How to make a spray tag with transparency in its background
Posted: March 19th, 2008, 1:17
Tired of having a spray that's just a square and looks like ass? Want to make something that blends a little more into the environment? Here's how to make a spray tag with transparencies in its background! This tutorial uses Adobe Photoshop. I have posted links to the spray tag and the PSD of this file at the end of this post.
Also, a related movie I made showing how to make a spray tag using photoshop can be found <a href="http://www.nickface.org/random/5punk/sp ... l">here</a>.
<b>Step 1</b>
Select an image you would like to make a spray tag out of. I found this in the 5punk images folder and I just LOOOOOOOVE the Grimmie version of 5punky.
<img src="http://www.nickface.org/random/5punk/sp ... ray001.png">
<b>Step 2</b>
Make a new image that is 256 pixels by 256 pixels.
<img src="http://www.nickface.org/random/5punk/sp ... ray002.png">
<b>Step 3</b>
Transfer the pic/graphic/whatever you would like to you to the new image.
<img src="http://www.nickface.org/random/5punk/sp ... ray003.png">
<b>Step 4</b>
Resize and position the image in how you would like it to appear when you use it. This is a simple, one image only tag, but during this step you would also add in any text you would like to use.
<img src="http://www.nickface.org/random/5punk/sp ... ray004.png">
<b>Step 5</b>
Select all of the areas that you would like to make transparent. Since this is only one simple image and thus all or our elements are on one layer, this simply requires the use of the magic want tool. If you have used more than one image, or put text in, these layers will be need to be merged into one. If you did add text, I would also recommend adding one or two pixels of the "stroke" layer style onto elements that don't have crisp clean edges, such as text or photo images. This will make it easier to do the transparency and won't leave little white edges anywhere.
<img src="http://www.nickface.org/random/5punk/sp ... ray005.png">
<b>Step 6</b>
We are now going to work on what actually makes the transparencies by making a new alpha channel. This works kind of like a mask for the entire file, where only white areas in this alpha channel will expose the parts of the corresponding image. Open your channels platelet (usually the tab next to the layers platelet)
<img src="http://www.nickface.org/random/5punk/sp ... ray006.png">
<b>Step 7</b>
Make a new channel, by clicking on the little triangle in the upper corner and selecting "new channel," then turn off all other channels except this new one.
<img src="http://www.nickface.org/random/5punk/sp ... ray007.png">
<b>Step 8</b>
Invert the selection of the body of your image by either going up to "select" then "invert" or hitting Shift + Ctrl + I.
<img src="http://www.nickface.org/random/5punk/sp ... ray009.png">
<b>Step 9</b>
Delete this area by hitting the delete key or going to "edit" then "clear."
<img src="http://www.nickface.org/random/5punk/sp ... ray010.png">
<b>Step 10</b>
Turn the the RGB channels back on and turn off the one we made. Go back to your layers platelet. What we're going to do now is make sure that the white area of the "background" doesn't bleed into the area where our channel is. Usually if you skip this step, little white fringes will appear on your spray tag, taking away at least 10% of its overall win. What you simply need to do is make sure that the background layer is the same color as the edges of your spray (in this case, black).
<img src="http://www.nickface.org/random/5punk/sp ... ray007.png">
<b>Step 11</b>
Go to "File" then "Save As" and navigate to the area where you want to save it to. In the format drop down box, navigate to Targa and save it as a TGA file. Also, make sure that the "Alpha Channels" box is checked under the "Save Options"
<img src="http://www.nickface.org/random/5punk/sp ... ray013.png">
<b>Step 12</b>
Open up the steam game of your choice (in this case, TF2), select "options" then click the "multiplayer" tab. Click on the "import spray" button.
<img src="http://www.nickface.org/random/5punk/sp ... ray014.png">
<b>Step 13</b>
Navigate to where your file is and select the file you made and click "open"
<img src="http://www.nickface.org/random/5punk/sp ... ray015.png">
<b>Step 14</b>
The new spray should show up in the little thumbnail. Hit "ok." You should be set to go.
<img src="http://www.nickface.org/random/5punk/sp ... ray016.png">
<b>Step 15</b>
You can create your own server to test the spray out, or you can just join a server and try it (if that server allows sprays).
<img src="http://www.nickface.org/random/5punk/sp ... ray017.jpg">
You can find the PSD for this particular tutorial <a href="http://www.nickface.org/random/5punk/sp ... d">here</a> and you can find the finished spray tag right <a href="http://www.nickface.org/random/5punk/sp ... a">here</a>.
