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Step 1

The first part of our image that we're going to create is the "nylon" strap on the bottom. It's a bit lengthy for one step so lets begin.

Start by creating a new image 300 X 300 with a white background.

Layers > New Raster Layer... > Ok

On the Tools toolbar, select the Selection (S) and on the Tool Options palette, Selection type: Rectangle

Draw a vertical rectangular selection in the center of the canvas:

On the Materials palette, set your Foreground color to #000000 (black)

On the Tools toolbar, select the Flood Fill Tool (F) and fill the selection:

Now, lets add the appearance of webbing.

Effects > Texture Effects > Blinds... use the following settings ( I'm using #808080 as the color. ) :

Now your image should look similar to this:

We'll add the stripes going the other direction. All we're going to do is remove the checkmark from Horizontal:

Effects > Texture Effects > Blinds...

Now your image should look similar to this:

Lets add the illusion of a sewed border along the edge.

Layers > New Raster Layer... > Ok

Selections > Modify > Contract... > Number of pixels: 4 > Okay.

Use the Flood Fill Tool (F) and fill the selection:

Selections > Modify > Contract... > Number of pixels: 1 > Okay.

Now, hit Delete on your keyboard.

Selections > Select None

Layers > Merge > Merge Down

Step 2

Let's add the appearance that it has a small wrinkle in the fabric.

Layers > New Raster Layer... > Ok

On the Tools toolbar, select the Selection (S) and on the Tool Options palette, Selection type: Ellipse

Draw a small elliptical selection in the middle of the image like this:

On the Materials palette, set your Foreground color to #ffffff (white)

On the Tools toolbar, select the Flood Fill Tool (F) and fill the selection:

Selections > Select None

On the Tools toolbar, select the Pick Tool (K)

Your image should now have a box around it with several smaller square boxes (called nodes):

First, I'll make it just a bit narrower:

Then rotate it slightly:

I'll move it around until I think it's where it should be:

Adjust > Blur > Gaussian Blur > Radius: 1 > OK.

Effects > 3D Effects > Drop Shadow... use the following settings:

Now your image should look similar to this:

Layers > Duplicate

What we want to do now is change the appearance just slightly so that our second image doesn't look exactly the same as the first one.

On the Tools toolbar, select the Pick Tool (K)

First, I'll shorten it up:

Rotate it just a little in the opposite direction:

Then move the whole thing down just a tad:

Layers > Merge > Merge Down

On the Layers palette, lower the Opacity to 65:

Layers > Merge > Merge Down

That completes the bottom strap for now. Your image should now look similar to this:

Step 3

Now the fun part. The buckle itself!

Layers > New Raster Layer... > Ok

On the Tools toolbar, select the Selection (S) and on the Tool Options palette, Selection type: Circle

Using the width of the strap as my guide, I'm going to draw a circle larger then the strap itself:

On the Tool Options palette, change the Selection type: Rounded Rectangle

This takes just a little bit of practice and patience. What we need to do now, is expand the bottom portion of the circle selection with the rounded rectangle. You do this by holding down on the Shift key on your keyboard, then very carefully starting on the edge of circle, bring it downwards and to the opposite side like this:

When you think you've got it, let go of the Shift key on your keyboard, and your mouse. You should end up with a selection similar to this:

Yes I had to redo it a couple of times so I looked like a real pro for this tutorial. LOL Did I succeed?

On the Materials palette, set your Foreground color to #0084f1

On the Tools toolbar, select the Flood Fill Tool (F) and fill the selection:

Now the tough part. Relax. just kidding! We've got to cut the holes out.

Selections > Modify > Contract... > Number of pixels: 10 > Okay.

On the Tools toolbar, select the Selection (S) and on the Tool Options palette, Selection type: Rectangle

While holding down on the Ctrl key on your keyboard, remove a small section from the center like this:

You should end up with a piece similar to this:

Now hit Delete on your keyboard:

Selections > Select All [Keyboard shortcut: CTRL + A]

Selections > Float [Keyboard shortcut: CTRL + F]

Selections > Defloat [Keyboard shortcut: CTRL + Shift + F]

Selections > Load/Save Selection > Save Selection To Alpha Channel... > Save

Step 4

Now let's add some highlights to buckle. Your buckle should still be selected. If it's not:

Selections > Load/Save Selection > Load Selection From Alpha Channel... > Load.

Layers > New Raster Layer... > Ok

Selections > Modify > Contract... > Number of pixels: 2 > Okay.

On the Materials palette, set your Foreground color to #ffffff (white)

On the Tools toolbar, select the Flood Fill Tool (F) and fill the selection:

On the Tools toolbar, select the Move Tool (M)

Move the white filled selection forward just a little bit:

Now hit Delete on your keyboard:

Now use your Move Tool (M) and grab it where you see white remaining like near the bottom and move the white piece downward just barely past the top edge:

Selections > Load/Save Selection > Load Selection From Alpha Channel... > Load.

Adjust > Blur > Gaussian Blur > Radius: 2 > OK.

Layers > Merge > Merge Down

Selections > Select None

Step 5

Now lets add a little bit of depth to the image.

This part is important! Make sure that on the Tools toolbar, you select the Move Tool (M)

Layers > Duplicate

Using the arrow keys on your keyboard, hit the UP arrow two times, and the LEFT arrow two times:

Layers > Merge > Merge Down

Image > Flip:

Layers > Duplicate

Use the Move Tool (M) and move the duplicate image towards the top

Layers > Duplicate

Image > Flip

Move it just above the top like this:

Layers > Merge > Merge Down

Effects > 3D Effects > Drop Shadow... use the following settings:

Now, on your Layers palette, highlight the Raster 2 layer:

Effects > 3D Effects > Drop Shadow... apply the same settings.

Now, on your Layers palette, highlight the Raster 1 layer and apply the drop shadow again.

Your image should now look similar to this:

Step 6

Remember how we did the bottom strap in step one above? We need to repeat this step (this tutorials getting long so I'll skip the adding threads to it.) to make the buckles appear attached to the strap below.

On your Layers palette, highlight the Copy of Raster 2 layer.

Layers > New Raster Layer... > Ok

On the Tools toolbar, select the Selection (S) and on the Tool Options palette, Selection type: Rectangle

Draw a small rectangular selection in the where the buckle would attach to the strap if it were real. I'll start on the bottom one so that it will be easier to follow:

On the Materials palette, set your Foreground color to #000000 (black)

On the Tools toolbar, select the Flood Fill Tool (F) and fill the selection:

Effects > Texture Effects > Blinds... use the same settings( #808080 ) remember earlier we removed the checkmark from Horizontal checkbox. That's okay:

Now your image should look similar to this:

Place the checkmark back in the Horizontal checkbox:

Effects > Texture Effects > Blinds...

Now your image should look similar to this:

Effects > 3D Effects > Drop Shadow... apply the same settings.

Selections > Select None

Layers > Duplicate

Use the Move Tool (M) and move the duplicate image towards the top:

Layers > Duplicate

Use the Move Tool (M) and move the duplicate image to the next ring down:

Now wasn't that fun? Enjoy. I feel a Star bucks coming on....