Tutorial 1

Basic tutorial to get used to using some of the Paint Shop Pro 5 tools.

 

You can use the attached image or pick one of your own.  Just make sure it is really clear and has a plain white background. 

 

First make sure that it is in 16 million colors.  To do that click on the image anywhere, just to make sure that it is the working image. 

 

Click on Colors(on the toolbar) and Increase Color depth, select 16 million colors if it isn't already selected.  The reason for this is that most of the filters that come with PSP and most of the plug in filters will only work with that amount of colors. 

 

OK now you need a workable size graphic.. if you have picked one of your own you may need to resize it.  (I was given the tip that you want your stationery to enhance or  help convey your written message.. not over power it.) I rarely use anything smaller than 100 pixels wide and not wider than 300 pixels and that is really pushing it.  Remember that not everyone opens their email full screen, so you want something that doesn't have writing just  on one side!

 

I have found that the best resize settings are the following: Use a percentage of the Original.. it is a little easier to get used to.. if you open your image up so you are zoomed all the way to full size, it's a little easier to think "this needs to be about 1/4 the size."  Resize type : Bilinear resample.. this gives a clearer resize with less distortion.  Check resize all layers and maintain aspect ration of.. the box will fill in the blanks by itself.

 

Once you get your image to the right size if it is rather close to the edge... add a border.  To do so.. select white for the background color.  Click on Image, add borders... check the box that says symmetric.. and type in 15 in the first box.  It will appear in all the boxes.

 

O.K.... We are going to add a simple drop shadow to this... first of all, select the magic wand from the toolbar.  Click on the white background... in this case you will see that right under this fella's chin, the white area didn't get selected.  Hold down the shift key and put your wand over the image.. you will see a + sign added to your magic wand... now holding that shift key down select the area under his chin. 

 

Now go to selections and click on Invert.

 

The marquee is now only going around him... click on Selections, Modify, Contract and in the number box but in 1.  This just pulls it closer to the image. 

 

Now select Image, Effects, Drop Shadow...

 

In the settings put in the following

 

Color Black
Opacity 55
Blur 8
Vertical 6
Horizontal 6

 

Remember when doing drop shadows that unless you are working with a really dark colored background, light shadows are the best... hence the opacity set at 55. 

 

With the magic wand, right click on the image and it will unselect it.  You now have a nice drop shadow around him.

 

Now your image is ready to make some stationery with. 

 

Save this guy and the next lesson we will do a simple vertical line, use cutout and drop shadow.. and the color picker.

 

Image to use for this tutorial:

 

Right Click and select “Save As” to save this image