Simply sandi's Proud to be American tutorial
Click the above graphic to receive tutorial supplies to do in alpha channels.  If you would prefer using selections, click here.
Download zip file and unzip to folder of your choice.  Slide the psp image into psp. We will be using alphachannels for this tutorial.  I have labeled each layer with the color you are to use.  You can slide my completed graphic into psp and use your color picker if you want to use same colors I did, or just guess at the colors.  Click on the manbody layer at the bottom of the layer palette, go to selections, load from alpha channel.
Go to alpha channel, simplysand_proud_Americans for layers thru manhair, then use simplysand_proud_Americans2 for the rest of the layers.

To use cutouts, go to the layer palette and click on the red x on the lock on the right side of the layer you are working on.

Use this cutout while selected and unlocked-v & h ), opacity 100, blur 20, black, do not check fill interior. 
Use cutout on these layers-manarmblue, womanarmred, all manbow layers, mancollarwhite, manhand, womanhand, all woman collar layers, manhead, womanhead, manbeard, manhair, womanhair, all womanhat layers, all woman bow layers.

Cutout for flagstick- v & h 0, opacity 100, blur 3.8, black, fill not checked.
Use this drop shadow for womans cheeks- v & h 2, opacity 100, blur 13.6, color 774D23.
Open face detail layers and mans hat layer and move them into place.  When you have made all the layers and beveled and shadowed, add a new layer.
Activate your preset shapes too, make background color white or offwhite, foreground null (closed, no color)
Set preset shapes to rounded rectangle, and pull a rectangle from left to righ, use teh coordinate numbers at the bottom left corner of psp as a guide.
Set your cursor at about 40 300 and pull right to about 450 400.  Selections, select all, selections float, selections invert, effects, drop shadow, settings- v & h 0, opacity 100, blur about 50.  Deselect, activate deformation tool, hold ctrl key and pull an upper corner node toward the center about 10 pixels (you can see pixels by going to view , rulers)  Add a layer and drag it beneath the previous layer.  Here you can either just make a pole using your linedraw tool set to single line and using round bevel on it or using preset shapes tool again, choose pentagon shape and drag out a slim pentagon for a sign holder.  Use your line tool, set to single line, 2, foreground color black,  background null, draw a line down the middle of the pentagon, effects, blur 2, effects, drop shadow, v & h 0, opacity 80, blur 4.9. ok.  Add a layer, add your text, add a layer add, foreground null, background set to red or blue and make some stars with your preset shapes tool.  Merge visible and save. 
Hope you have enjoyed this tutorial and maybe learned a thing or 2. 
Sandisuetoo (simplysandi)

This tutorial was written and placed here 4-15-2003.  I got the idea for this tutorial from a catalog and recreated it using vectors.  The graphic you make using this tutorial is yours to do with as you please. 
Click here to go to tutorial table of contents