Vector Duck
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Please make sure you have read them.



Since I am not providing selections or images with this tutorial, your final results are yours to do with as you please.  However the tutorial itself still follows my Terms of Use.

You could do this in PSP 6, 7, or 8.  I started out in PSP8beta and had to move to PSP7 to complete.  If you use PSP 6 or 7, just use draw with vectors.  Freehand line - Width 2 - Anti-alias checked.  I like tracking around 8 - 10.

This is the first tutorial I have written using the drawing tool.  I have found most people like selections over vectors.  I have used vectors or included simple vectors in some of my tutorials.  All of the previous ones used preset shapes where nodes had to be added and worked with quite a bit.

You will see a lot of nodes when using the drawing tool.  Don't let that scare you off.   When you use the drawing tool, it places them.  You can still grab them and move them around or edit the node.  I included an outline for you.  If you draw over it, you may not have to change the nodes at all.  Your nodes do not have to be exactly where mine are.  This is just a guide.  You may grab a node and move or edit if you feel necessary.

Images displayed are not all original size.
Make sure Layer Palette is visible.

New Transparent Image 350 X 400 or line background guide below.
Click on the image to open in a new window. You can copy and paste from there or drag over to your PSP workspace.

I usually leave Layer1 for a background or you may use the following as a line guide for your background.  Just grab hold of the following image and drag to you PSP workspace or copy and paste as a new image.

Save As your choice.  (You may want to use the Option button at bottom right and select PSP 6 or 7.  This way you can open in that version and work with if needed.)

• Here are the settings I used in PSP 8.
• I like to create images on their own Vector Layer.
• Each time you begin a new layer and shape, click on the New you see in red box below.

Foreground Color #FBC74B
Background Color #FBED4F

First Vector Layer
• Click New as shown in first image.
• Using the above settings, draw out the duck’s body.  Don’t worry about it being exactly even.  You can grab the nodes and move around a little after drawing out.

Second Vector Layer
• Look at the image below.  The red box is around the image you can click on the create a new Vector Layer.
• Click New as shown in first image.
• Draw out the duck’s head.  Don’t worry about it being exactly even.  You can grab the nodes and move around a little after drawing out.

Third Vector Layer
• Create a new Vector Layer.
• Click New as shown in first image.
• Draw out the duck’s wing.  Don’t worry about it being exactly even.  You can grab the nodes and move around a little after drawing out.

Fourth Vector Layer
• Click on Bottom Raster Layer
• Foreground Color #D59203
• Background Color #9E6C02
• Create a new Vector Layer.
• Click New as shown in first image.
• Draw out the duck’s leg.
• Right click on the layer on Layer Palette and Duplicate.
• Click on the + beside the duplicated layer and highlight the new shape then you can move into place.
   I moved my copy on bottom.  You don’t need to.
• The following image shows the leg with the duplicate of it.

Fifth Vector Layer
• Click on Top Vector Layer on Layer Palette (Vector 3)
• Create a new Vector Layer.
• Click New as shown in first image.
• Draw out the duck’s bill.

This is where I had to move to PSP7 because I couldn’t get the shapes to load in PSP8beta.  Hopefully you can!

Sixth Vector Layer
• Foreground – Null
• Background Black
• Use the tear drop preset.
• Drag out the shape and use the little node close to the center to rotate to position.
• Right click on the layer on Layer Palette and Duplicate.
• Click on the + beside the duplicated layer and highlight the new shape then you can move into place and rotate.

When you are satisfied with your image, right click on all the Vector Layers on the Layer Palette and tap the C key.  This will convert to Raster Layers.

Let’s give it a little more color
I started at the bottom of the Layer Palette on feet.  You may double click on each layer on the Layer Palette and name if you like.

FEET
Click on back foot layer on Layer Palette (bottom layer)
• Select All and Float (Ctrl A & F)
• Colors #9E6C02 & #FDD87F
• Use the following Airbrush setting (I stayed in PSP7)
• Spray a little lighter color toward upper left.
• Spray a little darker color toward lower right.
• Select None (Ctrl D)

Click on front foot layer on Layer Palette (next layer up)
• Repeat the same for the other foot

I went ahead and did the bill next using same technique and colors.  My bill was Vector 5 layer.

Now for the body.  Layer above feet.  Mine was Vector 1
• Select All and Float (Ctrl A & F)
• Foreground Color #9E6C02
• Background White
• I increased the size of the Airbrush to 80 and left the other settings the same.
• Spray some areas.  I used more darker color and alternated between both colors.
• Select None (Ctrl D)

Repeat same process for wing and head.  I change airbrush size to 50.

EYES
For the eyes I just Jasc Inner Bevel – Round setting changing the angle only.  You will have to experiment here a little to see what looks good on the placement of your duck’s eyes.

You can leave it like this or add a little Drop Shadow.

This is what I used for the wing, bill and both eye layers
• Vertical & Horizontal 3
• Opacity 60
• Blur 15
• Color #9E6C02

Optional face detail:
On the following, I added a few more detail lines around eyes and bill.
Foreground: Color #9E6C02
Background: Null
Draw Tool - Freehand
• Width 2
• Anti-alias checked
Here is a guide.
• Face Lines - Gaussian Blur 4 or 5.
• Nostrils on a separate layer.  Blur them only Radius of 1.

Same Drop Shadow under head.

Hope you enjoyed this tutorial!

Copyright ©2003 Carla Polston