Skinny Santa Created by Carla ©Carla Polston

Santa Tutorial
(Written using PSP 6)
First of all I owe a super big thanks to Quist.
She was such an angel to offer help writing this tutorial.

*NOTE* This is graphic intensive, so please let the page load.

Preparation:

I use the shortcut keys on the keyboard while creating graphics,
so you may want to become familiar with these. I will remind
you of what they are on the first few steps.
Of course, you can always use the Menu Bar.
You'll need ruler on pixels.

*Shortcut Keys*
Float: Ctrl A and Ctrl F (Ctrl A actually selects all)
Defloat: Ctrl D
Copy: Ctrl C
Paste as new selection: Ctrl E

You may want to add these colors to your Color Palette :
Red - #9C1212 , Lt. Pink - #F4E4DE,
Shadow for skin - #5C3A3A
*(Tip: When typing color in bottom box, you
do not need to type # sign or worry about caps.)*
Other Shadows used are the third and fourth
gray down on the right of Color Palette.
Let's get started!

Open new image: 200 X 420 Transparent.
Save as, in psp format to a folder of your choice.
Remember to save often!
No packaged preset. Hopefully this will
help you learn more.

BODY
Add new layer
Color: Red 9C1212
Shape Tool: Rectangle- -At 70 across and 135 down,
draw rectangle to 160 X 350.
Add new layer.
Color: Black- -Draw Tool: Single Line- -Stroked-
Width 1- -Draw a short line
down the center bottom to form legs. *(Tip: Hold down
Shift key to help keep the line straight.)*
Image: Blur- -Gaussian Blur- -Radius 2.00
Click off Layer 1 on Layer Palette (little glasses)- -
Merge visible layers (shortcut - right click on current layer).
Double click on Merged layer and name body.
Float (Ctrl A and Ctrl F).
Apply Cutout- -Image: Cutout- -Fill interior not checked
*(throughout tutorial)*- -Shadow color: Black- -
Opacity 100 *(throughout tutorial)*,
Blur 21.3- -Vertical & Horizontal 0
*(throughout tutorial)* - -Defloat (Ctrl D).
ARMS
Color: Red 9C1212
Shape Tool:Triangle- -Check Vector box on- -
Click on Layer 1.
Add new layer. Save your work.
Draw a triangle (use corners or size to adjust size).
Convert to Raster (shortcut - right click on
current layer). Float (Ctrl A and Ctrl F).
Image: Effects: Cutout: Same setting, except bring
blur down to 16.5. Defloat (Ctrl D).
Right click on current layer- -Duplicate.
Use Mover Tool to move into position.
To help you see, you can bring opacity down on body by
sliding bar to right of body layer. Don't worry
about tops of triangles sticking out. They will
be covered with moustache and beard.

Click Layer 1 and body off (glasses). Merge visible
(shortcut-right click on current layer).
Double click Merged layer and name arms.
HANDS
Add new layer. Save your work.
Color: Lt. Pink F4E4DE
Shape Tool: Circle, Check Vector box on.
Click on Layer 1.
Draw circle and place in position. Convert to Raster
(shortcut right click). Float (Ctrl A & F).
Image: Effects: Cutout: Same setting, except change
shadow color to 5C3A3A. Defloat (Ctrl D).
Right click on current layer, Duplicate.
Use Mover Tool to move into position.
Click Layer1, body, and arms off (glasses).
Merge visible (shortcut - right click on current layer).
Double click Merged layer and name hands.

BOOTS
Add new layer. Save your work.
Color: Black
Shape Tool: Rectangle, Vector
Still checked. Click on Body Layer.
Start at left leg and drag across to middle line.
Hold Ctrl key while dragging bottom node in a little.

Right click convert to Raster.
Shape Tool: Ellipse (Other settings remain the same.)
Draw ellipse at bottom of boot. Node Edit
(Arrow then click on Node Edit in Tool Options.)
Click on side nodes and pull arrow down and out a little.

Quit Node Edit (right click). Convert to Raster.
Click all layers off except two boot layers. Merge visible.
Add new layer. Save your work.
Color 808080 (fourth down on right).
Draw Tool: Freehand, Stroked, Width: 1,
Antialias checked, Create Vector and Close Path: unchecked
On Second Tab: Curve tracking 1
Draw curved line near bottom of boot and another one half way up.

Image: Blur: Gaussian Blur 1.
Add new layer. Save your work.
Color white, Paint brush: Round, Size: 7, Hardness: 100,
Opacity: 100, Density: 100
Click once between the two lines at the upper right.
Image: Blur: Gaussian Blur 3.
Click all layers off except 3 boot layers.
Merge visible. Float (Ctrl A & F).
Image: Effects: Cutout: Shadow color 808080.
Increase blur to 20.5.
Other settings remain the same. Defloat (Ctrl D).
Double click and name boot.

FUR
Add new layer. Save your work.
Color: White.
Shape Tool: Ellipse. Other settings remain the same
except check Vector box back on.
Draw ellipse across top of boot. Click Node Edit.

