Tutorial #3 - Making Selections in PSP8 Using the Pen Tool
How to use the pen tool to make selections in PSP8.
(Not sure if it translates to later versions, but you're welcome to try.)
MEDIUM difficulty.
This:
To This:
This tutorial requested by: anime_ship over at icon_tutorial. I'm not going into any kind of colorings this time around, this is just the basics for making selections in this manner. I am using an image of the wonderfully talented Katee Sackhoff, of Battlestar Galactica fame, from www.katee-sackhoff.org for this tutorial.
All right! Here goes...I haven't used PSP in something like four years, so it took me a while to figure this out again. Hope this helps!
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01. Open up your image and crop your base to the desired size.
(For educational purposes, I am using a larger image than 100x100 so that it's easier to see. Feel free to click on the thumbnails of the screen shots if you need larger images.)
02. Double click the background layer to open up the layer properties dialog box. Promote your background layer to a raster layer so that you can duplicate it if you feel you need to.
03. Create a new Vector layer. You may want to reduce the opacity for this layer now. As you work, your image will be obscured by the shape you're drawing, so it's helpful to take the layer down. I tend to use anywhere from 30-60% opacity while I'm working with this tool.
04. Select the pen tool.
05. Configure your settings for the pen tool as follows:**
# New: Shape (make sure the "Shape" button is depressed) Also make sure that the check boxes for Contiguous, Simple Mode, and Create as Vector are checked here!
# Mode: Make sure that the pencil icon is depressed. This will ensure that you are drawing a new vector shape, instead of trying to edit an existing shape.
# Segment type: Be sure the middle icon (Point-to-Point) is depressed. If you have a steady hand, you might be able to do this with the last icon (the freehand button), but I don't so I'm doing this point-to-point. Plus, I find it easier. ;)
# Line Style/Width: Should you decide you want a border around your shape, you can change these settings here. I haven't, but I'm doing it with a solid line and with my width at 1.00 pt, just so you can see what I'm doing.
**A screen shot is provided to help you locate these tools and settings HERE.
06. Now, take your pen tool and begin by clicking anywhere around your subject. (Shown below.)
07. Click to make a second point on your image. Mine has a curve, so I drag my mouse until the curve matches the one on my picture. (Shown below.)
08.
A.Once you have made your curve, RIGHT-CLICK on the end point of your curve. This will bring up a few options. Go NODE TYPE >> CUSP.
B. Then, take the end of the arms with the arrow, which you created as you made your curve, and turn it in the direction of your next move, otherwise your shape will take all kinds of funny jaunts off in directions you don't want it to go. Now you can continue to draw your path around your subject.
A:
B:
**NOTE: You will need to convert your node type EACH TIME you create a Bezier Curve with this tool. Don't forget to do this! If you create a straight line, however, you do not need to convert your node type. ;)
09. All right...once you've made it back around and are ready to close your path, make an anchor point next to the point you started out with. Then, right click that point and go EDIT >> CLOSE. This will close your new shape! YAY!
10. Now, RIGHT-CLICK your vector layer and duplicate it, just in case you want to change it later on, or you make a mistake after this part. You can hide this duplicated layer if you want, or skip this step all together. It's up to you. :D
11. Right click one of your vector layers and go: CONVERT TO RASTER LAYER.
12. Take your MAGIC WAND TOOL and select everything inside of your rasterized shape. THEN, move down a layer to the one with your actual image. Hit CTRL + C to copy everything within your selection.
13. Open a new document and fill it with a solid color or add a texture in the background. I'm filling it with THIS texture by inxsomniax . Paste your subject over your fill or texture, and TA-DA! You're done!
I played with the final image a little bit more and came up with this icon:
Hope this is helpful to someone out there. If it's not clear, feel free to let me know and I'll try to clarify it!