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Last Updated:
Jan 20th, 2007 - 12:55:03 |
This tutorial will show you how to design your own custom vector shapes using Paint Shop Pro X.
1. Begin by creating a new image (keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+N) 3”x3”, resolution of 300, with a transparent background.
2. Select the Pen Tool (keyboard shortcut: V). Select black as your foreground color. Leave the background color transparent.
3. Select the Draw Freehand Mode
4. Check the Create On Vector box.
5. Select the solid line style, a stroke width of 5 and check the Anti-alias box.
Now the fun part…let’s draw!
6. On your canvas, begin drawing your shape. It helps if you have a tablet and pen, but it can be done with a mouse. For this example, I’ve doodled a curly heart shape.
7. As long as you are drawing a vector shape, it doesn’t matter if your drawing fills the page or not; excess space around your drawing is fine.
8. Notice how part of my heart is “flat” instead of round?
9. The great thing about doodles is that they’re not supposed to be perfect, so I could leave it as is. OR…I could fix it if it just bothers me like crazy.
10. With the Pen Tool still enabled, switch to the Edit Mode on the Tool Options bar.
11. Left-click once on any part of the drawing. The nodes making up your drawing should appear.
12. Left-click one more time and the bounding box should disappear but the nodes remain.
13. Left-click once on the node you want to fix. In this case, I want to fix the flat part of the heart.
14. After clicking on the node, you’ll notice that on either side of the node there is a “handle” with an arrow on the end of it. I’ve zoomed in so you can see the handle.
15. Click the node and drag it until the shape looks as you want it.
16. Release the mouse and check the drawing. Much better!
17. Continue moving the nodes around until you are satisfied with the shape. Try changing the Node Type by right-clicking on a node and then click Node Type. Select a Node Type that will produce the shape you want.
18. Once you have your shape, it’s time to export it into your Preset Shapes folder.
19. In your Layers palette, expand the Vector layer on which you drew your shape. Rename the path layer by double-clicking on the Path layer and typing in the name of your shape. Click OK.
20. Export the shape by clicking on File > Export > Shape.
21. Enter the name of your shape again and click OK.
22. Your shape should now be saved to your Preset Shapes folder. If you don’t see it, be sure to check your file location when you enter the shape name.
23. To use your new Preset Shape, open a new file (Ctrl+N) and select the Preset Shape Tool (P). Find the drawing you just exported in the Tool Options bar and select it.
24. Draw your shape onto the canvas.
25. Be sure to experiment with different line width, line style, shape size, rotation and foreground colors. Try adding bevels and drop shadows.
Have fun!
© Copyright 2003-2005 by Scrapbook-Bytes; & original creator/s of tutorials/articles
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