| » Forum Index » Reader's Tutorials » Topic: Creating a Page / Certificate Border |
|
Posted on 26/09/08 7:32:05 PM |
|
Babybiker
Shadow Spectaculator Posts: 151 Reply  |
Creating a Page / Certificate Border
Creating a Page / Certificate Border 
I was asked to design a Qualification Certificate for an up coming course recently. Wanting to add a fancy border to the design, I had a search through all the page borders on the harddrive and nothing was suitable. So I spent an hour or so looking for a tutorial on the ‘net, but apart from one Tutorial on a Xara forum, all I seemed to find was sites selling “border packs” – some at a steep $25 dollars for just one border! Not to be put off, I have modified the Xara method for Photoshop, making some additional changes so that the final product is guaranteed to match at the corners, and thought I would share it. This isn’t by any means rocket science, but as it is my first tutorial, I hope it makes sense! 1 - Start with a new document – White background, 300 dpi, approx 10cm wide, 5cm in height and click on “Create New Layer” 2- Using the Pen / Paths tool, draw a random line of curves, angles and straight horizontal lines. The layout of this is very much trial and error, and the final image will be a lot more fancy. To make the following stages easier, start and finish with a true horizontal line. 
3 – Select a thin, hard edged paintbrush (black for now), and at the bottom of the Paths Palette, click “Stroke Path with Brush” and click off the works path. 4- In the layers palette, duplicate the layer with your squiggle on, go to Edit > Free Transform, and nudge the new line up a little. Press enter to complete the transformation, and then click Shift + Ctrl + Alt + T several times (As in HTCIP – creating a clock face). 
5 – Merge all these layers together, being careful not to include the background and duplicate the resulting layer. Now go to Edit > Transform > Flip Vertical, and nudge the new layer up or down until you are happy with the result. 
Or perhaps 
(I try and keep the horizontal lines at the ends exactly on top of each other, to make the final result as tidy as possible) 6 – Merge the two layers together and then duplicate the resulting one. The Click Edit > Transform > Flip Horizontal, and nudge the new shape to the right, until the end lines overlap, giving a symmetrical design. 7 - Now these layers can be merged again, before duplicating twice and rotating 90 degrees. 8 - All that is left to do is to position them on the Certificate so that some of the outside edge falls off the page, and line up the new Vertical shapes so that the straight lines at the edge Cross over the straight lines of the Horizontal shapes. 
9 – Once you are happy with the result, merge all the layers down (except the background) and using Blending Modes, add a colour overlay and / or stroke to colour the lines. (Merging the shapes first stops the stroke effect from overlaying the black lines on a layer below)
Using the similar methods, scrolls and Spirograph effects can be achieved – 
(Starting image rotated by 15 degrees each time using the Shift Key (as per the HTCIP “ Creating a clock Face, and then coloured using a stroke set to Gradient) Comments and Criticism are more than welcome! BB |
Posted on 28/09/08 10:12:24 PM |
|
Deborah Morley
Makeover Magician Posts: 1319 Reply  |
Re: Creating a Page / Certificate Border
Nice one, it has inspired me and made me realise, yet again how much can be done in photoshop. So, thank you. |
Posted on 18/10/08 10:33:27 AM |
|
Nick Curtain
Model Master Posts: 1768 Reply  |
Re: Creating a Page / Certificate Border
Hi BB Agree with Deborah and I'm surprised that you've not received more positive comment. What's so good about this technique is that once all the elrements are on one layer, you can hide the fill and apply drop shadows, bevels etc to vary the effects you can achieve. Well done, this is great. Nick |
Posted on 19/10/08 2:04:02 PM |
|
dave.cox
Marquee Master Posts: 518 Reply  |
Re: Creating a Page / Certificate Border
I agree that this is a great affect. I confess though, I would be more inclined to do this kind of thing in Illustrator. Dave |