This tutorial is written in Version 9 but will work well in Version 8. You will need only a basic knowledge of PSP, including the Layers, names of tools and where to find them and how to set colors. All other instructions are written in detail. The purpose of this tutorial is to show various ways to make a box like the one above and also to explain some of the settings of the Visros Plugin Box feature.

Supplies needed for this tutorial:

• Paint Shop Pro, Version 8 or 9
     (Tutorial was done in Version 9 but should work in all versions.)
• Visros Filter - Free - click here to Download
     (Make sure you get the registration code.)
• Font of your choice. I'm using Electrik Font for the examples.
• Pattern of your choice.
  

  (If you wish to use the background used in my example, you can download it by clicking on the image on the right.)

Build the Box

1. Open a new image, 300 x 300 pixels, 16 million colors, transparent background. We will be using this layer so leave it transparent for now.
2. Add a New Raster Layer    and flood fill it with a pattern or color of your choice or use the one provided.
3. Rename the new layer "Box".
4. Go to Effects/Plugins/Visros/Box.
   Look first at the section on the top left. This is where you set how the box is viewed and the dimensions.
   
   
   

   
   Positions refer to the viewing position. Click on each one and see how the viewing position changes.
   
   For this tutorial we'll use the Top Right position.

5. Create the Shape:
   To make the box the shape of a tissue box, use the following settings in the Dimensions section. If you move the sliders you will see which side of the box is changed by each dimension as the slider moves. You can also highlight the numbers and type in new ones.
   • X = 102 (Controls size front to back)
   • Y = 178 (Controls size side to side)
   • Z = 76 (Controls height)
     
     Your box should now look like a tissue box similar to the one below.
     
     
     
6. Viewing Angle:
   The Viewing Angle adjustments move the box around so that it would appear to be viewed by new angles. You should try various one to see how they work.
   
   

   For this tutorial the settings are:

   • Horiz = 60
   • Vert. = 30
   • 3D = 70
   • Size = 90

   
7. Light Source:
   These controls allow you to lighten and/or darken the top, front and side of the box individually. The shading is caused by the 3D appearance and in some cases you may wish one side to be darker or lighter. I wanted the front of my box to be a bit lighter so I only increased the X slider. These are the settings used:
   • X = 87
   • Y = 50 (Default)
   • z = 100 (Default)
   
   
8. Page Properties:
   In the Page Properties there are several things to set. Open the drop down area and you will see all sides of the box are represented by X Page, Y Page, Z Page and the Background Page.
   
   For this tutorial, use the drop-down box to choose the settings for X, Y, Z pages and set them to:
   • Image = Checked (nothing chosen in other buttons)
   • Opaque = 255
   • AntiAlias = Checked
     
     
   Background page in the drop-down box refers to the background of the image. Here is where you can specify if you wish the box to result in a transparent image. To do this choose Background Page in the drop down box and use the following settings:
   
   
   
   • Solid = Checked
   • Color = White
   • Opaque = 0
   

Once all of the above settings are complete, click OK and you should have a larger version similar to the image shown below.

Use your Move tool and drag the box toward the lower center of the canvas in order to make space for the tissue.

Finish the Box Oval Cutout Use your Preset Shape Tool and choose the Ellipse from the drop down window. Set your Foreground/Stroke to one of the darker colors in your pattern. I used #8993AD. Turn off the Background/Fill color (set it to null). Use these settings in the Vector Preset ribbon. Retain Style = Unchecked Create as Vector = Checked Anti-alias = Checked Line style = +Solid Width = 3.00 Draw an ellipse anywhere on your image about the size that the hole would be in a tissue box (See A below) [White backgrounds have been added for ease of showing the steps] Use the Nodes and handles to resize and turn the oval so that it lines up with the top of the box. See B and C below)     When you have the oval positioned where you want it, right click on the Vector layer that was created and Convert to Raster Layer. Rename this layer "Oval". With your Magic Wand   click on the Center of the oval to select the area inside the oval. In the Layer Palette, click on the Box layer to activate it and flood fill with a complimentary color to your box. I used "#bdc3e0".    Leave the selection active and click on the top layer, "Oval" in the Layer Palette and go to Effects/3D Effects/Cutout and use these settings: Vertical Offset = 3 Horizontal Offset = 3 Opacity = 67 Blur = 1.98 Shadow Color = #4a5b86 Fill interior with color = Unchecked Deselect Hint: If you find that you see a jaggy edge around your oval after applying the cutout, you can use the Soften Brush around the edge to blur the jaggies. SAVE If you haven't saved your image as a .pspimage make sure you do it NOW.

Creating a Tissue We will be adding a white tissue coming from the box. You may find that it will be easier to see what you are doing if you flood fill your bottom layer with a dark color. You can change it later. I'll be using black. Add a new Raster Layer above the Oval layer and name it "Tissue". Use the Freehand Selection Tool  set to Point to Point - Anti Alias checked. Then click to select an area that would be about the size and shape of a tissue. Just clicking on the corners is enough as we will be deforming the tissue next. Make sure you are on the new layer and flood fill the selection with white. Deselect. Click on the Mesh Tool. If you have never used it before, you'll find it located with the Deform Tools. For this tutorial, these are the settings used: Mesh Horizontal: = 12 Mesh Vertical: = 12 Symmetric = Unchecked Show mesh = Checked Edge mode: = Background Draft quality: = High Final apply: = Best Quality checked A grid with nodes will show over your image part of which is shown on the right. Now all that you do is grab nodes and move them to deform the sides of the tissue. The ones closest to the edges of the tissue will probably be all that you need to move. The screen shots below show some of the moves I made to get the tissue to deform. If you don't like your result, use the "Undo" and try again.         This is my result. Your result will probably be different depending on how you used the Mesh Warp.

Drop Shadows and Text In order to see drop shadows, flood fill your bottom background layer to whatever you want your finished image to be. I am using white. We'll add drop shadows to only the Tissue layer and the Box layers using the settings below: Vertical = -3 Horizontal = -3 Opacity = 51 Blur = 19.80 Color = your choice - I used #404040 If you like you can now turn off the bottom (background) layer and then right click on the top layer and choose Merge/Merge Visible so that your box layers and tissue will all be together. Add any text you would like. This is what I used. Create a new layer before adding text Colors: Foreground = White, Background: Blue from box Font: Electrik Create as: Floating Size: 36 Stroke: 1 Bold and Italic: Active Anti-Alias: Smooth Bevel added to text using these settings: Bevel" #1 Width: 1 Smoothness: 32 Depth: 3 Ambience: 0 Shininess: 17 Color: White Angle: 315 Intensity: 39 Elevation: 36 Then the same drop shadow was added that was used on the tissue and the box. My result is shown here without the background and border added at the top of the page. All that remains is to make sure you do a final .pspimage save. Then merge the layers if you wish (in newer versions of PSP merging isn't necessary if you are going to export as a .gif or .jpg). And finally export as a .jpg or .gif for showing on the web. I hope that you enjoyed this tutorial and come back soon. Terms This tutorial is copyright @graphicssgazette.net. The images you make from the tutorial are yours to do whatever you wish with. This tutorial CANNOT be placed on another site, copied or sent through e-mails. Linking to the tutorial is fine. If you wish to offer this tutorial to a group, please contact me at editor@hollandvoice.net.