Pull side nodes down just a little and bring bottom
node up a touch. Convert to Raster.
Image: Noise, Add 7. Float.
Image: Effects: Cutout, Change shadow
color to 808080 and blur to 10.2.
Other settings remain the same. Defloat.
Double click current layer and name fur.
Right click and duplicate. Image: Mirror.
Use Mover Tool to place.
*Don't merge*, your going to use again later.
HEAD
Add new layer. Save your work.
Color: Lt. Pink F4E4DE
Shape Tool: Circle, Check Vector box on.
Draw circle and place in position. Use sides and corners
to adjust size. Convert to Raster Float (Ctrl A & F).
Image: Effects: Cutout: Same setting, except change
shadow color to 5C3A3A and blur 34.6.
Defloat. Double click and name head.

BEARD
Add new layer. Save your work.
Color: White.
Shape Tool: Ellipse. Other settings remain the same.
Draw long oval. Hold Ctrl key and bring in bottom by
dragging either bottom corner. Drag top down.

Node Edit. Click top node and drag out arrow.
Quit node edit.
Use sides and corners to drag and adjust until you are
satisfied. Right click and change to Raster.
Use Magic Wand and click on beard.
Image: Noise: Add 11. Leave selected.
Add new layer. Save your work.
Draw Tool: Color 808080. Settings are the same
except click off vector box. Freehand beard lines.
Image: Blur: Gaussian Blur 2.5.
Click all layers off except top two beard layers.
Merge visible. Name beard. Float (Ctrl F if still selected).
Image: Effects: Cutout. All settings the same
except color 808080. Defloat.

MOUSTACHE
Add new layer. Save your work.
Color: White.
Shape Tool: Ellipse. Other settings remain the
same except click vector back on.
Draw long oval about 80 long by 25 wide.
Hold Cntl key and bring in right side by
dragging the top corner down.
Drag in a little on one side and place on
right side over beard and face.
When satisfied, convert to raster. Use
Magic Wand and click on moustache.
Image: Noise: Add 11. (Leave selected).
Add new layer.
Draw Tool: Color 808080. Settings are the same except
click off vector box. Freehand moustache lines.
Image: Blur: Gaussian Blur 2. Click all layers off
except top two moustache layers.
Merge visible. Float (Ctrl F if still selected).
Image: Effects: Cutout. All settings the same
except blur 7. Defloat. Duplicate.
Image: Mirror and use Mover Tool to place on left.
Click all layers off except top two moustache layers.
Merge visible. Name moustache.

HAT
Add new layer. Save your work.
Color: Red: 9C1212
Shape Tool: Triangle. Other settlings the same
except click vector back on.
Draw long triangle, from about 50 across X 30 down
to 170 across X 330 down.
Click Node Edit . Add new node on right side at 200
(hold Ctrl key and click on line).
Drag top node down to 10 across X 390 down.
Add new node on longest line and drag up to
50 across X 210 down.
Drag bottom left hat node to around 70 X 300
and tip node to 10 X 310.
The shape will look like this.

Click Node Edit and drag to top of head. Adjust size
by dragging on lines or corners.
When satisfied, convert to raster.

Add new layer. Save your work.
Color 404040 (third down on right).
Paint Brush: Size 2. Other settings
stay the same. Paint shadow.

Image: Blur: Gaussian Blur 5.
After applying the blur, click back on the first hat layer.
Use the Magic Wand to select
background area.
Click back on blur layer and hit the
Delete key on the keyboard.
Click all layers off except top
two and merge visible. Float.
Image: Effects: Cutout. Settings same except
shadow color black and blur 21.3. Defloat.

HAT TRIM
Click on fur layer. Duplicate and drag
layer above hat layer.
Use deformation tool to resize. Name hat trim.
Click all layers off except top two hat layers.
Merge visible. Name hat.

FACE
Click on head layer. Add new layer. Color black.
Shape Tool: Ellipse. (Vector off) Draw small oval for eye.
Image: Effects: Inner bevel.

Copy (Ctrl C). Paste as new selection (Ctrl E).
Place where wanted. Defloat.
Add new layer. Save your work.
Color - Lt. Pink F4E4DE.
Shape Tool: Ellipse. Draw small
oval for nose. Float.
Image: Effects – Cutout with color shadow
(5C3A3A) and blur 4.7. Defloat.
Use Mover Tool to place where you want it.
Click all layers off, except head and 2 face
layers above. Merge. Name face.
Make sure you are still on face layer.
Add new layer. Color black.
Use rectangle shape tool to draw in belt.
If you don't quite get the size you want, you
can use Deformation Tool to resize.
BUTTON
Add new layer on top. Save your work.
Color: white. Shape Tool: Circle.
Draw circle neat tip of hat. Use Mover Tool to place.
Color: Red (9C1212). Paint Brush: Size 20
Hardness 80. Paint circle in center of button.

Change color to white, size 2, and
opacity to 80. Paint two buttonholes.
Click on Draw Tool: Color: black, (Vector – off),
Single line, and Size 1. Draw threads. Float.
Image: Effects: Cutout with blur at 7, other
settings stay the same. Defloat.
ARM TRIM
Duplicate fur trim and place above arms layer.
Use deformation tool to size and place.
Duplicate this new layer and Image: Mirror.
Use deformation tool to place on other arm.

Congratulations! You made it!
Hope you learned something new and had some fun!

Carla

Contact Carla

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