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| SUPPLIES NEEDED: Paint Shop Pro - I used version 9.0 but I'm certain this can be done in any version with minor changes. My jmr-fish.PspGradient which you can get here . I have also included a zipfile of my selections file if you do not wish to use vectors. Get it here. |
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| INSTRUCTIONS: |
| 1. Open a new transparent image 400 x 400. |
| 2. Set foreground color to #c00000. Set background color to #ff8080, then change to gradient and choose my jmr_fish gradient, angle 0, repeats 0. Choose preset shapes, teardrop and set up as below. |
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| Add a new raster layer named body, draw the fish's body as in the picture above. Free rotate the image 90 degrees right and move into your chosen position. |
| 3. Standing on the background layer, create a new raster layer named tail. Using the same foreground and background settings, choose the heart 2 preset shape and draw the tail for your fish. Click on the raster deform tool and, while holding down the control key, reshape your heart as you desire. Free rotate this layer to the right and move into position. |
| 4. Standing on the tail layer, duplicate it and name the new layer top fin large. Free rotate and move into position on the top of the fish's body. |
| 5. Duplicate this new top fin large layer and resize the layer by 75%. Rename it top fin small and move it into position in front of the large top fin. |
| 6. Duplicate the top fin small layer, rename it bottom fin, rotate it and move it into position. |
| 7. Duplicate the bottom fin layer, rename it side fin, resize this new layer by 75%, arrange the layer so it is on top of the body layer, rotate it and move it into position. |
| 8. On a new raster layer named mouth, using the same color and shape settings, draw a short but wide heart for the mouth. Rotate this layer 90 degrees and move it into position below the body layer. |
| 9. Change your background color to solid using #ffffff (foreground color remains the same), switch back to the preset teardrop shape. Add a new layer named eye and draw a small teardrop. Rotate 90 degrees right and move into position on top of body layer. |
| 10. Change your foreground color to nil and your background color to #000000. Add a new raster layer named pupil and draw a circle to fit inside the eye. Move it into position on top of the eye. |
| 11. Standing on the topmost layer, add a new raster layer named details. Change your foreground color back to #c00000. Select your pen tool, line width 2.00, line style freehand, draw in detail lines on the body, tail, and fins to make your fish look a bit more realistic. |
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| 12. If you want to add a background, put it on the background layer, then merge all visible layers, resize as desired, and save. (I flood-filled the background with color #c0ffff, then effects>texture effects>sculpture>pastel blue splatters, size 100, smoothness 20, depth 1, ambience 50, shininess 35, color #c0ffff, angle 315, intensity 30, elevation 60 and added a bubble tube.) |
| 13. That's it! You're finished. Hope you've enjoyed my tutorial. |
| NOTE: If you choose to use my selections, open the jmr_fish.PspImage file and load each selection from disk on its appropriate layer. Flood fill each selection with color #c00000, then Selections>Modify>Contract by 2 and flood fill with my jmr_fish gradient, angle 90, repeats 0, then deselect. For the eye, flood fill with white after contracting the selection. For the pupil, simply flood fill with black. Draw in details as in step 11 above. Then finish as in step 12. |
This "Vector Fish" tutorial was
written on 18 October 2004 |
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