The
introduction of Version 8 saw a lot of major changes to the layout of the
tools and the workspace in Paint Shop Pro and also a change of name for a
few of the tools. The basic uses of the tools are still the same but the combination and location of the tools
has changed
since Version 7.
A few things to remember when you are creating with Paint
Shop Pro, no matter what the version you are using.
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
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. You will notice
some of the tools have a small drop-down arrow to the right - the icon
shown will change depending on the underlying tool selected. Click on
drop-down arrow to see the alternative tools combined with the one
showing. For information on the new tools highlight the tool and hit the
F1 key for information on what it does and how to use it.
Pan Tool - this tool allows you to move around a zoomed image to
see a different area from what is visible.
Previous name: Arrow Combined with: 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. Combined with:
Straighten, Perspective Correction, Mesh Warp. (all new tools)
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. Combined with: Freehand Selection Tool(Previous name: Lasso Tool) Magic Wand
Eye Dropper - you can use this tool to select a specific
colour from your image and add it to your colour palette. Combined with: Color Replacer Tool
Paint Brush Tool - this tool has different settings and
custom brushes to create a range of imageS. Combined with: Airbrush & Warp Brush Tools
Clone Tool - with this tool you can copy a part of an
image to another location. Combined with: Scratch Remover
Previously known as the Retouch Tool
this collection of tools give you many ways to edit your images.
The icon shown shows the
currently selected tool
Previously part of the Retouch Tool
- same as above.
Eraser - remove unwanted parts of an image with this
tool. Combined with:
Background Eraser (new tool)
Picture Tube Tool - this tool works like a rubber stamp,
allowing you to “paint” with full colour pictures.
All new tools to use with the Art
Media Layers and the Mixer Palette. Refer
to the PSP Help screen for information on these tools
Flood Fill Tool - use this tool to flood fill a selected
area with a colour, pattern or texture.
Text Tool - when you click on
the workspace a text entry box pops
up allowing you to add text to your image.
Previously known as the Preset Shape Tool, this tool has now
been split into four separate tools which includes rectangle &
square, Ellipse & circle, Symmetric Shape Tool and the Preset
Shape Tool.
Pen Tool - this one has several different types of lines
you can draw with. Previous name : Draw Tool
Object Selection Tool - works with
vector objects
COLOUR PALETTE
This panel contains a selection of colours and information
regarding the selected colour. The colour at the top is the
foreground colour (blue) and the background colour
is below on the right (purple). These colours can be interchanged by clicking on the double ended arrow.
The colour
panel down the left hand side can be changed to show a frame (like shown),
rainbow or swatches by clicking on the icons above the box. Clicking in the box
using the left mouse buttons adds the selected colour to the foreground box and
a right click adds the selected colour to the background box.
Holding the
cursor over the either the foreground or background boxes will show the RGB
values of the colours. If you double click on the colour the Materials
Properties box will open giving access to a variety of options for the colours,
gradients, patterns and textures.
