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This tutorial was created and put on this site on May 26, 2003. It is property of and ©2003 to Beckie's PSP Pages.
Please do not copy or place this tutorial or any of the graphics on any site, e-mail or e-list without written permission directly from me. If you would like to share the URL for this tutorial, you may do so without writing for permission, but I always appreciate a "who, where" e-mail. :-)
This little cartoon critter is an adaptation from one of my grandchidren's books. They asked me to try and draw it and this is what I came up with.
This is an advanced vector tutorial and requires you have a good working knowledge of PSP and where the tools are located.
This tutorial was done using PSP version 8, Download Trial Copy PSP 8 but nothing was used that is not contained in version 7, except the tail decoration and an alternate shape is suggested. Screenshots are not accurately sized so look at the finished Ellie for the proportions I used. It is also graphic intensive and relatively long, so please allow adequate load time.
When ever I say "draw an ellipse" I mean to choose the preset shapes - ellipse - create as vector. Also, when I say left I mean "your" left and when I say right I mean "your" right.
To delete a node right click on the node - node edit - delete.
I'd like to thank Barbara of BJ Web Art for the Paint Shop Pro 8 tutorial which I used to make the background for Ellie Funt. You may find this psp 8 tutorial here Creating Backgrounds Using Materials
Open a new image, transparent background - 500 by 500. Add a new vector layer and choose the preset shape tool - ellipse - background null, foreground a darker color of whatever color you want your Ellie to be. I'm leaving the color choices up to you - be creative, you can even use a pattern. I did almost all of my vectoring with a null background and then went back and double clicked each object with the object selector and added the fill, but you can add the fill as you make each object by making the background the color of your choice. Use a line width of 1 or two for the outline.
To make the body, draw out an oval in the center of the work area, add nodes and shape as above. All my nodes were changed to cusp after adding by double clicking on one node which selects them all, right clicking choose node type and pick cusp. Click outside the nodes and they will be deselected.
Add a new vector layer and draw out a smaller ellipse for her head. Add nodes and shape as above. Add a node where shown, click on that node and delete it.
Click on the left side loose end and pull it down to meet the body. Add an additional node to make the neck curve if necessary.
To make the small lower ear part, add new vector layer draw out a very small oval and shape as above. Adding nodes as needed and deleting the one shown above.
Add a new vector layer below the head layer and draw a small ellipse for the back ear. Add nodes and shape as above. The back section isn't too important as it will be hidden by Elllie's head.
Add a new vector layer above the body layer and draw out an ellipse for the right front leg. Shape as above. Delete the node shown above to form the area where the leg joins the body.
Add a new vector layer below the body layer and draw out an ellipse for the back right leg leg. Add nodes and edit similar to above.
Add another vector layer below the body. Draw out an ellipse add nodes as needed and shape as above for the left back leg.
Add another vector layer above the body. Draw out an ellipse, add nodes as needed and delete the node as shown above. Shape similar to the picture to form the left front leg.
If you have been making your Ellie with a null background, the image above is what you should have. Now is the time to take the object selector and double click on each object, or select each layer in turn and double click to bring up the properties box and add the fill. You can also change the outline width now, if you want to.
The image above is what you should now have, minus the tail (we haven't gotten there yet!
Tail - new vector layer. Preset shape ellipse - draw an oval where the tail should be - foreground color of your choice, background null - delete the top node.
Tail Tip - new vector layer - Preset shape - ink blot if using psp 8, or a shape of your choice, maybe fireworks in psp 7 - foreground and background color of your choice. Draw out an inkblot, or alternate shape similar to the one shown.
Facial Features - new vector layer - using the draw tool - create as vector - draw a line defining her trunk and making her smile, as shown.
Eyes - new vector layer - foreground a darker color than you used for your outline - background white. Preset shape ellipse - draw a circle and edit the shape till you are satisfied. Change foreground to null and background to black - draw a smaller circle for the pupil. Using the object selector draw a selection around the entire eye (starting on an empty area of the canvas) - right click and group. Right click and copy. Right click and paste as new vector selection. Arrange the eyes as you like.
Eyebrows - Using the draw tool - create as vector - draw a straight line. Select the object selector - node type - curve before - curve after - shape the eyebrow - right click - copy - right click - paste as vector selection, then shape the new brow.
Eyelids - New vector layer - foreground null - background, same color as outer eye circle (unless you want her to have some eyeshadow!). Preset shape - ellipse. Draw out a circle and edit to cover the entire eye. Pull the bottom node up - move and shape the other 3 nodes until the lid covers the eye to your liking. Repeat with second eye.
We are done with the vectoring
You can now save as a preset shape if you wish. Take a break...get drink of some sort and shake the cramps out of your hands...then back and on to the detail and shading.
Convert each layer to raster. Your layer pallet should be in the order shown here. Merge the little ear part and head layers visible and rename head.
Eye Twinke - Add a new raster layer at the top of the pallet but under the eyelids, and using the paintbrush, size 5 paint a white dot on the black part of each eye. Apply a guassian blur of 1, this give her a little twinkle.
Eyelashes - click on the eyelid layer - select all - float - defloat - add a new raster layer and using the paintbrush tool paint a 3 or 4 pixel line along the bottom of the lid. Switch to the smudge tool and smudge the line upward to make some fluffy little eyelashes.
Click the eye layer and using the soften retouch tool, lightly soften the line at the bottom of the eye.
Click the head layer and using the paintbrush tool and the same color as your outline, paint in a shadow at the very bottom of the tip of the trunk. See finished graphic for where to shade the bottom of the trunk.
While still on the head layer paint a small crease line at the end of the smile line.
Click the body layer and using a darker shade of your outline color paint a shadow around the ear that is resting against her body. Take the retouch tool - soften, and soften the shadow a tad.
Using the airbrush, same color as your outline, size- 59 Hardness 36 - Step 10 - Density 24 - Opacity - 100 - Pick each of your layers in turn, float defloat, new raster layer. Set each new raster layer to dissolve and spray some shading all around the elephant making it darker where shadows would be. Vary the size of the airbrush to fit the area you are spraying.
Merge all your layers visible and using the retouch tool - soften - soften some of the "dissolved" areas just a little bit.
Ellie Funt is basically done. Now you can add any decorations, shoes, hat, flowers or whatever you want to fancy her up.
I hope you enjoyed making this little critter as much as I did creating her. If you have any questions or problems just e-mail me
My tester has outdone me! Thank you Helena for a job well done.
