Info: In this lesson we will cover the difference between Raster and Vector, Vector properties, and other Vector basics.
Vectors, the word that sends a lot of people running for cover. Vectors are really pretty easy and have several good points not found when using Raster. The clipart used in programs such as Microsoft Word are actually vector images that is why you can resize them without losing quality. Raster images are made up of stored pixels. Vector images are made of points (nodes) and paths (curves). When a vector image is saved it is actually the mathematic equation that is stored along with any materials used. When you open/load a vector it is mathematically redrawn using the equation and then filled with the stored materials. Let's see for ourselves what difference this makes.
1. Create a New canvas. (Click File|| New [Ctrl+N])
Width = 300 pixels
Height = 300 pixels
Resolution = 72.00 pixels
Background = Raster
Color Depth = 16 Million Colors (24 Bit)
Color = Transparent Checked
2. Click on the Selection tool then click on the Custom button in the Tool Options Palette. Settings: Left = 0, Top = 0, Right = 100, and Bottom = 100. Click OK.
3. Select the Flood tool. Tool Options settings: Match Mode = None, Sample Merged = UNChecked, Blend Mode = Normal and Opacity = 100. Flood the selection with the Flowers.pspimage pattern that came with PSP 8. Deselect (Selections || None [Ctrl+D]).
4. Click on your Deform tool (D). Left click on the bottom right corner node (handle) of the bounding box, holding down the left mouse button drag the handle to the bottom right corner of the canvas. Minimize this image for now.
5. Create a New canvas. (Click File|| New [Ctrl+N])
Width = 300 pixels
Height = 300 pixels
Resolution = 72.00 pixels
Background = Raster
Color Depth = 16 Million Colors (24 Bit)
Color = Transparent Checked
6. Click the Preset Shapes tool and reset to default. Settings: Shape = Rectangle and Retain Style = UNChecked. Set the Foreground to Null and the Background to the same Flowers pattern you used for the first image. Starting at around (x:0 y:0) holding down the left mouse button drag out to around (x:100 y:100). Release the mouse button. As you can see the rectangle is filled with the flower pattern and there is already a bounding box around it just like the one for the deform tool.
7. Left click on the bottom right corner node (handle) of the bounding box, holding down the left mouse button drag the handle to the bottom right corner of the canvas.
8. Restore the first image and click in the title bar, holding down the left mouse button drag the first image to where you can see both images and release the mouse button. Compare the two images then close them.
Note: You can visually see the difference in quality between the two images but let's point out a few more things. With the Vector image you saved some steps by not having to make a selection, by not having to use the flood tool, by not having to use the deform, and so on. The bad point about vectors is that you cannot apply effects to them. However you can export your vector to Preset Shapes (so that you can use it again) then covert the vector to raster and apply your effects. In the Text Tool lessons I pointed out several issues that make vectors easier then rasters such as being able to use the features on the Object menu.
Now that we know the difference between raster and vector images let's learn how to reshape an existing preset shape.
9. Create a New canvas. (Click File|| New [Ctrl+N])
Width = 300 pixels
Height = 300 pixels
Resolution = 72.00 pixels
Background = Raster
Color Depth = 16 Million Colors (24 Bit)
Color = Transparent Checked
10. Click the Preset Shapes tool and reset to default. Settings: Shape = Dodecagon and Retain Style = Checked. Holding down the Shift key (this makes the shape retain its aspect ratio) drag out a Dodecagon. Size doesn't matter but a larger size may make it easier to work with.
11. Click on the Pen Tool and reset to default. Settings: Mode = Edit. Left click on any node and drag it toward the center then release the mouse button. Repeat this step for every other node. This will form a star shape. When you are done close the image. Note: Don't worry about being perfect we are just learning how to move the nodes right now.
