This tutorial was written by me on September 6, 2020. The results are of my own imagination.  Any resemblance to another tutorial is purely coincidental.  

Please DO NOT claim this tutorial as your own.

This was written assuming you have a working knowledge of PS.

Please keep in mind that I write the tutorial as I am creating it.

Sometimes I may not explain properly where to place things so please see my example if you are ever in doubt :)

Supplies needed

I am using CS5 but this tutorial should work with any version.

You can download the 7 day trial of PS here.

PTU Tube:  I am using a beautiful tube called "Autumn Witchcraft" created by Katherine.  Please do not use this tube without a proper license.  

You can purchase this tube at VM Artist's store here. 

PTU Kit:  I am using a gorgeous matching kit called "Ghoulishly Delightful" created by Tiny Turtle Designs.  You can purchase the kit here.

PTU Animation:  I am using Rebel Dezigns animation 1372 from package 456.  You can purchase her fun animation at CDO here.

Mask:  Halloween Mask 2 by Fecnikek. Thank you for your awesome masks.  You can download it from her blog here.

Font of choice for your name.

Plug in: None

Drop shadow of choice.

Please read all the Artist's/Designer's TOU.

Let's get started.

Remember to save your tag often in case PS crashes.  I always save my tags as a psd image.  It keeps all the layers and if you make tags for others you will always have the template.

To open an image, I click on the element or paper in the file folder and drag it into PS.

To transfer an element or paper in PS to my tag, I left click and drag it into my working canvas.  

The other way is to left click and drag the element from the folder right onto your tag. 

Either way you will get the same results :).  I will be using the both method for this tutorial.

For resizing, mirroring and rotating I use the Ctrl+T command.

File>new 750x800 px transparent image.  We will resize later.

Add a new layer and flood fill with white.

Select Halloween mask 2 and drag it into the tag.  Your free transformation box will appear.  Click the link icon between the W and H and type 19%.  Click ok.

Drag paper 23 into your tag.  Click the link icon between the W and H and resize 55%.  Click the check mark.

Standing on the paper layer in the layers pallet, right click and select create a clipping mask.

Drag element 41 into your tag.  Click the link icon between the W and H and resize 70%.  Click the check mark.  Move to the top of the mask by the moon.

Drag element 71 into your tag.  Click the link icon between the W and H and resize 25%.  Click the check mark.  Move to the top left of the mask by the house.

Drag element 109 into your tag.  Click the link icon between the W and H and resize 50%.  Click the check mark.  Move to the top right of the gate.

Drag element 98 into your tag.  Click the link icon between the W and H and resize 20%.  Click the check mark.  Move to the bottom left of the gate.

Drag element 107 into your tag.  Click the link icon between the W and H and resize 70%.  Click the check mark.  Move to the bottom left of the gate.

Drag element 26 into your tag.  Click the link icon between the W and H and resize 10%.  Click the check mark.  Move to the bottom of the pumpkin.

Drag element 62 into your tag.  Click the link icon between the W and H and resize 25%.  Click the check mark.  Move to the top right of the mask between the tree and gate.

Drag element 88 into your tag.  Click the link icon between the W and H and resize 15%.  Click the check mark.  Move to the bottom left of the sign.

Drag element 104 into your tag.  Click the link icon between the W and H and resize 40%.  Click the check mark.  Move to the top left of the sign.

Drag element 122 into your tag.  Click the link icon between the W and H and resize 30%.  Click the check mark.  Move to the bottom left of the sign.

Drag element 112 into your tag.  Click the link icon between the W and H and resize 50%.  Click the check mark.  Move to the bottom left of the sign by the pumpkin.

Drag element 46 into your tag.  Click the link icon between the W and H and resize 80%.  Click the check mark.  Move to the bottom of the sign.

Drag element 42 into your tag.  Click the link icon between the W and H and resize 40%.  Click the check mark.  Move to the bottom right of the mask.

Drag element 17 into your tag.  Click the link icon between the W and H and resize 40%.  Click the check mark.  Move to the top of the mirror.

Drag element 119 into your tag.  Click the link icon between the W and H and resize 20%.  Click the check mark.  Move to the bottom right of the mirror.

Drag element 91 into your tag.  Click the link icon between the W and H and resize 25%.  Click the check mark.  Move to the bottom left of the mirror.

Drag element 53 into your tag.  Click the link icon between the W and H and resize 20%.  Click the check mark.  Move to the bottom left of the canisters. See mine for placement.

Drag element 73 into your tag.  Click the link icon between the W and H and resize 40%.  Click the check mark.  Move to the bottom left of the canisters.

Drag element 86 into your tag.  Click the link icon between the W and H and resize 12%.  Click the check mark.  Move to the bottom of the owl.

Drag element 113 into your tag.  Click the link icon between the W and H and resize 50%.  Click the check mark.  Move to the bottom right of the rose.

