Using Scripts in PSP

Ive had a couple of requests for information on how to use scripts in Paint Shop Pro..so this tutorial will take you all the way from downloading to installing and using a script.

im going to use my latest script for this tut (not even om the scrapsville blog yet so here is the zip file you will need to download to do this tutorial (of course any script will do but if this is your first script it will be handy to follow all the steps as they are written).

download the script here

just a few notes first..most scripts you will find will work fine  in PSP 9 10 and X2 ..but if you have PSP8 you will need to look for scripts that specifically say they will work with version 8 or if your fav script isnt available write to the designer and ask if it is possible to get that script in PSP8 format..

next note..not everyone keeps their files in the same place so  don't assume that if the instructions say unzip  to C:\Program Files\Jasc Software Inc\Paint Shop Pro 9\Scripts-Restricted  that that is a hard and fast rule..that is the default ..if you've been using PSP for a while you will know where your files are kept ..for instance i use a external memory doodah to keep all my graphic resources on to keep the main computer clear for other stuff (ok i admit it i use two external hard drive doodahs cos i filled one already lol) so i would download my to M://psp/scripts restricted. another reason for doing it like this is that i use psp 8 9 and 10 and i can point all three programs to the same files to save space (i dont have to have three folders of the same stuff taking up three times as much space) ok enough waffle

so you should have downloaded the zip file containing the script the instructions and any other files that are needed..in this case there are two selections as well as the script

open the zip file and read the "PLEASE READ ME" file

this should tell you which script folder to extract your script to  (there are two diffrent script  folders in psp trusted scripts and restricted scripts) if you downloaded mine then we need the restricted folder

either extract  the script file by using the folder search in your unzipping program or by opening your folder and dragging the file from the zipped file to the folder

this is winzip    (you can get a free copy  here )
open the zipped file click on the file you want to extract to highlight it and click UNZIP( or older versions may say extract) at the top

find your scripts restricted folder in the drop down box and click UNZIP ( or older versions may say extract) at the bottom

now do the same with the two selection files and extract these to your selections folder in psp



now go ahead and load up your psp

if you havent already got the script toolbar open in your top toolbars go ahead and do it  heres how:

go to the script toolbar

use the drop down box on the script toolbar to find your script (thats the one with the arrow)

your instructions should have told you if you need to have anything already open in psp but in this case we dont

some scripts will just go ahead and do there thing without you having to do anything others will give you the choice of colours or tints  gradients or pattens etc.

go ahead and click the play button (no 1)

if you downloaded my script it will ask you to choose your colours just follow the instructions in the pop up boxes

click OK and this will take you to the materials options...choose a nice green and click OK
it will ask you to  pick another colour this time for the flower

 click OK and this will take you to the materials options again ...choose a nice blue and click OK

if there are no more colour choices or any interactive processes then it will carry on and continue to make your graphic ..you need do no more to mine so sit back and watch all the shading taking place before your eyes
this will not take long even though it took at least half an hour to do originally

when it has finished you may or may not get another pop up box saying thanks   (depending on how intricate the script is this can sometimes effect the script so they may not all have them) just click OK and voila your script has performed magic

Don't forget to check the read me files for cu/pu restrictions and terms of use ...please make sure you credit  the designers.. a lot of hard work and love goes into every creation ..
Don't be afraid to think outside the box when choosing your colours try a gradiant or pattern instead of a colour..dont stick to the obvious colour ways a lot of scripts will look just as good in monochrome or  in the colour pallette you are using for your tags or kits..below are a few examples of the same script but in diffrent colour or pattern choices.

I hope this tut has been easy to follow as i do tend to waffle a lot ...please leave a comment if there is anything else you need help with..

Try diffrent colours

Try gradients

Try patterns

Easy Lace Doily

these are so preety and so easy when you know how:

I did this in PSP9 but it will work in any version.....

open a new canvas 1200 x 1200 (its better to make them bigger as there may be a lot of erasing to do round the edge later). Flood fill this with a dark colour so we can see what we are doing .

add a new layer

change your foreground colour to the colour you want your doily to be

choose your paint brush with the small circle set on about size 20 and with the default settings



now the fun bit ..Scribble lots of curly loops all over the canvas

how much you fill the space is up to you cos this is what help make each doily diffrent

heres mine

now go to EFFECTS /REFLECTION EFFECTS /KALIEDESCOPE

these are the settings im using for this tut



horizontal offset -57
vertical offset -57
rotation 0
scale -90
petals 20
radial suction 23

dont change the orbits as you get a completely diffrent effect from what we want here

ok so now you should have something like this

if you dont get a defined circle play around with the settings a bit till you do



with your eraser get rid of the bits round the edge so we are left with just the whole round pattern in the middle

now see any gaps between the inner spirals ...use your magic wand and click in the gap

add a new layer

flood fill the selection with the same colour as your doily. while this is still selected go to EFFECTS/ARTISTIC EFFECTS/HALFTONE and choose the round option with a small size i used 2

