Threading Ribbon through a Buckle

(Click on the respective one to select & resize it using the handles)

Select the Eraser tool; Click on the pulldown menu next to the black dot & change Hardness to 67. Change the Brush Size to 40 by typing it in or using the slider.

Select the buckle layer & carefully erase the part of the buckle that would be under the ribbon. Work in small strokes so that you can use undo as needed. Click on Done when finished.

1. Tip - It may be helpful at this point to zoom in. Do this by changing the % to a larger number in the navigate area.

2. It will look like this:

Under Fix, choose the Dodge Tool; click on the pulldown menu next to the black dot & change the hardness to 0; change the brush size to 80; change the Exposure to 30%; change the mode to Midtones (use Highlights if the ribbon is light colored or Shadows if the ribbon is dark).

Make sure that the buckle is selected. Click & brush on the area over the center of the buckle. It will lighten (it doesn't have to be exact). The ribbon now appears to be going over the buckle. Click on Done when finished.

Under Fix choose the Burn Tool with a diameter of about 40 & exposure of 15% (adjust the exposure depending on color of ribbon).

Brush along the inner edges of the buckle to add shadows. Adjust the exposure & brush size and use undo the shadows look realistic. Click on Done when finished.

Under Select, choose the Marquis Tool. Click on the top left of the ribbon and drag to the bottom right selecting a portion of the ribbon. 'Marching ants' will be around the selected area.

Right click on selected area and choose New Image from Selection. This will create a new layer.

Click on the Selection tool (the arrow on the top left - to turn off the Marquis Tool).

1. Click on the segment and you will be able to move it below the original ribbon.

2. Click on Rotate/Skew, and rotate so it will be at an angle to the ribbon to create the tail.

3. Click on Done when you have the angle you want.

Under Create, choose Eraser Tool. Erase the corner of the ribbon tail as shown.

After erasing the corner, under Fix, select the Burn tool & brush over the 'cut edge' to darken it. Click on the Selection Tool (arrow on top left) to turn the brush off.

In the Object Palette, click on the layer with the ribbon tail and drag it to be under the buckle layer.

Click on the ribbon segment & slide it just so barely under the buckle. If a part shows thru inside the buckle - use the eraser tool to erase it.

Select all three layers in the Object Palette (hold down the Shift key & click on each). Right click & choose Make Group. Now the ribbon threaded thru the buckle can be resized & moved around!