Bars - A forum set tutorial

This was written on January 29 2012 and is the very first tutorial I have posted online.This tutorial is written using Corel X3, but it can also be done in other versions. This tutorial is my own creation and any resemblence to any other tutorial, is purely conicidental. 

The supplies you need:
A tube of choice
I used a gorgeous tube from Barbara Jensen. She is an independent artist, and you can buy her tubes HERE.

You need these plugins:
Alien Skin Xenofex 2 - Constellation
Alens Skin Eye Candy 5 - Impact - Perspective Shadow
Mura Meister - Copies

A font of choice. I used "Jeffriana"

Open a new image 600x250. Pick 2 colours from the tube you are using and make a gradient like this:

and floodfill with the gradient.
Duplicate the layer and on the duplicate, go to Effects - Texture - Mosaic Antique,with these settings:

Image - Flip
Add a new raster layer and Make a custom selection like this: 

Floodfill with any color (we will delete this layer in a sec)
Select none.

Go to Effects Mura Meister Copies and add these settings: 

Select All - Float - Defloat.
Go to the layer below and click Delete.
Select None and delete the top layer, or hide it. It doesn't really matter.

Add dropshadow to the "bars", using these settings: 

Add your tube and place it to the left. Add a blurry drop shadow. I used Eyecandy 5 Impact - Perspective Shadow with the Blurry preset.

Crop your creation with Merge Opaque:

Add a new layer and floodfill with black or another matching colour, and make sure this is the top layer.
Select All - Contract Selection by 2 and click delete.
Deselect.
Add the same dropshadow as you did with the layers with the bars.

And your name and the same drop shadow as earlier.
Don't forget to use a pixel font and add your license and copyright.

ANIMATION:Now, to animate the forum set siggie...

Duplicate the bottom layer so that you have a total of 3 layers.
On the bottom layer, add Xenofex 2 Constellation with these settings:

Repeat Consteallation on the other 2 layers but hit Random Seen once for each layer.

Animate as usual.

AVATAR:
Hold Shift and press D to duplicate the tag. Delete all layers exept the bottom layer and the layer with the bars.
Crop to 150x150
Add a 2 px selection border like you did earlier (you know, the black thin frame) Don't forget to add the same drop shadow as well.
Add your initial, using the same font as earlier and save as jpg (or whatever else you fancy)Also, add the same drop shadow as you used earlier.

Here is another sample, using a freebie tube from Alehandra Vahnek from Pics For Design.