In this lesson we will briefly cover PSP Effects and using the Effects Browser
Extract the file from the b10effects1zjh_v8-dl.zip file, which contains the image I applied one of the effects to.
PSP comes with many effects which you can see by clicking on the Effects menu and looking at the sub-menus. In the next lesson we will be covering some of the most commonly used effects. In this lesson we will explore what the different effects do using the Effect Browser.
Effects don't work without an image open so lets create one real quick.
Create a New canvas. (Click File|| New [Ctrl+N])
Width = 200 pixels
Height = 200 pixels
Resolution = 72.00 pixels
Background = Raster
Color Depth = 16 Million Colors (24 Bit)
Color = Transparent Checked
Click your Flood tool and reset to default. In Tool Options set the Match Mode to None. Flood the empty canvas with a Gradient of your choice. I chose Rainbow Pastel.
Click Effects || Effects Browser. On the left hand side of the Effects Browser you will see folders. In the big area in the middle will be thumbnails depending on which folder is selected. On the right is the controls.
In the folder section you will see 2 main categories Adjust and Effects. The Adjust section contains effects on the Adjust menu and the Effects section contains effects on the effects menu.
Click on the different folders and look at the thumbnails. This is the easiest way to see what the different effects do.
Now that you have a general idea what the different effects do. Lets see how to use Effects Browser to apply.
You should still have the Effects Browser open. Choose an effect you like by clicking on the thumbnail. I chose Texture Effects - Tiles - Bath Tiles.
Once you have chosen an Effect you like click on the Apply button to the right. This will close the Effect Browser and apply the effect. The image is already seamless so you can use it as a fill.
Tip: If you want to apply different effects to the same beginning image Duplicate the beginning image (Windows || Duplicate [Shift+D]) before applying an effect.
You can apply more then one effect on the same image. Duplicate (Windows || Duplicate [Shift+D]) the image with the effect applied to it.
Click Effects || Effects Browser and find another effect you like and apply it. I chose Texture Effects - Straw-wall - Factory Defaults. Click apply.
You should now have 2 images Save (File || Save) them and close them.
Now let's modify an effect using the Effect Browser. Open the goldfishzjh.jpg included in the download file. Click Effects || Effects Browser and choose Reflections Effects - Kaleidoscope and click on one of the thumbnails. Click Modify. This will open the Kaleidoscope dialog the same as if you would have clicked Effects || Reflection Effects || Kaleidoscope on the menus.
Take a few minutes and look around the dialog. Try changing some of the settings. Click the dice a few times. The dice is for randomizing the settings and can produce some pretty interesting effects.
This is the settings I used:
Horizontal Offset = -58
Vertical Offset = -1
Rotation Angle = 25
Scale Factor = 68
Number of Petals = 20
Number of Orbits = 4
Radial Suction = 55
Edge Mode = Reflect
Save (File || Save)
PSP has many effects. Take some time to explore them so you can see what they do. Using different images while exploring the effects will give you an even better idea of what an effect does.
This lesson just covered the basics of using effects. In the next lesson we will cover some the most commonly used effects.
If while changing settings for the different effects you find something you really like then don't forget to save the preset. You can also find several places where you can download presets other people have made.
I hope you have fun exploring the effects.