This blend tag tutorial was written by me Diane Knight on 20/02/08 any resemblance to any other tut is purely coincidental
For this tut I am using the fantastic artwork of Jennifer Janesko
you can purchase her tubes from CILM.

you will need PSP,
Plugins :
Alienskin xenofex 2
VM Extravaganza - Transmission
gradient of choice, gradient from Nansons Place
I used Copper Polish from set 3b.

and 2 or 3 tubes

add your new gradients to your gradients folder on your computer

(cos if your anything like me you grabbed the lot lol)

Lets begin......

open canvas 480 x 260

floodfill with white then add a new raster layer and floodfill with the gradient of your choice. I used Copper Polish from set 3b.

and settings as below....

go to Effects - Plugins - Alienskin xenofex 2 - constellation

and apply the following settings.

now copy and paste as a new layer the 1st tube you are going to use...

go to Selections - select all - Selections Float - selections modify - feather and change the value to 25.

click ok ...

then back to selection - invert and then press the delete key.
this should have made the edges of the tube slightly faded.

do this for each tube you use.

deselect by clicking on - Selections none

ok now arrange them on your canvas as you like...

add a new raster layer and floodfill with the same gradient as before...
but this time change the layer blend mode to Colour legacy

*for those that dont know* you do this by going to Layers - Properties and change the settings in the pop up box that appears..use the settings below.

now we want to add a border add a new raster layer and floodfill again with the same gradient.

now go to selections - select all then selections modify - contract and input the value 10 in the pop up box that appears...then hit the delete key.

Selections NONE.

now add a drop shadow you like - Effects - 3d effects - drop shadow ..i used the following settings.

*optional* top tag has this effect the bottom one hasnt.
if you want the line effect across your tag then on each tube layer go to Effects - Plugins - VM Extravaganza - Transmission
and use the following settings

Feel free to show off your email me your results xx