This tutorial was written in PSP8 for learning purposes. It will use node editing preset shapes, vectoring (freehand), and Lighten/Darken Brush. You can do in other versions, but some tools are named differently.

When you finish this image, it is yours to do with as you wish since I am only providing the technique. The work will be yours. The tutorial itself still follows my Terms of Use.

Open a New Image I used 275 X 350, but you can make larger. I wouldn’t go much smaller.
I like to Flood Fill the bottom layer White to help me see better.
Make sure you SAVE as you go! I save before going to a new layer.

Use any colors you want! I gave the colors I used if you want to use the same ones.

STEMS AND LEAVES
New Vector Layer – You may want to name as you go! It will make it easier when you start detailing.
Preset Shape – Ellipse
• Check Anti-alias and Create as vector
• Line Style – Solid
• Width 1
• Foreground color #1
• Background color #2
Drag out a long narrow elliptical shape for the right leaf.
Click on the Pen Tool to edit nodes.
Click on each node – drag to location – drag ends of arrows out similar to the image.
(I change the outline color of the leaf to help you see where the arrows are in the image.)


New Vector Layer
Drag out a long narrow elliptical shape for the stem.
Click on the Pen Tool to edit nodes.
Click on each node – drag to location – drag ends of arrows out similar to the image.
(The arrows were hard to see on the sides, so I put a red box around the ends to help you find.)


New Vector Layer
Drag out a long narrow elliptical shape for the left leaf.
Click on the Pen Tool to edit nodes.
Click on each node – drag to location – drag ends of arrows out similar to the image.
(I put a red circle around the ends of the bottom arrows to help you find.)


SAVE

BACK PETALS
New Vector Layer for each of the back three petals you create.
Change Foreground to #3 on color chart and Background to #4.
Drag out shorter elliptical shapes for each petal and node edit similar to the following examples.

This is how they look completed. You may need to move around a little after you put the front petals in.


Petal 1


Petal 2


Petal 3


SAVE

FRONT PETALS
New Vector Layer for each of the front three petals you create.
Change to the pen tool as use settings shown in image.



There are tons of nodes in these so it won’t help to try to show you an image of each.
Draw the petal around jiggling in and out a lot to get the rough looking edge.
If you do not like it, just Ctrl+Z to undo and try again.
Remember to click on the New Button for each petal or Right click and select New Drawing Object.

CENTER
Change Foreground to #5 on color chart and Background to #6.
Use the same technique as above to draw out the center.

SAVE AS A PRESET SHAPE
I recommend duplicating and saving as a Preset Shape.
This tutorial may be helpful if you do not know how:

Create a Preset Shape

ADDING DETAIL
I like to save the original in Vector layers, so I duplicate and begin on a new image.

Right click on each layer on the Layer Palette and Convert to Raster layer.
Right click again and Duplicate each layer ,except the center.


Click on Copy of each layer on the Layer Palette
Use the Magic Wand – click on background of each copied layer – Invert
Gaussian Blur – 3
On the center apply a Gaussian Blur of 1 – no selection

Hide all layers on the Layer Palette (Right click – View – None)
Click on the eye on each image and copy of the image on the Layer Palette – Right click – Merge Visible.


Click the eye on the Merged layer to hide this layer.
Move up to the next image and copy of the image on the Layer Palette and repeat this process until you have all the original layers and copies of the layer merged.
Right click any layer on Layer Palette – View – All

DETAILING WITH THE Lighten/Darken Brush
These are the settings I used. You can experiment and try different settings and shade as you wish.
You can save the settings in the preset.


Leaves and Stems

***Dark brush setting***
• Shape – Circle
• Size – 13
• Hardness – 5
• Step – 1
• Density – 100
• Thickness – 100
• Rotation – 0
• Opacity – 80
• Mode – RGB
• Check Swap mouse buttons

***Darker narrow detail lines***
• Size – 2
• Opacity - 100
• Other settings the same

***Light Brush setting***
• Size - 10
• Opacity – 65
• Take check out of Swap mouse buttons by clicking on it.
• Other settings the same

***Dark brush setting***
• Size – 20
• Opacity 70
• Check Swap mouse buttons
• Other settings the same

***Darker narrow detail lines***
• Size – 1
• Opacity - 100
• Other settings the same

Front Petal Settings

***Dark brush setting***
• Size – 20
• Density 50
• Opacity 50
• Other settings the same

For the front petals, I drew a darker line down the center. Then I just click in and out in different spots all over until I got the shading I liked.

Feel free to use some other methods to add more detail!

For this one, I added some color with the airbrush - blurred.
Then I used elliptical selection with airbrushing to add additional detial on front petals.
I also vectored some grey lines (blurred) and white line (lowered opacity) down the centers.
A slight drop shadow was added to the center.

Hope you have enjoyed this tutorial.

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© 2004 Carla Polston All Rights Reserved