12. Create a New canvas. (Click File|| New [Ctrl+N])
Width = 300 pixels
Height = 300 pixels
Resolution = 72.00 pixels
Background = Raster
Color Depth = 16 Million Colors (24 Bit)
Color = Transparent Checked
13. Click the Preset Shapes tool and reset to default. Settings: Shape = Ellipse, Line = 20, and Retain Style = UNChecked. Set the Foreground to the Marble pattern that comes with PSP and the Background to Null. Drag out an Ellipse around 175 x 250. Note: The Foreground is used for the Line and the Background is used for Fill when using vector tools.
14. Click on the Pen Tool and reset to default. Settings: Mode = Edit. Click on the bottom node and hit the delete key on the keyboard. You now have an arch. Close.
15. Create a New canvas. (Click File|| New [Ctrl+N])
Width = 300 pixels
Height = 300 pixels
Resolution = 72.00 pixels
Background = Raster
Color Depth = 16 Million Colors (24 Bit)
Color = Transparent Checked
Note: The main purpose of the rest of this tutorial is the learn how to manipulate the layers and sub-layers. In steps 16 to 18 we are making a flower petal. You do not have to use my coordinates to make the flower petal. You can use the knowledge gained so far to create you own flower petal (make sure that it is a vector) then go on to step 19. The coordinates will be displayed on the left side of the status bar.
16. Click the Preset Shapes tool and reset to default. Settings: Shape = Ellipse, Line = 1, and Retain Style = UNChecked. Set the Foreground and Backgrounds to the color you want the flower petal to be. Starting at (x:100 y:100) Drag to around (x:150 y:200).
17. Click on the Pen Tool and reset to default. Settings: Mode = Edit. Click on the left node, holding down the mouse button move the node up and to the left to (86.50, 136.50) and release the mouse button. Note: You will need to watch the first group of numbers on the left side of the status bar.
18. Click on the right node, holding down the mouse button move the node up and to the right to (164.50, 136.50) and release the mouse button. Our petal is now shaped.
The purpose of steps 17 and 18 is to draw your attention to the left side of the status bar. You can use the coordinates in this side of the status to perform exact manipulation of the nodes. For example with a little math you can make both sides match exactly. For x: 100.50 - 14 = 86.50 and 150.50 + 14 = 164.50 both sides were moved 14 pixels. For y: 150.50 - 14 = 136.50 this applies for both sides with each node ending up even with each other at 136.50. When I am doing exact manipulation like this I don't watch what is going on in the image, the only thing I pay attention to is the status bar.
19. Click on the Object Selector tool (O). Click on the handle in the middle of the bounding box, holding down the left mouse button drag the petal up towards the top center to make room for the other petals.
20. Click Layers || Duplicate and Deselect (Selections || None [Ctrl+D]). Note: When duplicating a vector layer all the sub layers of both the original layer and the duplicated layer are selected so any action done will be performed on both layers unless you unselect them. We will cover selection and deselecting vector sub layers more thoroughly later on.
21. Click Image || Flip. There should be a bounding box around the flipped petal already if not click on the Object Selector tool (O). Click on the handle in the middle of the bounding box, holding down the left mouse button drag the petal up to bottom of the first one.
22. In the layer palette click on the + sign in front of both vector layers. Click on the Ellipse layer of Copy of Vector 1 layer, holding down the left mouse button drag the Ellipse layer to the Vector 1 layer and release. You should now have 2 Ellipse layers (sub layers) on the Vector 1 layer and 0 sub layers on the Copy of Vector 1 layer.
23. Right click on the Copy of Vector 1 layer in the layer palette and left click Delete to delete the empty layer.
24. Click Layers || Duplicate. In the layer palette click the plus sign in front of both layers if needed to expand them where you can see the sub layers. If a sub layer is selected it is bold (darker black). We need to select both the Ellipse layers in the Copy of Vector 1 layer and deselect any Ellipse layers selected in the Vector 1 layer. To select/deselect sub layers hold down the Shift key and left click on the sub layers. Note: The only layers that should be bold are the two Ellipse layers in the Copy of Vector 1 layer.
25. Click Image || Rotate || Free Rotate (Ctrl+R) Left or Right 90. You could also use the rotate arm of the bounding box instead of Free Rotate.