Drag element 10 into your tag.  Click the link icon between the W and H and resize 10%.  Click the check mark.  Move to the bottom right of the mirror.

Select the main tube.  Select the tube layer you want to use and the hat layer.  Hit Ctrl + G on the keyboard to group it.  Click on the group and drag it over to your tag.  Hit Ctrl + T.  In your tool bar. Click on the link between the Width and Height to lock them.  When we type in a number it will resize both the width and Height as the same time.  Type 35% in the Width and then click on the check mark at the end of the tool bar.  Move the tube to the bottom right corner of the mask.

Drag element 27 into your tag.  Click the link icon between the W and H and resize 15%.  Click the check mark.  Move to the top of the mirror.

Drag element 92 into your tag.  Click the link icon between the W and H and resize 25%.  Click the check mark.  Move to the bottom left of the tube by the skull.

Drag element 108 into your tag.  Click the link icon between the W and H and resize 80%.  Click the check mark.  Move to the bottom left of the picture.

Drag element 102 into your tag.  Click the link icon between the W and H and resize 30%.  Click the check mark.  Move to the bottom left of the pumpkin.

Drag element 83 into your tag.  Click the link icon between the W and H and resize 7%.  Click the check mark.  Move to the bottom left of the tube in front of the foot.

Drag element 14 into your tag.  Click the link icon between the W and H and resize 20%.  Click the check mark.  Move to the bottom left of the tube.

Add any other elements you like and make any adjustments to the layers.

Crop away any extra space.  

Image, Image Size and resize 650 on the longest side.  See my settings below.  My settings will have one different number depending on the cropping.  

Oh almost forgot we need to drop shadow all of our elements.

Select the element on the bottom of your tag in the layer pallet and double click it.

A layer style window will pop up.  Click on Drop shadow. and use the following settings.

Now right click on the layer you just applied the drop shadow.  Click copy layer style.

Now click on the layer above and hold down the shift key, click on the top layer.  Right click and paste layer style.  

Click on the frame layer and hold down the shift key and click on the top layer.  Right click and paste layer style.  Drop shadow is complete :).

Add your copyright and name.

If you do not want to animate.  Hide the white background layer Save your tag and export as png.

Might want to grab a coffee :)

Open Rebel Dezigns psd file in ps.  You will notice that there is 25 layers in this animation and it does not have the group layer.  That is ok as we are going to learn how to do this so it matches the animation layers of the tube.

We need to group all odd the layers.  Starting from layer 25, hold down your control key and select each odd layer so the next one will be 23 then 21 etc.  Once all the odd layers are selected (the layers will be highlighted in blue) we need to group them.  All odd layers selected? 

Next we need to group these layers.  Go to Layers, Group layers or Ctrl + G on the Keyboard.  You will see group 1 folder at the top.  Make sure Group 1 is selected.

Select the layer you would like the animation to be placed.  I selected the cemetery sign.

Back to the animation.  Click on Group 1 and drag it into your tag.  Ctrl+T and resize 30%.  Move to a spot you like best.  I moved it over the sign.

Close the original animation and don't save changes.

Click on the little white arrow beside Group 1 to expand it.  Click on the eyeball of each layer to hide it but leave frame layer 1 visible.  Click on the arrow beside group one to hide it as we do not want to accidentally make any changes.

Next make sure your animation viewer is open on the bottom of PS.  I you do not see a row that has Animation (Frames) on the bottom, go to Windows, Animation.

Next is animating.

Click on the little icon at the right end of the animation screen then select make frames from layers.

When the pop up shows select  Make Frames from Layers

You are going to see a big mess in the animation window but we are going to fix this.

Click on the first frame and click on the trash can in the animation window.  Repeat this until you reach the first frame of the animation.  

Now you should be at the first frame of the animation.  Click on frame 14 and hit the trash can.  Repeat for all the remaining frames.  You should be left with 13 frames in the animation window.  This is the amount of frames for our animation.

This next step is very important.  Any changes you do from here you must be on frame 1 in the animation window. It will be highlighted in blue.

Go to the bottom of your tag in the layers pallet.  Make sure you have animation frame 1 selected.

Click on the eyeball beside each layer to make it visible.  For the white base layer you may have to click on the eyeball a couple of times to make it visible in all the animation frames.  It's a Photoshop thing.  Do not touch the group layer.

Next, I want to slow down the animation.  With the first frame selected, hold down the shift key and click on frame 13.  This will select all the frames.

Next, click on the little black arrow beside the 0 sec as we want to change the speed.  A pop up window will appear.  

I selected 0.1 Sec.  Now click on the play button to view the animation.  Click on it again to stop it.

Click frame 1 again so we don't accidentally make any changes.

Now to save our tag as a gif.

Go to File, save for web device.

A new pop up window will appear.  Change the settings to my screen shot below.  Click on the image to enlarge it if needed.  Click save.  My screen shot will look different but the settings are the same.

I hope you have enjoyed my tutorial.  I would love to see your results.