DominatorX

I how can i make a dog tag? A tut would be helpful. Thx in advance.

Josh

I don't think that this web site is intended for questions like how to make a dog tag, a pencil, a window, a car, a tree, etc.

I call that being lazy, sorry

There is Google Images (I had hundreds of hits when I typed in dog tag!) and there are things called eyes, brains and hands.

Why don't you use them first before you start asking how to start.
I'm pretty sure that lots of people think like me (they just keep it to themselves). Just start with your dog tag and come back when you're stuck; it's the only way to learn Photoshop and graphics in general and not by reading an instruction book that describes how to make any human made object on this planet or to ask others how to do it for you...

ToXin

think rectangle. think rounding the corners of the rectangle. think making it metal. think putting a hole in it. think stamping text in it. think methods: selections, masks, embossing, displace(to make it appear 3D-ish at an angle)

Bacardi

I know a lot of tags (in cinema4D), but what is a dogtag?

vogonpoet

erik: a dog tag is the little metal plate soldiers or ppl in the military wear as a form of identification, usually hung around the neck on a metal chain...

Bacardi

ahaa...that's the origin from that movie "dog soldiers"!

thanks

vogonpoet

well I had a go. Like the guys said though, you need to break down any object into its base elements, and then try and build it up from the ground up... when you do it this way its kind of easy to do with practice. This is how I did mine, but it is not the only way, have a go and show us what you come up with!

1. Base shape (rounded rectangle tool)
2. New layer, fill the shape with a light/dark gray gradient
3. Add a smidge of noise
4. Circular selection to make a small hole (select-delete)
5. Add text, and then emboss your text (use layer styles or do it manually)
6. Rotate using transform , and maybe add some perspective.
7. Use the pen tool to make the curve for the chain.
8. Stroke the path with a hard brush, but adjust the spacing using the brush preview window until it looks chain-like. Then apply a stroke.
9. Add depth to the chain to make it look chain-like (I used the traditional method of manipulating selections to add high/low lights)
10. add some liberal drop shadows.

Thats about it, should give you enough to make a start. Lets see how you do and ask questions if you get stuck.

Find some reference images on google image search as was suggested. It really helps when working to have something to reference too and study.

hope it helps

DominatorX

Thx !!! I followed your steps, but I made some changes. Mine looks like the newer dog tags. And i didn't mean to be lazy I just needed to do this for school and I needed to find out quickly. Thx again :}

vogonpoet

you should post yours.. I would like to see how it came out! [righton]

Ferlin

I still don't see how you got you chain so dimensional - so round with light and darks.To me that's very impressive Vogenpoet. [righton]