Tutorial on Using PSP Selections

This is not a tutorial on making my mouse;  it's a tutorial on how to use 'PSP selection'.  You've seen them everywhere and perhaps don't know what they are.  First of all, you have to get the selections unzipped to a folder to use them.  I made a folder within PSP called 'Selections' since they are a PSP file.  I then unzip the selections from a tutorial to that folder.  When saving selections, I save them to that same folder.

A 'selection' is just that.  When you use one of the selection tools to close is on a shape for coloring, it is a selection;  if you save that selection via PSPs menu 'Selection/Save to disk', you are in fact saving the selection outline and NOT the object you have selected.  Selections are saved in context to the over-all sizing of the image you are working in.  A selection is saved precisely where you have it positioned and save point is marked from the top and left of the image you are working in - so when a tutorial says to make a new image a particular size, you need to make it that size or larger - never smaller.

The making of the tutorial came to me as a way to share the shape on each part of my mouse without doing the actual coloring and shading so each can do it their own way - besides, I wanted to make you work for it.  If you know how to use selections and just want to grab the selections - be my guest!   MOUSE PARTS

In the creation of the mouse, I used two shaping filters;  I used EyeCandy 3.0's inner bevel or I used the PSP drop shadow on the tiny parts.  Will show both once and then it's up to you to choose the way you want to work and alter the settings to your preference.  0Kewl Mouse will be color #C0C0C0.  My Christmas mouse was white.

There will be a total of 10 layers involved - especially for a white one.  The first layer will be a background color.

For each mouse part, you will perform a round (steps):
    1.  add a new raster layer
    2.  open the selection, in numerical order
    3.  color the shape
    4.  contour the shape with either the drop shadow or the inner bevel filters or switch back and forth the way I did.

After the mouse is built, we will merge all visible after making the background layer invisible;  after that, you can tube your mouse, trim your mouse and tame you mouse any way you want to.

Step 1
We will start with a new image with a transparent background, 337 pixels width and 109 pixels height.

Step 2
Color fill the first layer for a work background.

Step 3
Don't forget to ADD A NEW RASTER LAYER before loading each selection;  it will make it easier to go back and touch up if you want to before the BIG merge.

Use:  Layers/New Raster Layer  you can name them if you want to,  just name them to keep up with where you are.  Layer 1 is the background, so name the first new layer "1",  the next would be "2" - you wan rename them for their body part if you prefer - I saved the body parts in numerical order of use.
        

Step 4
Lets go get the first part of our little frankenstein.  I will only show this once.
From the Selections menu, click on 'Load from Disk';  in the window, find the folder you unzipped your selections to and you will see '0KewlMouse1' through '0KewlMouse9'.  Load the 1st one.
        

Step 5
You will see a selection appear in your image.  You will color the shape and contour the shape.  Oh, by the way, this is the back of the back ear.

Step 6
I'm using color #c0c0c0 as I said earlier - funny thing, I couldn't find the grey!  LOL  I'm setting my brush size to 23 for coloring the selections.  Now using the paintbrush, fill the selection with your chosen color.

Step 7
Now open Eye Candy 3.0's inner bevel filter and add light shading to the back of the ear.  First round is completed.

Step 8
For the second round,
add a new layer,
load the 2nd selection (which is the tail)
paint the selection
        

Step 9
This time we will contour with the drop shadow.
First, invert the selection.

Step 10
From the Effects (Image menu in PSP6) menu, choose 3D Effects, then Drop shadow.

Step 11
vertical = -1, horizontal = -1, opacity = 34, blur = 4.7

Step 12
Click OK.  You now have the back ear and the tail in perfect position for the body building!

Round 2 is complete.

Step 13
Work the round:
add new layer
color
contour, using the inner bevel or drop shadow method of choice.
This is the completed round 3;  I used black for the back whiskers and no contour.

Step 14
After Round 4 the paw is added,  I used drop shadow at same settings.

Step 15
After Round 5, the body is there
I tried both the drop shadow and inner bevel, but for some reason the color didn't like it very well so I will smudge it a little.  I just lost my good monitor and the colors just don't look right on this one!  LOL

Step 16
After Round 6, we have a nose!  I did not try to contour the nose.  If it were bigger, I would have.

Step 17
After Round 7, we have front whiskers - once again, no contour.

Step 18
After Round 8, we have an eye - I used black, no contour

Step 19
Round 9, gets the last part on it - the front ear - then I brushed some reddish pink into the inner part of it with the brush set at opacity=10 and then just kept brushing until I had what I wanted.

 

Step 20
Open the layers palette and click on the glasses on the bottom layer to make it invisible.  Before we merge visible, you can go back to any part (layer) you want to change or enhance before merging.  Or add a special trim between layers.

Step 21
Well;  I made him a KEWL hat;  and stuck it on a new layer behind the front ear;

then I used the Layers menu to Merge/Merge visible.

then I mirrored him so I can later intertwine his tail with MissKewl got Christmas cards.

Phooey!  Wanted to start the girl and deleted the guy with out saving, so I guess this is the end of this tute!  LOL

Tutorial by CSGreen

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Zipped tutorial in PDF format . . . 703KB