.)

Add a 2px selection border using the same color.

Add your name and all necessary copyright information.

Animate as usual.

For the avatar:

Duplicate your tag (Shift + D.)

Delete the layer with your tube.

Crop to 150x150.

Add your 2 pixel selections border.

Add your name (or initial.)

You may, if you wish, choose to animate your avatar.

Here is another example, non-animated, using the work of Olivia: