Dark Thoughts

Welcome to the forum ChitoDog! After you duplicate the layer, you should look at your Layers Window, usually in the bottom right hand corner of the screen. If it isn't visible, hit F7 or go to the "Window" pulldown and look for it. You should see both layers in the window. The one on top is your top layer. The one beneath it is your bottom layer. To get to the Blend mode for Xor, double click on the layer in the Layers window and use the pulldown found there. Hope that helps.

Thanks Ash! That helped out a lot.

*smacks forehead* It sucks getting old. Thanks!

Thanks for the welcome Sabrown! I was previously familiar with the oblique tool and had used it but I was wondering if there was an easier way to achieve the effect? To use the Oblique tool, I have to... 1. Create the text. 2. Duplicate the layer. 3. Select the new layer. 4. Wand the Text 5. Darken the text on the new layer using curves. 6. Use the Oblique tool to stretch the new text, and then repeat it 2 or 3 times to stretch the text out enough. 7. Then I move the "shadow layer" to line up with the "Text layer". The Oblique tool also creates translucent gaps on the background that need to be filled as the final step. All of these steps are easy enough, but I was wondering if there was a way to eliminate some of them. Is there anything available that would allow me to create the shadow layer, select the corners and just drag it into position? And on a side note and totally off topic... How do I create screenshots? I've tried the "Print Screen" button thinking that had something to do with it, but its been years (Windows 95) since I actually needed to make a screenshot, and I've forgotten how its done. :oops:

I was just trying to stretch the shadow out behind some text and tried to make it appear as if it were laying on the ground at a 45 degree angle. After creating the shadow, I tried to stretch it out using the nubs but was only able to stretch it horizontally or vertically. My question... How do I stretch the shadow diagonally while keeping the base lined up with the base of the text? Am I missing something under Distort or do I need a plugin to make it easier?

Here are 3 projects that I done. The first image uses the tutorial as it is listed. The second image takes the tutorial a few steps further by duplicating the layer, and using Shape3D, Glow, and Zoom/Rotate on the bottom layer, and setting the top layer to Overlay. The third image is just an Inside/Out. Edit: I tried to use the Attachments feature but the images wouldn't load for some reason. I hope these aren't too big, or that I'm not breaking image rules in any other way. If I am, I apologize and would appreciate some assistance in getting it corrected.

Cool! Now I know two ways to get the job done. Before I created this thread, I kept going to the "resize" tool. It seemed logical to me that I could select an area of an image and resize it that way. I also tried to hold down Cont or Shift or Cont/Shift while using the mouse wheel but had no luck. Then I came here, and went into Search mode. Unfortunately, typing in Resize Image or Resizing Images didn't bring up much help. What it did do however, was get me sidetracked because I started reading the other threads that I found interesting. Finally, after giving in to my frustration, I decided to make a newbie post. Now I'm glad I did. Thanks!

Of course. I have GOT to remember trying the shift key when all else fails. Thanks for the help!

I've got an image of Batman and a photo of a friend that I want to use as Batman's face. I load the Batman image into PDN and erase the face. Then I create a new layer and place my friend's photo on it, but it is too large and I need to resize it. When I resize it to fit in the cowl, I find that the Batman image has also been reduced on the separate layer. So I'm sure I'm missing something simple here, but how do I resize the image on one layer without affecting the image size on other layers?

There might be an easier way, but I've discovered that I can draw a square, make it chrome, use the right mouse button to rotate it and then put another shape inside of it before trimming to fit. Its a lot of little steps but it works well enough to suit my current needs.

1. I was already familiar with the move tool, but I only know how to move the entire object with it. Likewise, if I use the "rotate" option, it rotates the entire object. If I were to create a chrome cylinder, how do I rotate the chrome pattern inside of it without rotating the cylinder itself? Is it possible? Am I missing something incredibly obvious? 2. Thanks! Works great! 3. Thanks again! Works great! 4. I went back to the thread and found it working. I've downloaded the Shape 3d plugin and found it works incredibly well and is very easy to use.

Hey Ash, thanks for the easy Tut! I created a 3d oval and it worked great. I played around with the conditional H&S settings but I couldn't figure out how to change the "reflections" to anything other than vertical or horizontal. Is there a way to set the angle of the H&S or rotate it once it is in place without affecting the surrounding objects? Also, is there a way to do a colored chrome using the method you have listed? Thanks! Edit: Just thought of another question. If I'm doing a cone shape, is there an easy way to make the reflections narrow as they approach the point? Do I need to download 3d objects for that? I tried to follow the link you had listed with the eyeball tutorial, but the page wouldn't load.

Ah yes. I can see that now. :oops: I started clicking on other links when I went back to the page. I swear I took the red pill because I keep finding more and more useful stuff. That transformer (Bumblebee?) is awesome BTW! I do have a question or two but I'm going to post those in the "easy chrome" thread.

Thanks Ash. I've read over quite a few threads that you've contributed too. I really dig the chrome work in your sig and I checked out the links at the bottom. One of my favorites is the chrome plate with the three spheres sitting on top of it. I don't know why exactly. It just appeals to me.

Hi guys. I've just recently been introduced to Paint.net after asking noob questions about Photoshop. I can't really explain why since the two are very similar, but I immediately found PDN easier to navigate and now use it exclusively. I registered yesterday after downloading some effects and working through my first tutorial on chrome letters. My attempt turned out quite a bit differently than expected but I liked the results and decided that becoming a member of this forum would be beneficial to my newest hobby. Today, I had a few minutes to look over the forum and stumbled across this thread. I read most of it, then went and read the rules, and clicked on the "what's your age" poll, before finishing this thread and posting for my first time. I completely agree with the rules. Many of them refer to subjects that I have found very irritating on other boards and it is good to see that a mature board etiquette is in effect here. One question I had though is regarding rule 20? concerning trolls. I don't subscribe to many boards and although I have heard that term before, I'm not sure what it implies. Is a troll an individual who doesn't post much or an individual that seems to cause trouble when they do? I ask because I've heard people mention "trolling the boards" and I thought they were saying that they read them often but rarely posted. Is that incorrect? Anyway, I'm going to see what else I can try out in the tutorials. Hopefully one day, I will be competent enough to help out the new guys.