Help Stringing Charms on Ribbons

[marhaven]

I posted this question in the challenge thread, but I will repeat it here. How the heck do you get the charms and/or tags threaded on a ribbon. I see the parts in the kits and people are posting layouts that have the charm dangling prettily from the ribbon. I am a beginner at this, so hope someone can point me in the right direction.

Thanks,

[ScrappyGuy]

Marhaven,
There are some really sophistacated ways to bend and twist ribbon and then shade in areas to make them more realistic.

I don't know ANY of them.
What I usually do is place the ribbon layer ON TOP of the slide or charm that I want threaded and then Ctrl> click on the charm layer so that marching ants show up in the shape of the charm.
Using my eraser tool I can erase portions of the ribbon to make it look like it slides underneath and then out the back of the charm.
I suggest zooming in close and making small clicks to erase as you get started. If you find that it isn't erasing the right part of the ribbon, you might want reverse the selected area. Try Ctrl>Shift> I (letter i, like in igloo), or Select>Inverse to see if that allows you to erase the parts of the ribbon you want to.

Good luck!

[sweetscraps]

in addition to scrappyguys suggestion I like to duplicate the charm or buckle push one behind and one on top. the erase parts of the top one. That way any part that shows will be behind looking a little more realistic. :)

[AbbysMomma]

This is more or less what I do....I also duplicate the item, like sweetscraps, and put one above and one below the ribbon....it seems to give a more realistic appearance IMHO. :D

[marhaven]

Thanks for the tips...off to work on it. :)

[LTRaine]

Was wondering how to do this. Thanks for the tips.

[Tbog]

Depending on the program, you can pinch the ribbon too. Photoshop Elements has a Liquify filter under Distort. You can use it to pinch the ribbon a bit to look like its pinched into the hole on the tag or charm.

[pbrooks]

I've never tried duplicating. I am going to have to try this. Thanks for the tips.

[Flutterby]

I never thought about duplicating...that's a good idea. I will have to try that too :)

[jaklouie]

heehee, I do a combination of all of the above. In PSE3, I use the Filter > Distort > Liquify to pinch the ribbon where I want the charm or tag to hang; then I duplicate the ribbon layer, placing 1 on top and the other under the item; then I link those 2 ribbon layers; then erase the top layer where necessary and add a small drop shadow to the bottom layer that's still all in 1 piece.

[AbbysMomma]

I've only used the pinch once or twice...it does give a more realistic look, but I def. need some practice with it...hehehe

[Sharon Kay]

Linda...I will have to try this. It is amazing how much I have yet to learn...I know I'm new but goodness I had no idea that some of the layouts I have seen have had so many tricks applied to them...kind of like a magician I guess!

how do you add a drop shadow? ...and how do you know WHERE to place one?

Thanks!

[ScrappyGuy]

Sharon, here is a tut on drop shadowing:

http://www.gottapixel.net/forum/showthread.php?t=913

[Sharon Kay]

Thanks Gary for the tutorial link! perfect! I'm already learning so much from Gotta Pixel and their members!

[Randje]

thanks, i'm gonna try this!