Case Study - Packaging

The item is actually for the back of pack for a software module we produce called TUSCANY. We wanted to make the overall pack bring about the feel of the Tuscany region. The package should also have a sense of warmth about it. Finally, the style is used on several of our products, albeit in different ways.

It includes the cover picture, plus a callout box describing our products.

The use of layers is critical in producing this image, but are actually very straightforward in their use. As such it makes a great example of the power of layers in PSP.

Step 1:

1. We start off with our main image. This image is square.
2. This is taken from an original photograph, we have adjusted the colours, particularly upping the saturation to enhance the colours, mirrored the image, added the flare from the church spire.

Step 2:

1. Next we wanted to remove the hard edged squareness of the image

   After some experimentation, we decided on a rough edged feel, this works well on each of our package shots, and lets us create a more interesting look than just a simple faded edge or something similar.

2. We could have used one of the photographic edge plugins or a mask or probably a number of other methods. However we used simple layers and some free hand draw to do this.
3. Firstly, we create a new layer, then paint in white around the edges.

Step 3:

1. This was sort of what we wanted, but we felt the edge was a but harsh
2. We applied a Blur More, then Sharpen More, then a gentle motion blur
3. Finally we touched up the outside edges where some of the lower layer was showing through.

Step 4:

1. Next we added the text, as is often the case we spent as long selecting the font as we did creating the image!
2. This example is Technical applied in a nice bright red, then a cutout white, offset by 1 just to highlight the top.

Step 5:

1. Not quite happy with yet, we fiddled with colour mix, brightness and contrast until we had achieved the stronger red we were looking for.
2. Then we added the drop shadow, making sure the shadow falls the same way as the shadow in the photograph! A common error you see all the time (included the JFK pictures and man on the moon)!
3. Finally, we promoted the floating section to a full layer.

Step 6:

1. Time to move onto the call out box, which is overlayed over the background picture
2. Increase the canvas size (doubled the height) and keep the image at the top.
3. Create a new layer, and drop in the box.

Step 7:

1. The gray box is prepped up
2. Select the box
3. Apply a light wash of Greg's Pool Shadow
4. Gaussian blur to decrease the apparent fountains (blocks of grey)
5. Use adjust RGB to bring it up to our golden colour
6. Use NVR Border Mania's button maker to add an edge to it

   You don't need to use Greg and NVR's plugins, they could have been quickly hand-drawn as well. For pool shadow type effects use a light airbrush, to call out the box I could have added borders.

7. Finally, I'm going to reduce the opacity of this layer, so the earlier layers show through. This is not shown above.

Step 8:

1. So, the opacity of the rectangle is reduced
2. Text (in the same font) is dropped in on a new layer
3. We do some final twiddling around to get the opacity just right

   In this example, we've under-done the opacity so you can see the effect.

   Also, our real image was considerably larger than this, so more text was included (in a relatively smaller font) and the text appears darker.

Step 9:

The final image looked like this. This is a much reduced version of the actual PSP file. This sheet actually prints onto an A4 sheet which is die-cut into two A5 labels. The right hand side is stuck on the front of the box, the left hand side goes on the rear.

Hints and Tips

1. This image could have been created without layers, but we would have making much greater commitment at each stage of development. Doing it with layers means we can go back and tweak each part separately.

   For example, we actually went through several versions of the opaque white edging, trying each one in turn, just by toggling the visibility flag on the layers.

2. When creating packaging or anything else which is to be printed, work in a fairly high resolution. Our actual PSP image was still only 1500 by 1200 pixels, and it certainly gave PSP a bit of hammering to work on it. Nevertheless the print quality is much improved, particularly with text.

   Also, by working at a high resolution, you can create lower resolution versions simply, the reverse does not apply!

3. The use of a layer to provide a mask, frame or vignette gives much greater scope for experimentation.

4. Dropping a simple rectangle of white over any image, and adjusting the opacity is a quick and simple way of providing a text box.

5. There is no easy way to set text in PSP! For the final version we just kept applying the text, looking for lines too long, too short, undo-ing it and applying it again after some guesswork edits.

   Sad to say, there is no easy work round with this, but a little practice soon speeds you up.

6. Don't forget, you can use the deformation tool on text as well. So, our main title was slightly stretched vertically. And we could have stretched the text in the box to fit as well. Although, you will introduce pixellation errors if you do this, so be careful.