|
Getting to Know
the Workspace and Tools - Version 7
Version 8 & 9
OK – so you’ve just got your copy of PSP or maybe you’ve
had it a while and still find it quite daunting. I know exactly how you feel –
I was in the same position not that long ago! Don’t feel you have to know “everything
there is to know” about PSP before you start making exciting images.
If you don’t already have Paint Shop Pro you can download a
30-day, fully functional trial version of the program from Jasc
Software so you can follow along
with these lessons.
My introduction to PSP began with a desire to be able to
create my own miniature printies to include in my egg artistry creations and
also to be able to produce interesting frames for the pictures I wanted to
include in my egg artistry e-books. Anna Morvee, owner of the MSAT Printies
Group, was also a member on a miniatures group I belonged to and she offered
to teach anyone who want to learn PSP, using a series of self-paced lessons.
These initial lessons are designed to teach you what each of
the tools is for. Sure, as you are learning the tools you may think “I can’t
really see how this relates to my craft” but you will find, once you have an
understanding of what each tool can do, the combination of artistic effects is
overwhelming and you will begin to see all types of possibilities, no matter
what craft you do.
A few things to remember when you are creating with Paint
Shop Pro.
-
Save frequently - you don’t want all your wonderful
creativity to go down the drain in the event of a lockup on your computer.
-
Get into the habit of always making a copy of your image
(jpeg, bitmap etc) before you start. Do a Shift+D to duplicate your chosen
image and then close the original. Then if you don’t like what you have
done you can always scrap it and start again from the original.
-
The Undo button is your best friend! Experiment as much
as you like, using different effects. If you don’t like something just hit
the Undo button
-
Dotted lines (referred to as “marching ants”) around
an image indicate the image or maybe just a
portion of it, is selected.
The Workspace
in Version 7
Version
8 & 9 When you open Paint Shop Pro you will be presented with a screen something
like this, depending on your own Preferences. This is where you will create and
edit your images. To see different toolbars click on View, Toolbars and select
the ones you want to use. Go to File, Preferences to customise the
General Program items and the File Location information.
For more information on each area in the work space click on the Context Help
icon (the Arrow with the Question Mark) and then click on the work area. This
will open a Help Screen with a Tour of Paint Shop Pro.
To get you started here are some of the tools and what they
do. I am using PSP 7.04 but the tool use would be the same in all versions
Arrow Tool - this tool changes the
cursor into a hand and allows you to move around a zoomed image to
see a different area from what is visible.
Zoom Tool - with this tool you can move in for a close up
view of your image.
Deformation Tool - use this tool to resize or reshape
your image. As this tool takes away some of the clarity of the image it is best
to Sharpen your images after using the tool.
Crop Tool - this tool allows you to cut away a portion of
your image.
Mover Tool - use this tool to move images on separate
layers to a different position.
Selection Tool - this tool has a series of different
shapes to allow you to work on a particular part of your image. Also allows you
to copy a selected shape area.
Lasso Tool - makes a selection with three types of border
- irregular, point to point or between areas with contrasting colours.
Magic Wand - you’ll use this one a lot! It allows you
to select sections of an image by colour.
Eye Dropper - you can use this tool to select a specific
colour from your image and add it to your colour palette.
Paint Brush Tool - this tool has different settings and
custom brushes to create a range of images.
Clone Tool - with this tool you can copy a part of an
image to another location.
Retouch Tool - large selection of settings allows you to
edit different parts of your image including lighten, darken, soften and smudge
to name a few.
Eraser - remove unwanted parts of an image with this
tool.
Picture Tube Tool - this tool works like a rubber stamp,
allowing you to “paint” with full colour pictures.
Air brush - this one simulates painting with a sponge or
spray can.
Flood Fill Tool - use this tool to flood fill a selected
area with a colour, pattern or texture.
Text Tool - when you click on this icon a text box pops
up allowing you to add text to your image.
Draw Tool - this one has several different types of lines
you can draw with.
Preset Shape Tools - use this tool to make all sorts of
different shapes, either colour or plain outlines.
|
