Open a new document 400 x 200 pixels, background transparent. Rename this layer "bottom".
Bring up the image you wish to place within your locket at this time as well. If it is too large it can be rescaled it
to fit. However it should be at least as large as 200 x 200 pixels for good clarity.
Using your selection tool, set for ellipse, 0 feather, antialias checked; begin at xy coordinates of 300 x 100, draw an
ellipse watching your tool bar until the final coordinates =.674.
Leave shape selected. Using the fill tool set for Solid Color, Blend mode-Normal, Paper Texture-none, Match mode-RGB, Tolerance-0, Opacity 100, fill your shape with gold, I used R201 G205 B83. Use Ctrl-C to copy this image and use Ctrl-L to paste this image as a new layer. Right click to move this oval to the opposite side of your document. Name this layer "top".
Now click on the image you wish to place into the locket. Ctrl-C to copy, return to your locket and click on your new document to select it and Ctrl-L to paste the image as a new layer. Move the picture until it is properly centered within your already selected ellipse. If it is too large, click on the deform tool and, using the handles which appear, adjust the size. Click on Apply when you are done. Name this layer "Image". You should still have your selection outline so choose Selection, Modify, Contract by 3. Click Invert and press Delete. This crops your picture just a bit for a better fit. Press Invert again to reselect your picture. DO NOT de-select. Press Image, Effects, Outer Bevel and choose the Soft Edge preset from the drop down list. Press OK.
You now have three layers, image, top and bottom.
Turn off the Image layer by clicking on the glasses at the right of the layer bar. Select the bottom layer. Go to Selections, modify, contract by 5. Press Delete to delete the center of the locket bottom. Click on the remaining lower locket edge with the magic wand to reselect it. Click on Image, Effects, Sculpture, Gold preset and click OK. Press Selection, Modify, Contract by 1. Press Invert and press Delete to clean up the edges.
If your image is above your lower layer, left click on the layer and drag it below the lower layer so it
appears under the now metal edge of the lower locket. At this point you can turn off your top
layer and merge the visible bottom and image layers as shown above. Add a drop shadow. Color Black, Opacity
88, Blur 30, Offset vertical 4 and horizontal 1.
Turn the top layer back on and, using the magic wand, select the ellipse. Go to Image, Effect, Sculpture and choose the
Gold preset, click OK. Click Selection, Modify, Contract 1. Invert, press Delete. Deselect.
Now you can get fancy. I like to take a decorative font character (I used a font called "Flower Show") and
place it on top of locket. You can either use the vector text and resize it and convert to raster, or just use regular
text (and promote to layer) and place it in position on top of locket cover. Next choose Image, Effects, Cutout. Check
fill with interior color and choose the color of your locket top by using the dropper tool and touching the top of the
locket. Opacity is 90, Blur - 7, Offset Vertical and Horizontal - 1. Click OK. If your image is one that could use even
more decoration, try the Image, Deformations, CurlyQs and play with the settings to see if you like the changes.
Merge your text and top layer.
For shinier highlights, use the free pluggin, Filter Factory
Gallery A, Pool Shadow with the following settings:
Ctrl 1 - 128
Ctrl 2 - 141
Ctrl 3 - 118
Ctrl 4 - 146
Ctrl 5 - 63
Ctrl 6 - 45
Shadow Intensity - 28
Brightness - 171
With the move tool, move the locket cover in position over the locket bottom. Move the layers if necessary so cover is
above the image layer. Use the deform tool to skew the cover slightly so a portion of the picture is showing. Remember
that pressing and holding Ctrl and Shift while using the deform tool will allow you to further deform the shape at
angles. Add a light shadow on this layer. Image, Effects, Drop Shadow - Color black, Opacity 88, Blur 26, Offset
vertical 1, horizontal 9.
If desired, add a chain to your locket. On a new layer, make a small ellipse and fill with your original gold color. Use
selection, modify, contract by 2 or 3 pixels and press delete. Reselect the edge of the "link" with your magic
wand. Press Image, Effects, Sculpture and choose the Gold preset. If you'd like additional links then duplicate your
link layer and position and rotate as desired. Add a drop shadow as above.
Add a background layer below the others, use whatever texture or color you like, merge all layers. Using your crop tool, crop your image to the desired size.
Page last updated 05/28/00