Preset Shape Ant

This tutorial was written for intermediate users of PSP. It will expose you to a few techniques you can do in PSP. I hope you will find it useful and learn some new things. I am using PSP version 9. PSP versions 8 and up should be able to follow the directions. Beginners with knowledge of where their tools are may what to try this. I put some images in to help you. I wish I knew to save all my Vectors in Preset Shapes when I first started creating with them.

BY...doing this tutorial you are agreeing to the Terms of Use

Please make sure you have read them.
Since I did not provide selections or images, you may use the results of this tutorial any way you wish.  The tutorial itself still follows my Terms of Use.

Open a new Transparent Image. I used the size 250 X 250 but you can go larger if you prefer.
Save in PSP format in folder of your choice.

Select a Background color of your choice and null Foreground.

Make sure you Layer Palette is visible (F8).
You may want to expand the layers by clicking on the + in front of each layer on the Layer Palette then double click on each layer and name it. This makes it easier to work with later on when used from the Preset Shapes Click on the check to Apply .

Head
Preset Shape - Ellipse
Select the Draw Circle with Anti-alias checked .
Drag out a circle close to the top center of the screen.
Click on the check to Apply.
SAVE

Middle
Right click on this layer on the Layer Palette - Duplicate
Click on the Mover Tool - Click back on the Title Bar of the image you are creating.
Hold down the Shift key on the keyboard and tap the Down arrow around 5 times. To move by pixel, do not hold the Shift key. I use the arrow keys to help keep things aligned.
You can just use the Mover Tool and drag to the location if you prefer. You must have the Mover Tool selected to use the Arrow keys to move.
Click on the check to Apply .
SAVE

Bottom
Preset Shape - Ellipse
Layers - New Vector Layer
Select - Draw Ellipse
Drag out an elliptical shape for the bottom section of the ant.
Click on the line around the image to move over to place.
Right click and select Covert to path.


Pen Tool
Click on the Node at the bottom of the ellipse.
Draw the arrow in toward the center to make a point. Magnify if you need to.

The image was magnified.
Click on the Node on the right and hold down the Shift key and click on the center left Node to select both side Nodes.
Use the up arrow on the keyboard or just drag up the nodes a little.

Use the Object Selector to shape more if you would like to. I made mine a little more narrow and longer.
Click on the check to Apply.
SAVE

Legs
Click back on the bottom Raster Layer on the Layer Palette.
Foreground - Color of your choice and Background - Null.
Pen Tool
I used a Width of 2 with the Anti-alias checked.
Start at the middle section and click in 3 places for the leg.

Click on the check to Apply.
You can right click - Duplicate and use the Mover Tool to place the other two.
Right click on the two upper leg layers on the Layer Palette and Merge down to the bottom leg layer so all the legs are on one layer.

Right click on leg layer - Duplicate
Image - Mirror
Mover Tool to drag to place.
SAVE

Feet
Layers - New Vector Layer
Background - Color of your choice and Foreground - Null.
Preset Shape - Ellipse
Drag out small elliptical shape for the foot.
Click on the check to Apply.
You can right click - Duplicate and use the Mover Tool to place the other two.
Right click on the two upper foot layers on the Layer Palette and Merge down to the bottom foot layer so all the feet are on one layer. Right click on feet layer - Duplicate
Image - Mirror
Mover Tool to drag to place

SAVE

Antennae
Click back on the head Layer on the Layer Palette.
Layers - New Vector Layer
Foreground - Color of your choice and Background - Null.
Pen Tool
I used a Width of 1 with the Anti-alias checked.
Make sure you have selected Bezier Curves.

Click a little to the upper right on the head and drag up a little.
Click over to the right and drag down a little.
Click over to the right and drag up a little.

The image is magnified. You will see the eye which you do not have on yet.
Click on the check to Apply.
Right click on antennae layer - Duplicate
Image - Mirror
Mover Tool to drag to place

Layers - New Vector Layer
Preset Shape - Circle
Background - Color of your choice and Foreground - Null.
Select the Draw Circle with Anti-alias checked.
Drag out a small circle over the end of the antennea.
Click on the check to Apply.
Image - Mirror
Mover Tool to drag to place
SAVE

Eye
Layers - New Vector Layer
Preset Shape - Ellipse
Background - Color of your choice and Foreground - Null.
Select the Draw Ellipse with Anti-alias checked.
Drag out a small ellipse for the eye.
Use the Object Selections to rotate a little by clicking on the handle and rotating up slightly.
Click on the check to Apply.
Image - Mirror
Mover Tool to drag to place

SAVE

Now to save to the Preset Shapes.
Duplicate your original and close. I always try to leave the original as is.
Click on the open bottom layer on the Layer Palette - Right click - Select All. All the layers should be bold face.

Click on any of the sublayers under this layer and drag up. All the layers will move to one.
Right click on any of the bold face layers - Group.

Selections - Select None (Ctrl=D)
. Double click on Group 1 and rename ant(number) or your choice. I usually number them because I have more than one ant in my Preset Shapes library.
File - Export - Shape - Give the same name as above.
Now you should be able to find it in your Preset Shapes.
Before you close the image, check your Preset Shapes to make sure it is there. Then you can close the duplicated image without saving.
If not, you have probably changed where to place your Preset Shapes under File - Preferences - File Locations. If you know how to do this, then I'm sure you know where to go looking for your folder.

Hope you have enjoyed this tutorial.

This tutorial was written on May 1, 2009 and copyrighted to Carla Polston.