Creation Station

Christina Wall

Threading Ribbons and Paperclips

Threading charms and paperclips is one way to make our digital Los look more realistic, and I’m going to show you an easy way to do each of these. I started by opening a 12x12” document so that I have space to work.

 Threading Ribbons:

In my work space, I’ve moved a red satin ribbon and the ribbon slide I want threaded. I’ve placed the ribbon slide where I want it and made a duplicate of that layer. Move the ribbon between the duplicate layers of the ribbon slide. Click on the top ribbon slide layer to make it active. I’ve selected the erase tool with the square brush and made it 36 pixels in size. Delete the center section of the slide so that it appears that the ribbon has been threaded thru the opening.

 For an even more realistic look, we’re going to use the dodge/burn tool to create shadows where the “bump” would be if this were a real ribbon. Click on the dodge tool and set the brush to a round airbrush at 35 pixels. Select the ribbon layer and use the dodge tool in the same area that the center section was in. Next we’re going to switch to the burn tool and reduce the brush size to 21 pixels. We’re going to run the burn tool right along the area that we lightened with the dodge tool. You can play with the exposure percentage to get the look you’re interested in. Once done, merge all layers together.

 Next we’re going to pinch a ribbon to thread it thru a dangling charm. I’ve placed a ribbon and charm into my workspace. Place the dangling charm where you want to thread it onto the ribbon. Select the ribbon layer to make it active. Click on Filter then Liquefy. When in Liquefy, pinch the ribbon so that it is slightly smaller than the size of the charm’s jump ring. To finish threading the charm, all we have to do is follow the steps like before. Duplicate the charm layer, move the ribbon between them, and erase part of the top layer to show the appearance of threading. Once done, merge all layers together.

 Threading Paperclips:

Paperclips are threaded onto papers in much the same way as threading slides onto a ribbon. First we put our papers and clips into the workspace. Once your papers and clips are where you want them, duplicate the clip layers and move one layer of clips under the paper layers. Next, select the top clip layer and erase one part of the clip to make it appear as if the paperclip has been placed onto the papers. Once done, merge all layers together.

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