This tutorial was written on October 26th 2002 and © by Lady Oz. You may make a copy of this tutorial or print it out for your own personal use ONLY. Do not send through emails but if you would like to LINK to my tutorials please do so. Also what you create belongs to you, I only own this tutorial and wish it to stay on this page. *s*. *The beautiful font used in the title image, is 'Music Hall' by Media Graphics.
How to make the Christmas puppy with lantern.Disclaimer....Please Note**
This is a tutorial with plenty of vector shapes, shading and other techniques, for those of you who like to get their teeth into things and love a Challenge...it is not for the weak of heart or those who only ever like quick and easy tutorials.....it is for Advanced and Intermediate users, so it is assumed that you have a good working knowledge of PSP. So be warned...I will not be paying for any medical bills or supplying you with a wig....nor will I be guiding you through the steps, I just don't have the time. *g*
I got this idea from one of those cute dog ornaments that was in an advertising leaflet, so I thought I would try it out in PSP...and found myself doing a tutorial. Hopefully you will enjoy it as much as I have enjoyed making it.
Please email me if you encounter any problems due to my instructions or mistakes. so that I in turn can correct them. I'd love to see your result and don't forget to share any good ideas or additions you may have! *s* Got your cuppa and cookies ready? LOL
What you will need.
PSP 7
download a free trial version.....you won't be sorry...but you will be hooked. *s* (I used version 7 but I believe it may be achieved in 5 or 6)
Xmas Doggy preset....download and put this in your EC 4 Jiggle folder.
Lantern tube download my lantern tube and put it into your tube folder...I scanned this myself from the leaflet where I got the idea of doing the Christmas puppy, so you are welcome to use it if you wish.
Now to make ze puppy!
Step 1* Open up a transparent image size 500 x 600 16 million colours (24bit). You can always reduce the size when you have finished but this size makes it easier to handle the shaping etc. Don't forget to save as you go along.
Step 2 *Set your foreground colour to #D4BB94 and background colour to #E1CFB3 or whatever colour you wish your pup to be...the foreground colour being a little darker than the background....you can always change these colours after you save as a preset shape.
Step 3* Open up Preset shapes
set on Ellipse....Antialias and Vector checked. Draw a large oval shape for the body. It is up to you whether you wish to name your layers or not. I have named mine for the purpose of the tutorial and for your benefit...I don't always do them though. *g*
Step 4* Object selector
right click and chose node edit, hold the ctrl key down and point your cursor on the line where you wish to add the node until you see the +Add sign, now release the ctrl key, you should have an extra node there. Continue adding more as necessary... right click again.... Edit...select all...right click on one of the nodes, right click again....Node Type...Cusp...change the nodes until you are satisfied with the results....it's your pup so make whatever shape you like...here's mine.....weird, huh? *s*
Save as a PSP file!
Step 5* Add a new Vector layer. Preset shapes
Save!
Step 6* Add a new Vector layer. Preset shapes
Save!
Step 7* Making sure the body layer is highlighted, add a new Vector layer. Preset shapes
Step 8* Okay, now right click on this layer in the layer palette and chose 'duplicate'...this gives us the right front leg....both these layers should be above the body layer. You can change the shape a bit if you wish to suit the angle of body etc...We'll be getting rid of the top lines later.
Save!
Step 9* We'd better make him some back legs too otherwise he will fall over. *s* Making sure the body layer is highlighted, add a new Vector layer. Preset shapes
Step 10* Right click on this layer in the layer palette and chose 'duplicate'...this gives us the right back leg. Move this layer to under the body layer. You should have something like this one below...don't worry too much about your shapes being perfect or the position they are in as we can adjust them later before we convert to Raster. Also below is the layer palette as it is at this stage.
Save!
Step 11* Add a new Vector layer. Change the background colour to dark grey. Preset shapes
Step12* Now make the foreground colour black and the background to a dark grey. Add a new Vector layer. Preset shapes
Step 13* Repeat the steps above for the left eye but making it smaller...no he's not an odd looking pup...you just can't see too much of this eye in the position he's in. *g*
Save!
Step 14* Make your head layer active then add another vector layer. Using a Black or Dark shade as Foreground and Background null...Select the draw tool
Choose Freehand.. size 7 Vector and Antialias checked....Line Style...#1 rounded ends...I edited mine and made the ends a size 2 and saved it for future use. Draw a curved shape for the left side of the mouth. Then make another but smaller shape for the right side using the same settings except that I increased the size to 9.
Save!
Step 15* Those paws need some claws so make a very small ellipse shape as before using a black background...we need 12 of these...copy and paste 11 times and move them all into position onto the paws. I used the object selector to draw around all the claws and then grouped them...save having little claws all over the place. *s*
Step 16* Lastly is the puppy's tail...it isn't essential....but just incase you want your pup to have one then I have put it in. *s*.... Using the same shades as for the body and making the back right leg layer the active one...add another vector layer. Preset shapes
Save!
I bet you are dying to convert to raster layer, aren't you? Not yet but pretty soon. *g*
Step 17* Now we are going to make him a hat.....a Christmas hat at that! Make your top layer the active one and add another vector layer. Preset shapes
Step 18* Okey Dokey...now we are cooking with gas! *s* We are going to save as a Preset Shape now. Here's what we have so far in vector shapes.
Save!
Step 19* Grab the Object selector
Step 20* Next go to 'File'...Export....Shape...it is a fair way down the menu but I have made my screen capture shorter to cut down on the size...just incase you look for it at the top of the menu. *s* A warning window will pop up....read it and make sure that what you have selected is correct and then click OK...you will get another window where you have to put in the name of this shape...OK it.
**I always open up another image and test out this shape before I go on to convert the layers to raster...better safe than sorry. *s* Once you know that it is there...go back to your image and click on the Object Selector then right click your image and choose 'ungroup'...or you can go to Edit and using the Command History and click on 'group' and press 'undo'....or just use your undo button...which I do if there are not too many steps involved.
Don't know about you lot. but I am ready for a good cup of tea! Go have a break and then we can go on to the next part. Of course the tute wouldn't be as long if we didn't need to save the vector shapes...but it is worth it in the long run...see if I am not right!
Tutorial by Mary Newton aka Lady Oz aka Lady Newtonia © 2002
