PSP 7 Tutorial Tiny Dancer Annie

This tutorial published August 24, 2002

This is for the medium to advanced PSP user with a very good working
knowledge of the program and using layers.

If you want to try this tutorial and are in need of extra
help, you can go here to CS Green's tutorial on using selections.
Using Selections

This is my second little dancer and her name is Annie.
She was made in PSP 7. Which you can get here, JASC

This is a Selections tutorial which you can download here:
SELECTIONS

If you would like to use my face, hands and hair, download them here:
ANNIE PSP FILES

I have included the hands psp file in zip for those who feel
uncomfortable trying to make the hands. I'm sure you will be able
to make better hands than mine.

For a tutorial on making basic hands you can go here
Lori's PSP Tutorial Drawing Hands

This is a very repetative tutorial and I will not be using many screen shots.
There are not too many layers and you can name them or not, your choice.

The selections are numbered in the order they should be on the layer pallate.

'Annie'

Let's begin by opening a new transparent image 200 X 550. You can
flood this layer with your choice of color.

REMEMBER TO SAVE OFTEN

Quick color reference

THE SKIN
Add a new layer for each selection.
The selections are numbered in the order I used them.
Add a new layer and load the 01_annie_ neck and flood with #B28356,
selections modify / contract by 1 then flood with #FEDFB8.
Invert / Drop Shadow using these settings

horizontal/vertical 0
opacity 75
blur 21
shadow color #B28356

deselect and add 3 % noise.

These are the settings I used, but you should feel free to play around and
experiment with the settings to get a look that you perfer, or even skin shades!!

You will use these setting for all the flesh with slight veriations in the blur.
Add a new layer and load the 02_annie_ head. Continue as above.

Next you will load the hands and lower the blur somewhat. Then you will
have to shape your hands adding darks and lights and blending...

I provided both a left and right hand...
but you could just use one or the other then duplicate the layer and mirror,
if you prefer both hands to be in the same pose.

If you choose to use mine then just copy and
paste as a new layer then slide the hands into position, dragging these layers
under the leotard layer when you have that layer loaded.

The Leotard
Load the 05_annie_leotard.sel. Now you will need to decide what colors
you wish to use. Choose a really dark shade of the color and flood fill then
contract by one and then fill with the lighter shade of your choice.
I used black and dark gray orignally and then used the colorizer, or the manual
color correction to change colors... if you have the variations filter you can
try that as well.

Invert / Drop Shadow using these settings

horizontal/vertical 0
opacity 75 to 100
blur 30
shadow color: Very dark shade of your color

deselect and add 3 % noise.

Add a new layer and load 06_annie_right_sleeve.sel. Using the same
colors you used above lowering the blur to about 12 or so. Add a new layer
and load 07_annie_left_sleeve.sel. Repeating the above steps.

Now turn off all the layers and then turn on ONLY the leotard and the two
sleeve layers and Merge Visable. Rename this layer leotard, or outfit or whatever.

Click on your retouch tool and use these settings
SOFTEN
size 2 hardness 50
opacity 70 step 25 density 50

Soften the area where the sleeves meet the leotard.
Now select/float, add a new layer and with your paintbrush set on about 3-5.

Draw some curved lines under the rib cage and just above the hips then add a blur of
about 2. In case of overspray... select/float leotard / invert click on the shadow layer and
hit the delete key once or twice to get rid of the overspray.

LEGS
Add a new layer and load 08_annie_back_foot.sel. Flood fill with black/contract by
1 then flood fill with dk gray, invert apply same drop shadow using black shadow.
Add a new layer, load 09_annie_back_leg. Repeat the flesh steps above, changing the drop
shadow to 21, deselect and add noise.
Add a new layer and load 10_annie_front_leg.sel. Repeat the steps for the flesh.
Add a new layer and load 11_annie_front_foot.sel. Repeat steps for previous slipper
changing the blur to 10.

You will want to add another layer for shading.

Click on the FRONT leg, select/float add a new layer and with the paintbrush and
using the same color give some indication of the knee and calf muscle. Repeat the blur.
If you should decide to use tights omit this step right now and add a new layer and
flood with the color of tights you want, then lower the opacity to about 70% or
whatever suites your own taste. Then add a new layer and do the knee and muscle in a
darker contrasting color as in example above arrow 3.

Click on the BACK LEG, add a layer and with your paintbrush using #B28356 color
with the opacity set at 50 and the brush size about 5 on the brush options. paint a
line following the curve of the top leg and then add a gaussian blur of 2, as in arrow 2 above.
If you think it too dark you can lower the opacity of the layer. If you have overspray
simply invert/ and delete the overspray.

Click on the Front leg add a layer and add some brightness with the paintbrush. If
you are wearing white tights... use white..... if you are just using flesh then use a very
light shade of the flesh and then blur by 2.... as in the above example, arrow 1.

FINISHING TOUCHES
Almost finished, now... for the fun stuff... decorating and making her shine.

These are all suggestions.. feel free to play and give your own ideas a try.

Now you can either use the supplied face or create your own.
Paste on top of the head layer if using mine, and slide into position.
You may have to use the softening tool to blend into the head layer.

Then I clicked on the neck layer and added a new layer
painted drop shadow using #B28356
which I then applied a gaussian blur of about 2.

Open the hair back file and paste as a new layer and bring it down to the
bottom behind the neck layer. Next open the long hair and paste onto the
layer above the head/face.... but behind the hands and sleeves..
Add a drop shadow with h/v 0/ blur 2 / op 100 / color black, or dk brown.
Or have some fun and create your own hairdo's !! It's fun to play.

Then I added an earring... just have fun with her. She is 'BASIC' and your
job is to make her 'SPECIAL' !!

I always save a copy in PSP with layers intact so I can change the look.

When finished merger visable and tube, if you want.

I hope that you have enjoyed this tutorial.

(Email)
pinkfly@yahoo.com

(Home)

(Tubes) (Tutorials) (Graphics)

(About Me)