©Cathy's Corner - Toy Bench Tutorial

(Click on the above graphic for an
explanation of the FBN skill ratings.)

For this tutorial, you will need:
Paint Shop Pro (written with version 7.04, but should work with version 6 as well).
Toy tubes/images of your choice.

This tutorial is not for the faint of heart! We will be using vectors and doing a lot of node editing. but I've included lots of screen shots to make it as easy as possible. If you're game, let's go!

WARNING - AS WITH MOST OF MY TUTORIALS, THIS ONE IS GRAPHIC INTENSIVE. I HAVE USED MANY SCREEN SHOTS ALONG THE WAY. PLEASE BE PATIENT AND ALLOW THE PAGES TIME TO LOAD.

For anyone who is intimidated by vectors, I have another version of this tutorial using selections, which you can access here; however, it is my sincere hope that you sill try this version. I also hope that you will learn a few tricks about PSP7 along the way! Whichever version you choose - have fun!

While I love showing how to create an image in Paint Shop Pro, it is my sincere hope that you will come away from my tutorials with a little more knowledge of the program than when you started!!!

Right click on the following fill image and save to your hard drive to use as a fill later.

�Cathy's Corner Toy Bench Pattern Fill

Open a new image 350 x 350. Save this image as my_bench.psp. You can now save your image at any time during the tutorial by pressing your Control key and the letter "s". (Ctrl+S) I will be reminding you to save your image throughout the tutorial. Nothing worse than having PSP "crash" and losing all your work...ARGHHHH!!

For this tutorial I found the node editing much easier by creating my vector objects with no fill and changing the properties later.

Make your Foreground Color - #7A5124; Background Color - null

Click on your Preset Shapes Tool and choose the rectangle.

Start at 50, 40 draw out to 300, 100 (making a rectangle 250 pixels wide by 60 pixels high.)

Click on your Objects Selector Tool and click Node Edit.

Add a node at the center point (175) of your top line (Hold down your Control key and left click with your mouse to add a new node.)

Click on your canvas above and to the left of your vector shape. Hold down your left mouse button and drag out a rectangle to enclose only your top three nodes.

Left click on any of the three nodes you have selected and choose: Node Type: Symmetric Left click again on any of the three nodes you have selected and choose: Node Type: Cusp
This will allow you more control over your angles, which we will be changing.

Click on your top left node and drag the control arms into position; we want the left control arm perfectly square, so line it up as shown. We want the right control arm at 100, 50.

In the bottom bar in PSP you can see the control arm position:

Save your image (Ctrl+S)

Repeat for the top right node:


Edit the center node as shown:
Left control arm settings:
Right control arm settings:

Rename this layer "bench back". We'll come back later and change the properties for this layer.

Save your image (Ctrl+S)

Add a new vector layer and name it "left back post". (Layers/New Vector Layer)

Click on your Preset Shapes Tool and choose Ellipse.

If your bench back is still an active selection, deselect. (Selections/Select None)

Start at 50,30 hold down your shift key and use your right mouse button to draw out a circle 25 pixels wide. (Watch your guide at the bottom left for your coordinates.)

Note: Holding down your shift key allows you to draw a perfect circle; holding down your right mouse button allows you to draw from the center point out.

Click on your Objects Selector Tool and right click on your circle.
Choose Copy from the menu.

Right click anywhere on your canvas and choose Paste New Vector Selection from the menu. Move your mouse over coordinates 50,270 and left click. This will paste a new vector circle for the bottom of our leg as shown here. Deselect.

Save your image (Ctrl+S)

Click on your Preset Shapes Tool and choose rectangle.

Starting at coordinates 40,30 draw out a tall narrow rectangle to coordinates 60,270

Click on your Objects Selector Tool and click Node edit.

Add 7 new nodes to each side of your rectangle as shown here.

Space them evenly
along your side, but exact
placement is not necessary at this time.

Click on your canvas above and to the left of your vector shape. Hold down your left mouse button and drag out a rectangle to enclose all of your nodes.

Left click on any of your nodes and choose: Node Type: Symmetric
Left click again on any your nodes and choose: Node Type: Cusp

We want to edit our nodes so our object now resembles this:

Deselect (Selections/Select None)

Save your image (Ctrl+S)

Right click on your "left back leg" layer in your layer pallete and choose duplicate.

Rename this new layer "right back leg"

Mirror this layer. (Image/Mirror)

Deselect if necessary. (Selections/Select None)

You should now have this:

Save your image (Ctrl+S)

On to Page 2.....

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