Silly Eyes Sig Tag 2005 by Carla Polston

Silly Eyes Sig Tag
~Part 1~

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

You may use the graphic as you like, since this is just a learning tutorial showing you some techniques. I did not supply any selections or fills. The tutorial itself still follows my terms.
Please make sure you have read them.

This tutorial was written using PSP9. You may do in other version of PSP, but locations for effects and adjustments may be located in different areas. This tutorial was written with the intermediate user in mind. People who are comfortable with tools but ready to explore more options in PSP, will probably find this tutorial useful. You will be working with some simple vector editing and Animation Shop. You will also be adding a shape to your Shape Folder. Everytime I create a new shape, it gets placed in the Shape Folder. I sure wish I know to do this when I first began to use vector shapes. I think it is a very important habit to get into. In my book, I value it as high as saving your images often.

This was probably the most difficult tutorial I have written so far. It is packed with ways to do things. I tried to keep the different versions of PSP in mind while writing it. That is getting more difficult to do! It also is like 3 tutorial rolled into one. I hope it will be clear enough for all PSP version users to use.

If nodes and node editing are new to you, you may want to try this tutorial. It was written for PSP8, but PSP7 users may get some ideas about using nodes. PSP 9 users, there are some changes in the way you work with nodes. I will include the changes in this tutorial.

Where is Bezier

You really need to play with them for a while and become comfortable with how the work. This tutorial has easy nodes, but the above tutorial will help you feel more comfortable with how they work.

GLASSES

Lens Frames
New Image 125 X 125 (Save in PSP format as any name you would like.)
Preset Shapes - Ellipse (PSP 9, click on the circle for Mode. Other versions of PSP hold down the Shift key as you drag out the ellipse to get a circle.
Line Style: Default
Line Width: 2
Anti-alais can be check or unchecked
***There are several ways you can work this in Animation Shop. I will tell you two. One with Anti-alias and one without.***
Foreground color - Null
Background color - Any color you wish that will show up well in your Preset Shape library. I would stay away from lighter colors.
Drag out a circle near the center around 30 X 30 pixels. You can see this on the Status Bar usually located toward the lower right corner. If you can not see it, go to Title Bar - View - Toolbars - Status.

~PSP 9 users, click on the check on the Tool Option Palette to apply or right click on image and select.~
SAVE

Right click on the Vector 1 Layer on the Layer Palette - Duplicate
Use the Mover Tool to drag down and to the left a little.

Nose Piece
Select the
Pen Tool (v 8 & 9)
PSP7 and below need to select the Line Tool (Pencil) with Bezier Curve option or you could freehand.
We are making a small arched line for the nose piece
Click on either inside edge of the frame and drag up a little so you see a small arrow.
Click on the other inside edge of the frame and drag down a little so you see a small arrow. You can click on the arrow handles (ends) to adjust if necessary.

~PSP 9 users, click on the check on the Tool Option Palette to apply or right click on image and select.~
SAVE

Arm Piece
New Vector Layer
I changed the color so the arrows are easier to see.
Click on either outside edge of the right frame and drag up a little so you see a small arrow.

Click up and slightly to the left and drag arrow slightly up toward the right.

Click slightly to the right and up and drag arrow down to the right a little.

You can click on the arrow handles (ends) to adjust if necessary.
You may want to click on this layer on the Layer Palette and drag this layer below the other Vector Layers on the Layer Palette.
This is how my Layer Palette looks right now.

I named the layers for you to see. I do not always name layers, but I think it is best if you are going to save as a Preset. This way if you use the image again it is easier to identify each layer if you want to modify. To name the layer, click on the + sign on the Layer Palette, double click on the layer, and type the name on the pop-up.
Right click on the Vector 2 Layer (or the Layer you have the arm piece on) on the Layer Palette - Duplicate
Use the Mover Tool to drag to the left side of the frame.
~PSP 9 users, click on the check on the Tool Option Palette to apply or right click on image and select.~
SAVE

Glasses are finished.

Let's move on to creating the Preset Shape

PRESET SHAPE
I usually make a duplicate (Shift+D) of my original as it is and close the original.
You will be working on the Layer Palette, make sure it is open (F8)
Click on any + you see on the Layer Palette so you can see the layers below the Vector Layers.
You want all the layers together under one Vector Layer. It does not matter if you want to drag them to the top or bottom. Just make sure you keep them in order. To drag, click on the layer you want to move and drag to where you want it placed.

Hold down the Shift key and click on each of the layers of the eyeglasses
If they are BOLD, you have them selected.
Right click on any of the Bold layers and select Group
Double click on Group1 and name as you wish on the pop-up. (I usually highlight it, Ctrl+C to copy the name, they paste Ctrl+V when I name in the Preset pop-up.)
File - Export - Shape
Type the name in or Ctrl+V if you copied to paste.
Now it is in your Preset Shape Library.

Let's move on to creating the graphic to animate and animation HERE

Hope you have enjoyed this tutorial.

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