Credits for tags :
FIRST – ALWAYS resize your tag BEFORE adding your
credits. If you do this after, chances
are the credits will be difficult to read.
SECOND - I highly recommend that you DO NOT merge your credits with
your tag. There is always a possibility
that you made a typo or an artist changed their URL. This way you can just re-do the credit layer,
and not have to remake the whole tag.
Keep it as a separate layer and save the entire canvas as a .psd file.
One of the most important things is to use a good font.
Pixels fonts are the best as they provide clean lines when
using at a smaller size.
But make sure you choose something that is very clean and
crisp looking. Nothing that is script or
outlined or fancy in any way.
I set my size to 9 pixels.
You can make it larger if you prefer.
Most importantly you need to change ANTI-ATLAS to OFF!!!!
This needs to be done any time you use a pixel font. If you don’t do this and you need to rotate
the credits to fit on the side of the tag – it will become all distorted. Unless you are doing your credits on a curve
– then do NOT change the anti-atlas.
If needed – activate your caps lock key – you want all the
letters in Capitals.
I set my background to my color choice and foreground to
null.
Type out the proper information
Covert to raster layer
Now go to Effects – Eye Candy 4 – Gradient Glow - with these settings:
NOTE: The glow width
should never be more than 3. The wider
is it the more it distorts the text.
Color choice should be one that will accentuate the credits - a contrasting light color if using a dark color for the text.
Here you can see it rotated and it is still clean
You can do the reverse and make your font white and use black for your gradient glow.
You can also select colors from your tag image that
complement it. However when doing this
make sure that it is still readable. You may need to play around with the
colors to find what works best.
NOTE: Remember to change the Anti-Atlas back to sharp when you are
done so that your other fonts will not be affected.
OR
You can also use a drop shadow. The tag below is by Sigrid who shared her
technique of using a drop shadow of 0/1/100/1.00/#000000
OR
You can select your font (after you have converted to raster
layer) expand by 2 – add a new layer and fill with an alternate color –
deselect – merge these two layers together and position.
OR
Create a Brush:
Some people use brushes for their credits. The upside of this is that it reduces the
amount of possible typos.
Sites like DAH or CDO which have LOTS of artists with
different URL’s would not be practical – unless you have the time to make them
for all the artists you have purchased.
Plus many tend to change their URL so you would have to keep the brush
updated. You could however, just make a brush of your license.
With sites like PFD which have many artists, but all use the
same URL, you could just do a brush of the URL and license and fill in the
artist name manually.
Sites like VeryMany – which is a sole seller of one artist –
you can make a complete brush with all the information.
To make a brush you need to open a new image – 300 x 300 –
this should be enough room.
Choose your pixel font – same as you would if you were
typing it directly onto the tag.
Set foreground to null – background to black
Now type out your information
Convert to raster layer
Go to FILE – EXPORT – CUSTOM BRUSH
A new box will open – in the name slot – label it so that
you can locate it easily. You can fill
in the bottom information if you wish – once happy with it – click OK.
Now open your tag – choose the color you want your credits
to be. Locate your brush – add a new
layer to your tag and click with the brush.
You may want to click 2-3 times to get a good image. Then you can add gradient glow or drop shadow or the
expand/fill technique – you can rotate it and position it where you like.
Your credits do not need to be huge, nor should they be microscopic. Once you have found the font and size you prefer - stick with it. I never change the font I use for credits. Just remember, stores/artists just want credits to be readable and correct.
Happy Tagging!!!!
