This tutorial was created by Darlene on 13th February 2008. Any similarity to any other tutorial is coincidental and non-intentional. Thank you so much Glennda for testing this tutorial and offering your suggestions…it is greatly appreciated.

The image you create from this tutorial is yours to do with as you wish… except to make a profit.

**As a note I want to say that this tutorial is just a guide, you have the option to use different colors or to change any of the settings to your liking. Have fun!

1. In PSP open a new transparent image 200x200 pixels. I like to have lots of room to work and we will crop it when we’re finished.

2. Set your foreground color to black and your background color to white. Select the Preset Shape Tool

3. For this tutorial I am using the Ellipse shape altho you can use any shape you like. Have your settings as follows:

NOTE: I Use PSP9 so if you’re using a different version, your

settings will look different. Settings for PSP7 below:

4. With your preset tool drag out your shape on your transparent image. The size you make your base is up to you.

5. Click on Objects…Align…Center in Canvas. In your layer palette right click on Vector layer and choose Convert To Raster Layer.

6. Layers…Duplicate.

7. With the Move Tool, move the top layer up a little. Layers…Merge…Merge Visible. If you need to tidy up the ends do that now. Just erase or add any pixels so your ends are nice and neat. This is what you should have so far.

8. Your template outline is now finished. If you’re happy with your outline, crop and save as a psp file and you can use it again and again with any colors you choose.

9. Right click on your image and copy and paste as a new image. You can now close out your original.

COLORING THE OUTLINE

1. Set your foreground color to a dark green…for this tutorial I used #0a6c26 and your background color to black #000000. With your paintbrush set to7 square, click on the black arrow next to your Dropper Too; and choose the Color Replacer Tool.

2. Go around the outline very carefully; as you want to only change the outline color for the top part of the ellipse (grass) to the dark green not the bottom part. You will need to zoom in to do this so that you can see well.

If you are using PSP7 you will need to do this a little differently. With your magic wand click on any part of the outline…Selections…Modify…Select Similar. As you will notice the complete outline is now selected so zoom in and with your Paintbrush carefully go around the complete top part of the outline (grass). Selections none.

3. With your Magic Wand, click inside the top white area of the ellipse and fill with your lighter green…I have used #13ad3b. With the area still selected go to Adjust…Add/Remove Noise 10% Uniform Monochrome Checked. Do not deselect.

4. Selections…. Invert and apply a drop shadow with these settings:

Deselect

5. Change your foreground color to #7e502e and your background color to #ab764f. Paint the remaining bottom outline with your foreground color as you did in Step 1. With your magic wand select the remaining white area and fill with your background color. Do not deselect. Add 10% Noise. Deselect.

Your base prop is now finished! Crop your image and save as a psp file or transparent gif…whichever you prefer. I save as psp file and then copy and paste into Animation Shop and save as a transparent gif as well. Now you can be as creative as you like and build up a little scene.

I hope you have enjoyed this tutorial and if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact me here.