Creating Custom Gradients for PSP
using the Gradient Thief.
by Maureen Williams

How many times have you wanted a gradient to match a particular image
 you have and weren't sure how to go about it?
 I found a nifty program on the net called Gradient Thief by Kerlin Softworks,
which is perfect for creating a custom gradient from your image but how do you
 convert the gradient into a format suitable for using in Paint Shop Pro?

This step-by-step tutorial will show you how.
It is assumed you have a working knowledge of Paint Shop Pro at an Intermediate level.
If you need help in following this tutorial email me.

REQUIREMENTS
Paint Shop Pro - you can download a free 30-day trial from HERE.
I've used 7.04 for this tutorial but it should work in other versions as well.

Gradient Thief by Kerlin Softworks. Download this free program HERE.

An image of your choice or you can use my sunset image, which I took from my back yard.
Click on the image to get a larger version and then right click and save to your hard drive.

OK - let's get started.

Preparing the Gradient

Step One

Open Paint Shop Pro and select the image you wish to create a gradient from.
Shift+D to duplicate the image and then close the original.
Use the Selection Tool set to Rectangle to select the area of the image you wish to use.

Image, Crop to Selection.

Step Two

Image, Resize using the following settings:
Width = 250 pixels
Height = 350 pixels

Make sure "Maintain Aspect Ratio" is unchecked.
Save the modified image in jpeg or bmp format and remember the name and location of the file.

Step Three

Using the Gradient Thief.
Be sure to read the User Guide located in the zip file to
 obtain an understanding of how the program works.

When you open the Gradient Thief you will be presented with a screen like this.

Step Four

Click on the Load Image button and locate your saved image.

Click on the Clear button to reset the gradient bar on the left hand side.

Step Five

Click on the Define Top button. Move the cursor to the top of the image and choose
the desired colour for the top of the gradient. You will notice the colour in the box above the
Red, Green Blue lines changes colour as you move the cursor over the image.
Left click to add the chosen colour to the gradient.

Step Six

Click on the Define Bottom button and repeat the above process to select the
 desired colour at the bottom of the gradient.

Step Seven

Now select colours between the top and bottom of the image.
Each chosen colour will fall in the relative position in the gradient bar on the left.
I have chosen a total of six colours in my gradient.

Step Eight

Double click in any blank space in the window and a save box will open.
Enter a name for the raw gradient date file and choose a location to save the file.
The file will save as a text (.txt) file.

Locate your gradient text file and double click on the file, which will open in Notepad.

Now let's look at the information contained in the text file.
In the picture above you will notice I've copied the text file so we can check each set of values.

I haven't been able to determine why the top two lines of numbers (which are the black and white from the reset values of the gradient bar) are included in the gradient text file but we can just ignore those.

On the third row of numbers outlined in the box above you will notice the
 zero position represents the top most colour selected.
The numbers following the zero represent the Red, Green & Blue values of the colour.

In the next row of numbers, commencing with 1, the bottom most
 colour selected or the 100% position of the gradient is reflected.

We now need to transfer these figures into Paint Shop Pro.

Creating the Gradient in PSP

Open Paint Shop Pro

Step One

In the Styles Palette click on the little arrow in the Foreground colour and select Gradient.
Left click on the gradient to open the Gradient Editor.

Step Two

Click on the Edit button and in the box that opens select "New"
Give your gradient a name.
Now we will enter the colour values to create our gradient.

Step Three

Click on the little crayon at the beginning of the gradient bar and change the location percentage to zero

Click on the box to open the colour change window.

Step Four

Print out the details of the raw gradient data in the text file or re-size the windows
so you can see both PSP and the text file on your screen.

Step Five

Enter the variables for the zero position:
Red = 85
Green = 71
Blue = 94

Step Six

Click on the crayon at the 100% location and repeat the above procedure
to enter the variables for the bottom of the gradient.
Red = 249
Green = 212
Blue = 160

Step Seven

Click under the gradient bar to add another "crayon" and add the remaining colour variables.
From my example above these would be:

17% Location = Red 171, Green  64, Blue   84
43% Location = Red 233, Green 113, Blue 122
78% Location = Red 255, Green 128, Blue  96
96% Location = Red 251, Green 203, Blue 119

Note: Ignore the additional numbers after the 0.17 etc and read these figures as a percentage

Click OK at the bottom of the Gradient Editor to save your new gradient.

Congratulations!

You've now created your own unique gradient to match your image. You may wish to use the
 gradient to add a border to your image or maybe create a background for some stationery.

Experiment and have fun.

This tutorial is my own creation and must not be used on any other website without my express permission.
Created June 15th, 2003.