 

apply this effect then lower the layer transparency to about 50 deselect and merge this layer down (or turn off the bottom layer and merge visible)

add a drop shadow to your doily 2, 2, opacity 67 and 0 blur
and thats it your doily is done
heres mine

you could fill in the other gaps in the middle too for a diffrent look

now try :

more or less scribbles
changing the setting in kaleidescope
using a gradient to draw with
using diffrent textures on the filled in bits
using a slight bvel or texture on the doily

i hope youve enjoyed this tut
send me your finished doilys and ill post them here on the blog
this tut is just the basic groundwork the rest is up to your imagination

Mask Tutorial 3 - Airbrushing

Airbrushing

A very good friend of mine suggested I did a tutorial on this

For you all so here we go

What you’ll need: -

A mask... if you want to use the one im workking on here you can get it here

A tube

PSP

A happy heart

Open your mask and tube in PSP (this will work in any version.

The tools may be in different places but they will be there)

Just a little preparation now so that it’ll turn out right...Lol

If it’s a Black based jpg leave as is…

If it’s a White based jpg then we need to change it to a negative image...

In PSP 9 go to the top menu bar - ADJUST/colour balance / negative image

In PSP 10 go to the top menu bar - IMAGE/ negative image

If it’s a .gif or it has a .pspmask or a .mask at the end then we need to up the colours in the Image

In PSP 9 and 10 go to the top menu bar- IMAGE/increase colour depth and choose the 16 million colours in version 9 or the `rbg 8 bits` in version 10 or hit the shortcut which is ctrl-shift-0 (that’s a zero not a o)

Ok that’s the boring bit out of the way

In the tool palette choose your airbrush

psp 10

psp 9

Look at the tool options bars and set yours like this (we can play and change this later)

 

Now choose a colour from your tube or a colour you like in your foreground (that’s the top box in your materials pallete)

On your mask drag your brush over the part you want to colour. Its better to use short strokes and to try and go in the same direction but you can experiment and see what works best for you

Its very light so do it again until you get the depth of colour you like you can always go over it again later, and don’t worry if you go over the lines a bit it looks ok even if you do

If you have very thin lines to paint just turn the size of the brush down

(Remember you have an undo button so if you make a mistake its no biggy

But do save often just in case)

Choose another colour and carry on building up your picture heres mine so far

Try varying the opacity on different parts of the picture

You don’t have to colour in all the parts if you leave some unpainted that looks good too

Once your happy with your painting add your tube and your name and credits

Add a border and there you have it

Heres mine

Now try this on a White image

Try changing the hardness and opacity thickness and density

Try using a custom brush shape

All you need is imagination

I hope you’ve managed to follow this tut and if you have and you’ve enjoyed it

Let me know and if not and you need anything explaining further let me know that too. And if you want to send me your results ill show them on the blog

Mask Tutorial 2

Overlays 2 - advanced overlay

For this tutorial I will show you another way of making an overlay using two colours.

This way will give you more choices when it comes to blending the two layers together

1 Open a new image I’m going to size mine at 800 x800 which would be a good size for a background paper for a tag or taggers kit

2 Flood fill with a light grey colour I used the one that is two up from the white in the materials palette

3 New layer, flood fill with black

4 Apply a mask the same as we did in tutorial one

5 Delete the Mask and merge your layers

6 New layer, flood fill with the colour of your choice and move this layer by dragging it below the masked layer

7 Highlight the top layer again and play about with the layer blends till you get an image you like. Notice that this time you get more differences in the way the layers blend

8 Merge your layers and save your image

Heres some blend examples

if you enjoyed this tut leave a hug

Mask Tutorial 1

With so many versions of PSP being used around the world
The graphic community has needed to find ways of sharing recourses that are cross version and JPG Masks are one of its hidden gems.

Not just a pretty faded background any longer, masks can be turned into many wondrous things, page layouts, overlays and graphic designs in their own right

Here I will attempt to show you a couple of things I like to do with them

Overlays 1 basic overlay

1 Open a new image I’m going to size mine at 800 x800 which would be a good size for a background paper for a tag or taggers kit

2 Flood fill with the colour of your choice mine is a nice lilac

3 New layer flood fill with black or the next dark grey colour down from black

4 On the top menu bar go to Layers - Load/Save Mask - Load mask from Disk



5 choose a nice fading edge mask



6 * note: for this we need to use the mask in the opposite way to what you would normally so make sure you invert the mask if all the black is at the edge if you click the little box under the preview you will get a better idea of how the opacity looks



7 Apply the mask

8 In your layer palette click on the mask layer and delete it then merge the group

9 Highlight your masked layer and either lower the opacity so you get a nice blended edging or play about with the layer blends till you get an edge effect you like.. then merge your layers and save your image

heres mine I just lowered the opacity



now you can go further with this by using some flower or swirl brushes in the corners
or using a filter to add some stains and lines to make it look older. or you could try adding noise or trying some of the artistic effects that PSP has like chalk or pencil.

i hope i made this easy enough to understand if not leave me a comment and ill try to make it better

if you enjoyed this tut leave a hug.