Create Preset Heart ShapeThis is a learning tutorial. I wrote this using PSP version 9, but I think you should be able to use with versions 8 and 9 just fine. There are many ways you can create the heart shape. One easy way is just to node edit an ellipital shape. I am going to show you another way where you mainly move the nodes around with the arrow keys. I will try to make this easy enough for the beginner who is familiar with PSP tools and where they are located. It will use the Ellipse Preset Shape and Pen Tool to edit. You will place your shape in the Preset Shape library. Then you can use it for many other things. I will include the tutorial for heart candy. Since I am not providing selections or images, you may use your completed image any way you wish. The tutorial itself still follows my terms.
Open a New 250 X 250 Transparent Image.
You may want to Flood Fill to help you see better.
Make sure your Layer Palette (F8) and Status Bar are visible. The default placement for the Status Bar is at the bottom of your work space. View - Toolbar - Status if it is not visible.
Ellipse Preset Shape
Foreground: Null
Background: Any color you want
Check:
*Show Nodes
*Create on Vector
*Anti-alias
Look at the Status Bar on the bottom right. As you move the cursor over your workspace, you will notice the x and y coordinates change.
Move your cursor to these coordinates (x:125 y:20)
Click and drag to (230 x 220) in second set of ( ) on the Status Bar.
Right click on image - Convert to path
Pen Tool
Magnify to help you see.
Click on the bottom node and drag the arrow in from either side until you can't see it to form a point.
Make sure the bottom node is still selected. Tap the left arrow key on your keyboard until it lines up straigh with the left node. It was 51 taps for me.
Keep the bottom node selected and click the down arrow on the keyboard 25 times.
Select the left node.
Hold down the Shift key on the keyboard and select the right node.
You should have the left and right node selected.
Tap the up arrow on the keyboard 30 times.
Click anywhere to unselect the nodes.
Click on the node on the right side.
Tap the right arrow on the keyboard 12 times.
Click the + sign by the Vector1 layer on the Layer Palette
Right click on the Vector1 layer on the Layer Palette - Duplicate
You will notice both layers are highlighted.
Select either one, so only one is bold
Image - Mirror
Move Tool
Click the right arrow to move over. I click 3 times.
Now you see what the heart looks like.
If you would like to edit any of the nodes, you can click on either half by selecting New Ellipse on the Layer Palette. Use the Pen Tool and arrow keys to move the nodes. I move the side nodes up 6 more clicks.
Now we need to put both halves on one layer.
Just grab either layer on the Layer Palette and drag to the other one.
Hold down the Shift key on the keyboard to select both.
Right click on either layer - GroupDouble click on Group 1 and name as you wish. You want to make sure you do not have a preset shape with the same name.
File - Export - Shape - Type the same name you used on the layer.
Now you can use from the Preset Shapes
You may save the original if you like, but you have it as a Preset Shape. You can always use it from there at any size and reshape.
On to ~~~> Candy Hearts
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Copyright ©2006 Carla Polston