Because PSP doesn't use actions as PS does, we have to find solutions to achieving the same look in our program that the PSers do. I've found that just about any look that can be achieved in PS is also available in PSP. Today I will show you how I get a puffy look using the tools available with Paint Shop Pro. I will be using screenshots to show what I am doing. Just a note: I have the tools I use repeatedly on my toolbars. Some of the tools, such as the magic wand, are already on a toolbar. If you can't find some of the tools and want to put them in your toolbars, you can right click in the toolbar area and then click customize. Be sure to check the "unused commands" category when you are customizing. What Corel considers unused tools might be some you want. You can have more than one toolbar. You can see from the screeshots, I have several toolbars and palettes on the desktop.
Here is where you can find the other tools on the menus. The expand, contract, feather tools are under the Selection>modify menu. The brightness/contrast is under the Adjust>brightness/contras menu.
1. Start with any shape you want in the desired color or pattern.
2. Using the "magic wand" tool, select the object. You will see the "marching ants" around the object.
3. "Contract Selection" and set to desired width. In the example I am using a 500x500px object, so I set the contraction to 20. Click OK.
4. Now click on "inside/outside feather" and set the feather for the desired width. Make sure that "inside/outside feather" is selected. You have the option to choose whether to feather inside, outside, or both. The width you choose determines how far the feathering reaches and how smooth the transition is. It also determines how puffy the object will look. For my object I set the feather to 20.
5. Click on "invert selection" to reverse the selection. You do this so that the area you want to shade is the area that was outside the contracted area.
6. Now go to "adjust brightness/contrast" and select the depth of brightness you want. Leave the contrast set a 0. A tip here is that whatever tool you are using, always put a check in the "preview on image" box in the upper right corner of the selection box. This allows you to see and adjust your selections. For my selection I chose -35. You can see how it has darkened the edges and make it look puffy. Choose "select none " or right click in the image to deselect.
7. If you want to get a puffier look, first, repeat steps 2 throught 4 but increase the contraction. Since I now want to make the center look lighter, rather than darker, I will not invert the selection. In my object I set the inside/ouside feather to 12.
8. Now repeat step 6, but set the brightness to the positive side to make it light. For my object, I selected 40. I now have a very puffy flower which actually looks more like a balloon. But playing with the contraction, feathering, and contrast, you can achieve a number of looks. See my examples below.
There are some other methods of achieving a puffy look in PSP.
Eye Candy's Bevelboss
SuperBlade Pro using Karen Stimpson's acrylic presets (
available here).
Cassel's Acrylic scripts (
available here).
As you can see, each method will give you a differnt look. Choose the one that produces the look you want. In the last example I have, I have played around with both contract and expand selection plus feathering and contrast. I also drew a circle in the center of the flower with the "selection tool" and then expanded and feathered it before changing the contrast. Using the tools described in this tut can also be used to place shadows on the layers of elements just where you want them and the shape you want them to be.
