Make Clear Tape in Photoshop
Have you ever wondered how digital scrapbookers are able to make their incredibly lifelike embellishments? If you'd like to attempt this too, a perfect way to start is with the clever digital scrapbooking feature of making realistic tape corners in Photoshop. Tape corners are ideal for use in your digital scraps or collages, and this article explains how to create this cool effect.
Steps
- Open a new file from 500px on 300px on a white background.
- Open a new layer. If your layers panel isn't visible, go to Windows and click on layers, or press F7.
- Go to the Get Hidden Browser Toolbars Back and choose the Rectangle Marquee Tool. Make a selection in the new layer; the size of the selection doesn't really matter, but if it's big, it's easier to work on and you can always make it smaller or bigger as needed in your projects. Press CTRL+T to remove the selection.
- Fill the selection with the Paint bucket tool. You can choose your own color; in this tutorial we are using a light gray.
- Click on the Polygonal Lasso Tool in the toolbar. Use this to create jagged edges on the end of the tape.Once you've finished, press backspace or hit delete so that the selection will be removed; do this on the other side too.
- Use the Burn and Dodge tool to add some realism to the tape. This step is optional but it gives a more realistic look to it. Slide the transparency on the layer about 25%. Add a drop shadow to give the tape some depth.
- Go to File and click on Save for Web & Devices and choose for PNG or GIF. These options will keep the transparency on your tape.
Tips
- Choose your favorite color for the tape.
- You don't have to cut the edges out perfectly, because real life tape doesn't have perfect jagged edges either.
Things You'll Need
- Photoshop CS or higher
