A design I did

[Perseus]

I would like some critiques on this since I know it can be better. I just don't see what is wrong, etc. Obviously, I can't change something since it has to be there, like everything you see. I just want something that will spice it up.
http://i645.photobucket.com/albums/uu176/DaTrooper00/LicensePlate.jpg

It's a license plate, by the way. :P

Oh, I changed the box on the right to be smaller on the original photoshop file. I saved it to my flash drive before I noticed it being all disproportional.

[Origami]

1. Remove the Bevel and Emboss. Until you understand how to manipulate that effect, it's best avoided. Look up tutorials on how to make metal borders or something of the such as it seems that's what you were aiming for.
2. For Beveled text, it's okay; however, look at a license plate, you'll see that have much more "plain-jane" fonts. Try to manipulate the same font face.
3. The black circles, do something with them. Screws? Holes? They just look tacked on.
4. Same with the text boxes. Give them something to make them appear like a part of the composition. Generally they look like they're just slapped on top to be there.

The central effect, I'm not sure what you're aiming for so I'll avoid commenting.

[Perseus]

1. Remove the Bevel and Emboss. Until you understand how to manipulate that effect, it's best avoided. Look up tutorials on how to make metal borders or something of the such as it seems that's what you were aiming for. Our teacher said we should do bevel and emboss, but I will try and look up some kind of tutorial on metal borders.
2. For Beveled text, it's okay; however, look at a license plate, you'll see that have much more "plain-jane" fonts. Try to manipulate the same font face. Noted.
3. The black circles, do something with them. Screws? Holes? They just look tacked on. That's pretty much my main thing. I don't know how I should make them look screwy. I tried, but it looked worse, so I just left them as black dots
4. Same with the text boxes. Give them something to make them appear like a part of the composition. Generally they look like they're just slapped on top to be there.


How should I go about doing this? I know what you're trying to say. I just don't know how to do it, if you understand what I'm saying.

This (http://www.photoshop-dragon.com/Tutorials/Art/Brushed_Metal_Frame.htm) is the only tutorial I could find that wasn't making the border more fancy, if you will.

[Origami]

1. Raise the depth, a lot. Around 1000 or so.
3. Use custom shapes +Bevel around 1000 depth as well. Then us a custom rectangle with an inner shadow to make the center.
4. Just add a sort of border, and remove the background so it isn't white.