Need help making a small sign/label for a fish picture. 1

[keun]

Imagine if you will:

A 9"w x 6.5" canvas with a picture of a fish. The fish is about as wide as the canvas, and from three to four inches high. Located in the two to three inches of blank space at the bottom, there is a small sign with the name of the fish. I want to sign to look like a small piece of paper or poster board stuck to the canvas with two round-head pins/tacks.

Is this possible?

I create the signs with rubber stamps, then scan them. They measure between two and three inches wide on paper.

Here is an example of the sign:

Large version:

http://geekatlaw.com/pens/fish/freshwaterDrumSign.JPG

 

[apepp]

...which version if illustrator are you in possession of?

...i assume you have photoshop too?

Andrew

 

[keun]

illustrator cs2
photoshop cs3


If I need illustrator cs3, I will use this as an excuse to upgrade.

 

[apepp]

...no, you won't need illustrator CS3...

...i imagine you want something like this perhaps, with the round pin heads?

http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-8922532-vector-push-pin-collection.html

...as you already have the scanned text, i would create the paper texture (i assume white paper) with text on top (multiplied) in photoshop...

...then import into illustrator (as layered PSD) and clipping mask the imported paper texture to a pre-created path, unless you want rough paper edges of course, then a slightly different approach is required...

Andrew

 

[apepp]

...here is a quick possibility, in photoshop, based on your sample supplied:

http://www.zen63258.zen.co.uk/tek/paperoption.jpg

...you can either produce the push pins in illustrator or photoshop...

Andrew

 

[keun]

Wow, I really like the looks of that. Unfortunately, I have no idea about the work flow that you are talking about, but I will so some searching, read some help files, and poke around.

What you have there is perfect!

 

[apepp]

...feel free to download the PSD file to have a further look, and any further questions just ask...

...once opened, double click the smart object icon in the layers palette...

...this will open another window, where you'll see the guts of it...

...i've reduced the resolution by half just to make it a smaller download...

...here is the download link:

http://www.zen63258.zen.co.uk/tek/freshwaterDrumSign.psd

Andrew

 

[keun]

I officially have no idea what I am doing.

I have some people around who I have asked for help. . . I need step by step instructions I guess!

 

[apepp]

...i'll try and put together a quicktime movie together rather than type it all out...

...obviously you'll need quicktime player from apple to play it...

...not time to do it now but will post as soon as i can...

Andrew

 

[keun]

Wow. I will check my email every hour.

 

[apepp]

...just to let you know keun...

...i haven't forgotten, am looking into doing it tonight for you...

...been a tad busy this week in the evenings...

Andrew

 

[keun]

I will look forward to it!

 

[apepp]

...OK, have just made video, will upload in a moment...

andrew

 

[apepp]

...OK, am uploading, it is a fair size, so hopefully you have DSL or better to use...

...comes in around 11Mb final compressed size, 1280 x 720 pixels, so depending on your monitor resolution it should hopefully be clear enough to see...

Andrew

 

[apepp]

..finally it is here now, my ISP throttles uploads, so takes longer to go up than down...

...i'm a bit like that in bed!! : )

...here is the link:

http://www.zen63258.zen.co.uk/tek/fishlabel_PSD.mov

Andrew

 

[apepp]

...sorry bad link, this one works, i'd advise you download it and play on your computer rather than streaming it though...

...must be tiredness kicking in:

http://www.zen63258.zen.co.uk/tek/fishlabel_PSD.mov

...hope it helps out a bit, of course you still need to get that in illustrator, depending on what it sits on, you won't need the white layer at the bottom, you can have in transparent, just save to PSD format from photoshop, and file > place in illustrator...

Andrew

 

[apepp]

...do note that i used a saved preset for the paper, that was to save time, so you won't have that in your styles palette...

...that part will need the most attention i expect with regards to settings used...

...these settings are file resolution dependent, so will look different in a different resolution file...

Andrew

 

[apepp]

...of course, if you have other labels to produce, you can used this as a template, and simply drag your new scanned image layer to your first file created by following the attached movie...

...then move the mask icon on the SCAN layer to your newly imported layer...

...changing your new scan layer to 'Multiply' so the paper shows through...

...the blend option in the last step of the movie is optional really...

Andrew

 

[keun]

Wow, wow, and wow. Thank you so much.

I watched this twice, and I will run through it tomorrow morning. Even though it is not late, I only slept four hours last night, so I am exhausted.

I will let you know how it works out for me.

 

[apepp]

...yes, four hours sleep, i know how that can feel...

...there are a fair few steps involved really, especially if your unfamiliar with photoshop, can be quite overwhelming, so any queries, post back here so we can iron them out if need be...

Andrew