I really wanted to learn to use the pen tool in PSP8. I am still not quite comfortable with it so I just experimented for a bit and this tag was born. I was doing a tutorial of Blueyes that inspired me to play with the different types of lines. I was going to use it for my own personal use but someone has suggested I write it up as a tutorial. I would definately suggest being comfortable working in PSP and using the "other tools" - deformation tool - preset shapes - pen tool. I am just giving you a guideline to work from, I can't tell you how to exactly place your lines. Have fun with it and remember this is your own design. Marlie Supplies Paint Shop Pro Tube - Here Font - Here 1. Open the tube and make a duplicate copy of it - close the original Image - Greyscale Image - Increase Colors - 16 Million Colors Minimize the tube for the time being 2. Open a New Image 500 x 500 - transparent (we will resize later on) 3. Select your pen tool Below is a screenshot of how I set mine up There are lots of line styles - choose one that you want to use I used a combination of dots and the single line 4. Working on the bottom half of the canvas **Tip To draw a straight line Hold down the Shift key when you are drawing for perfectly straight lines** With your pen tool, draw some horizontal and diagonal lines Use a combination of different line styles or just one Refer to my tag for an example I placed each of my lines on it's own layer, although time consuming, you can then move them around and place them exactly where you are want Once you are happy with what you have gotten Layers - Merge - Merge Visible Rename this Layer - Lines 1 5. Activate the deformation tool Holding down the shift key - grab the node* in the bottom center Pull up a slight amount *The cursor will turn into a double arrow* 6. Effects - 3D Effects - Inner Bevel Effects - 3D Effects - Drop Shadow 7. Working on the upper half of the canvas You now want to draw some further lines This time the lines should be horizontal and vertical Again see my tag for an example As with the bottom of the canvas, I used a separate layer for each Once you have placed your lines where you want, hide the Lines 1 layer and merge visible Rename this layer Lines 2 8. Ensure you are on the Lines 2 layer - add a bevel and drop shadow Use the same settings as in Step 6 9. Make your tube the active image Copy and Paste as a New Layer on your working image Image - Resize - 85% *ensure Resize All Layers is unchecked and I use Bicubic resampling* Position the tube to your liking Effects - 3D Effects - Drop Shadow Use the same settings as Step 6 Rename this layer Tube 10. Layers - New Raster Layer Select your Preset Shapes Tool and set up as shown below Set foreground to black - #000000 and background to null Draw an elipse on the canvas - drawing with vectors gives you the opportunity to adjust the shape if there are just minor adjustments you wish to do Place it slightly over the tube See my tag above for a general idea of placement 11. Activate your Eraser Tool You are going to erase parts of the elipse so it appears that the tube is sitting inside the elipse Again see my example above....and the placement of your tube and elipse may vary from my tube Rename this layer Elipse 12. Layers - New Raster Layer Find the font you are going to use and if it isn't installed on your computer, just minimize it in the task bar - it will show up in PSP Activate your text tool and set up as shown below Type your text Effects - 3D Effects - Inner Bevel Use the same settings as previous Activate your deformation tool Holding down the Shift key, grab the nodes at the top corners and move them in towards the middle just a little bit - to angle the text down Once you are happy with how your text is placed - apply a drop shadow to it Use the same settings as in Step 6 13. Layers - Merge - Merge All(Flatten) Whew, you are finished and I hope I haven't lost you somewhere along the line It was alot more difficult writing it down as it was creating it If you have any questions please EMAIL me and I will try my best to help you out Graphics and Tutorial Copyright ©Marlie 2003