If you have any questions, please post them here and I, or anyone else that knows about spray tags, will be happy to try to help you figure out what you need to know.
Also, a related movie I made showing how to make a spray tag using photoshop can be found <a href="http://www.nickface.org/random/5punk/sp ... l">here</a>.
<b>Step 1</b>
Select an image you would like to make a spray tag out of. I found this in the 5punk images folder and I just LOOOOOOOVE the Grimmie version of 5punky.
<img src="http://www.nickface.org/random/5punk/sp ... ray001.png">
<b>Step 2</b>
Make a new image that is 256 pixels by 256 pixels.
<img src="http://www.nickface.org/random/5punk/sp ... ray002.png">
<b>Step 3</b>
Transfer the pic/graphic/whatever you would like to you to the new image.
<img src="http://www.nickface.org/random/5punk/sp ... ray003.png">
<b>Step 4</b>
Resize and position the image in how you would like it to appear when you use it. This is a simple, one image only tag, but during this step you would also add in any text you would like to use.
<img src="http://www.nickface.org/random/5punk/sp ... ray004.png">
<b>Step 5</b>
Select all of the areas that you would like to make transparent. Since this is only one simple image and thus all or our elements are on one layer, this simply requires the use of the magic want tool. If you have used more than one image, or put text in, these layers will be need to be merged into one. If you did add text, I would also recommend adding one or two pixels of the "stroke" layer style onto elements that don't have crisp clean edges, such as text or photo images. This will make it easier to do the transparency and won't leave little white edges anywhere.
<img src="http://www.nickface.org/random/5punk/sp ... ray005.png">
<b>Step 6</b>
We are now going to work on what actually makes the transparencies by making a new alpha channel. This works kind of like a mask for the entire file, where only white areas in this alpha channel will expose the parts of the corresponding image. Open your channels platelet (usually the tab next to the layers platelet)
<img src="http://www.nickface.org/random/5punk/sp ... ray006.png">
<b>Step 7</b>
Make a new channel, by clicking on the little triangle in the upper corner and selecting "new channel," then turn off all other channels except this new one.
<img src="http://www.nickface.org/random/5punk/sp ... ray007.png">
<b>Step 8</b>
Invert the selection of the body of your image by either going up to "select" then "invert" or hitting Shift + Ctrl + I.
<img src="http://www.nickface.org/random/5punk/sp ... ray009.png">
<b>Step 9</b>
Delete this area by hitting the delete key or going to "edit" then "clear."
<img src="http://www.nickface.org/random/5punk/sp ... ray010.png">
<b>Step 10</b>
Turn the the RGB channels back on and turn off the one we made. Go back to your layers platelet. What we're going to do now is make sure that the white area of the "background" doesn't bleed into the area where our channel is. Usually if you skip this step, little white fringes will appear on your spray tag, taking away at least 10% of its overall win. What you simply need to do is make sure that the background layer is the same color as the edges of your spray (in this case, black).
<img src="http://www.nickface.org/random/5punk/sp ... ray007.png">
<b>Step 11</b>
Go to "File" then "Save As" and navigate to the area where you want to save it to. In the format drop down box, navigate to Targa and save it as a TGA file. Also, make sure that the "Alpha Channels" box is checked under the "Save Options"
<img src="http://www.nickface.org/random/5punk/sp ... ray013.png">
<b>Step 12</b>
Open up the steam game of your choice (in this case, TF2), select "options" then click the "multiplayer" tab. Click on the "import spray" button.
<img src="http://www.nickface.org/random/5punk/sp ... ray014.png">
<b>Step 13</b>
Navigate to where your file is and select the file you made and click "open"
<img src="http://www.nickface.org/random/5punk/sp ... ray015.png">
<b>Step 14</b>
The new spray should show up in the little thumbnail. Hit "ok." You should be set to go.
<img src="http://www.nickface.org/random/5punk/sp ... ray016.png">
<b>Step 15</b>
You can create your own server to test the spray out, or you can just join a server and try it (if that server allows sprays).
<img src="http://www.nickface.org/random/5punk/sp ... ray017.jpg">
You can find the PSD for this particular tutorial <a href="http://www.nickface.org/random/5punk/sp ... d">here</a> and you can find the finished spray tag right <a href="http://www.nickface.org/random/5punk/sp ... a">here</a>.
If you have any questions, please post them here and I, or anyone else that knows about spray tags, will be happy to try to help you figure out what you need to know.