26. Move the 2 Ellipse layers from the Copy of Vector 1 layer to the Vector 1 layer the same way you did in step 22.
27. Delete the empty layer the same way you did in step 23. You should now have all 4 Ellipse sub layers in the Vector 1 layer.
28. Click Layers || Duplicate. Make sure that the 4 Ellipse layers of the Copy of Vector 1 layer are selected (bold) and that there are not any Ellipse layers selected in Vector 1 layer.
29. Click Image || Rotate || Free Rotate (Ctrl+R) Left or Right 45 or use the rotate arm of the bounding box instead of Free Rotate. Deselect (Selections || None [Ctrl+D]).
30. Click on the Copy of Vector 1 layer in the layer palette. Add a New Vector Layer (Layers || New Vector Layer).
31. Click the Preset Shapes tool and reset to default. Settings: Shape = Ellipse and Retain Style = UNChecked. Change the Background to what you want the center of your flower to be. Place the mouse pointer to around the center of the flower. Now using the RIGHT mouse button drag out a center for the flower. Note: Using the right mouse button when drawing certain shapes will force PSP to draw the shape from the center instead of the edge. Tip: You could also hold down the shift key while dragging with the right mouse button to get a perfect circle drawn from the center.
It would be a shame to let all our hard work go to waste so let's learn how to export the shape. Note: To avoid any problems when exporting a shape it is best that each layer and sub layers have unique names so that it don't conflict with any existing shapes.
32. Change the name of the Vector 1 layer to Flower Back. Change the name of the Copy of Vector 1 layer to Flower Front. Change the name of the Vector 2 layer to Flower Center. Change the name of each Ellipse layer also for example name the layer on the Flower Back layer to fbpetal1, fbpetal2, fbpetal3, and fbpetal4. The naming is up to you just make sure they are unique. Tip: While you are renaming layers is a good time to change any materials and other properties to suit your taste.
Now we need to group the layers for exporting. We could just select all the sub layers of all the layers in one big group however then we lose our individual layers (Flower Front, Flower Back, and Flower Center) and we will need them maintained in order to add drop shadows and etc later.
33. Make sure only the 4 Ellipse layers of the Flower Back layer are selected. Right click on one of the Ellipse layers and left click group. Rename the group layer to Flower Back.
34. Repeat step 33 on the Flower Front layer. Note: You do not need to group the Flower Center layer as there is only one sub layer (object).
35. Select (only) the Ellipse layer on the Flower Center layer and the 2 group layers you just created. Right click on the Ellipse layer and left click Group. Rename this group layer to a unique name, I named mine flower1zjh. Note: Notice how it group items from 3 separate layers and put them in the last layer containing an item you are grouping (Flower Back).
36. Make sure the group layer is selected and click File || Export || Shape. Name the shape the same thing you named the group layer and click OK.
Note: You can now redraw this flower anytime by selecting it in Preset Shapes. The key thing to remember here is that all the sub layers need to be grouped before exporting. Most of the time exporting preset shapes is not this complicated but I wanted you to know how to do the complicated ones. If you only have one layer like the flower center then all you have to do is rename the vector layer and the sub layers, select the sub layers, and export. There is no need to group in that instance. Now we are going to finish making our flower.
37. Right click on the group layer and left click ungroup. Move the sub layers back to their proper vector layer. Put the Ellipse layer back in the Flower Center layer and so on. Note: If you are making the flower from the Preset Shape one you will need to add 2 Vector layers so you can move them.
38. Perform any last minute changes such as materials and so on that you want to do.
39. Right click on each vector layer and left click Convert to Raster layer. Note: As I stated before the layers have to be converted to Raster before you can apply any effects.
40. Apply any effects you want to apply such as drop shadows, inner bevels, and so on. For example you might want to add a drop shadow to the flower front layer and add noise to the flower center layer. When you are done you can export it to Picture tube (Click File || Export || Picture Tube).
That's it for this lesson. You should now have the basics of Vectors and node editing down. We will learn even more about vectors and the vector tools in the next 2 lessons.