*Element
ELEMENT: Creating a Postage Stamp Element
By Shelleyrae Cusbert 2006
Apr 7, 2006, 10:52

Open a blank canvas. I have created a canvas at 2x2inches and 300ppi

Select Insert > More Shapes

From the shape gallery select the Stamp Shape Cutout and select Open.

Click on the shape and choose Format > Resize Object to Fit Canvas > Scale to Fit

Click on the shape and select Edit > Flatten Selected Objects.

Choose Format > Resize Canvas> Autofit canvas to selected object

You can fill the template with any image you wish. In this example I am going to select an image from the DIP gallery by choosing File> Get Picture From Gallery, choosing the collection High Resolution Photos > Places and choosing Uluru (Ayers Rock) then Open.

Select the stamp shape and choose Effects> Fill with Texture or Color

Select Picture

Follow the prompts to fill the shape with your chosen image.

Choose Insert > Shape > Square

Choose the paint bucket icon on the pictorial menu bar and select No Fill

Change the color of the line if desired by choosing Line color on the pictorial menu bar

Use the resize handles to draw out a rectangle and position. (Use Format> Center Object on Canvas to help with positioning.)

Select text > Insert Text and choose a font and appropriate font size to add the price and country name.

Select and group all objects using the stack or choosing Edit > Select All then Edit> Group. Save the stamp

Create a New canvas at 1x1inch at 300ppi

File > New

Select Insert > Shape and choose the circle

Choose Format > Resize Object to Fit Canvas> Scale to Fit and then reduce its size slightly by dragging the corner resize handles inwards so it fits neatly within the canvas

Choose the paint bucket from the pictorial menu bar and select No Fill

Choose Effects> Edges> Art stroke

Select the brushstroke Pen: Technical Point and the width at about 21 as shown – select black as the color.

Choose Text> Insert Shaped Text and select the arc as shown.

Type your text into the box – using all capital letters works best. Choose OK.

Use the corner resize handle to drag out the text to fit within the circle.

Choose a font from the choices available to you. A grunge or distressed type font is a good choice. Resize the text box to fit if necessary. The font shown here is BrentonScrawlType

Select Text> Insert Shaped Text and choose the arc as shown

Type your text, resize and position to fit.

To finish off my cancellation mark I chose an image from the DIP gallery, cropped it and applied the filter Stamp: Woodcut Fine

Flatten the mark by choosing Edit> Flatten all Objects

Choose Format> Resize Canvas > Custom Resize and change the width to 2 inches

Move the stamp to the right.

Choose Effects > Paint brush> Art stroke

Select the brushstroke Pen: Technical Point and the width at about 5 as shown – select black as the color.

Draw in some wavy marks.

You can then position your stamp and mark as desired on your layout. Add a shadow to the stamp.