MSA Badge:

Creating your MSA Badge with Photoshop

1) Download the Photoshop MSA Badge template here ---> TEMPLATE

2) Start up Photoshop and go to File > Open. Select "Photoshop MSA Badge template" and open it (disregard the name change in the photo below).

3) With the file open, your screen should look similar to this. On the right, you'll notice that I have information on its own layer, it makes it incredibly easy to alter the information when needed.

4) Now, select the text took from your tool bar. Then go through and change the information on the badge. For anyone under the age of 13, I advise keeping that information to yourself. So, in the age section type "CLASSIFIED" and leave the year off your Date Of Birth. If you are over 13 but are uncomfortable with letting everyone else know your age, you are welcome to do the same. Also, for a sake of safety, please only put your first name or a common nickname (I'm a Samantha, but I prefer my nickname Sami J).

For Rank, here are the following positions to chose from.
Division leaders - Brigadier General.
Everyone else - Private, Corporal, Sergeant, Sgt. Major, Warrant Officer, 2nd Lt., and First Lt.

5) If you have any information that is too long for the section, highlight the text and click on the Character button to open the Character tab.

6) By shortening the width of the lettering, you will be able to snuggly fit the text into its box. Play around with different percentages until you get a good match. For me, "Nan Desu Kan" worked best at an 80% width. If you start getting to a 70% and the text still spills out, shoot me a message on the MSA Forums (tinks185) and I will help you ^_^

7) Now, go to File > Open and find the photo you would like to use for your badge. I once again, encourage those under the age of 13 to use a photo that is not them for safety purposes. Also, for those uncomfortable with sharing their picture, please do the same. If you are using a photo or picture that you do not own, please get permission to use it from its rightful owner.

8) Now, select Image > Image Size..

9) Change the resolution to 300 and make sure it is set at pixel/inch. Then hit OK.

10) You may notice that the picture grew in size (or it may have shrank if your original resolution was higher than 300). This is normal and you want this to happen. Hit the Ctrl key on your keyboard, following it with the "A" key. This will select the entire image. Now, hit the Ctrl key again, following it with the "C" key. This will copy what has been selected.

11) Go back to your badge and click on the "YOUR PICTURE" layer. Hit Ctrl followed by the "V" key. This will paste your copied picture to a new layer. Make sure the layer is above the "YOUR PICTURE" layer.

12) Now, resize your picture. By clicking on the top left corner box of your selected image, the tool bar at the top will change. Click on the chain link button to keep the photo's proportions. Click on the top left corner box of your selected image again, this time holding the mouse button and dragging to the bottom right. You may have to let go of the mouse button and drag the image up and repeat the process until the image is to your likings in size. You will also drag the image to the Image box on the badge, moving and tweaking it to your liking.

13) Now, if your photo is like mine and left you remnants of it on the outsides of the badge, follow this step. Select the selection tool and make a box around the picture box on the badge like below.

14) Now, hit Ctrl followed by the Shift key then followed by the "I" key. This will inverse your selection and will now select anything surrounding the selection you made in the previous step. Before you hit the "Delete" key, make sure you have the picture layer selected. Then hit "Delete".

15) Hooray! There's no more photo remnants outside of the badge! If you hit Ctrl followed by "D" it will deselect the selection.

16) Now, go to File > Save As... to save your badge.

17) Name your badge. Also, don't forget to change the Format to either PNG or JPG/JPEG. I personally like PNG because it will create the nice round edges on your badge unlike the JPG/JPEG format. If you choose the PNG format, once you hit Save, you may be prompted with PNG Options. Select "None" under Interlace and hit OK. If you choose the JPG/JPEG format, you will be asked the JPEG Options. I personally like to have the following settings. Matte > None. Quality > 12 > Maximum. Format Options > Baseline Optimized.

There you are, step by step instructions on making your MSA Badge in Photoshop. If you still have any questions or need any help, send me a message on the Forums (tinks185) and I will be able to help ^_^

-Colonel Sami J. aka tinks185 =^_^=

FINALLY

When you have your completed badge send it to badges@miniskirtarmy.org so that Shannon can add it to the members page for everyone to see!