To do this tutorial it is suggested that you have a knowledge of the basic tools and layers of Paint Shop Pro. Vector knowledge is not necessary. Differences between versions of PSP are noted.

Bow Loop

Step 1.  Pen Tool   
To make a bow using the Pen Tool and Vectors, activate the Pen Tool and use the settings below. Pen Tool Settings not shown are either greyed out (not available) or are not important at this time.

PSP8 Tool Ribbon

PSP9, X Tool Ribbon

We'll start with a loop that goes on the left side of the bow so you'll want to work on your image approximately where the left side of the bow will go. Save as a .pspimage many times throughout the tutorial.

Step 2.
Set your Background/Fill to Null and your Foreground/Stroke to whatever color you want the bow to be. (I'm using a green gradient so you can see it.)

1. We will be using a click and drag motion to make the main part of the bow. Start at the point where you want the loop in the bow to start, (the point end). Click and Drag UP and a little to the left ("A"). You will see handles appear with an arrow on one end indicating the direction that you are going. Your next segment will be connected to that end.
   
   
2. Click and Drag DOWN where you want the rounded end on the bow to be ("B"). You will see your line curve. You can make it curve as much as you want, but since you are working in vectors you can go back and adjust the curve at any time.
   
   
3. Click and Drag to the right near the beginning node ("C") to create the last curve.
   
   

4. ("D") shows where you are now.
   
   
5. To close and end the shape, hold your mouse over the last node that you made and you will see the word END appear. Grab the node and move it up until it is over the first node. When you see the word JOIN appear ("E") release your mouse.
   
   
6. This last movement has joined the ends of the vector shape and has changed the handles on the nodes. They will now point in the direction of the curve. ("F")

Step 3.
This is a good time to reshape the loop until it looks the way you want. Once you have converted the Vector into a Raster you would need to use the Deform Tool to do any shaping and this will usually cause a loss of clarity on the image.

1. Drag, push and pull the handles until the loop is shaped the way you wish it to be. ("G")
   
   
2. To make the joined end more pointy, simply pull the handles to the right and to the inside of the loop. ("H")
   
   
3. If your point end isn't pointy enough, go to the Join setting and make sure that it is set to Miter. You will then have a nice sharp point. You may need to adjust the Limit to reach your desired point.
   

*** SAVE ***

Bow Loop

You have a choice now of whether you wish to convert your Vector layer into a Raster and do your finishing touches on the loop, i.e. cut-out, bevel, drop shadow. However if you duplicate your loops while they are vectors you will be able to reposition and turn them with no loss of clarity. This tutorial will show how to do it in Vectors and convert the whole lot to a Raster Layer later rather than doing the loops one at a time.

Step 1.

1. Activate the Object Selector Tool,    You should see your loop surrounded by a rectangle. ("J")
   
   If the rectangle doesn't appear, draw a rectangle around the shape and you will see the one in the sample.
   
   
2. Ctrl C to copy and Ctrl L to Paste as a New Layer. You can also go to Edit/Paste/Paste as New Layer. You will now have two Vector Layers each with identical shapes. ("K")
   
   If your second loop winds up over the first one just grab the center of the loop and drag is so that you can see both of them.

Step 2.

1. With the Object Selector Tool still active, resize and reposition each loop until they are in the position you wish them to be.
   
   You can use all of the nodes to stretch, shrink, and move the loop. To turn it, use the node coming out from the center. ("L")

Step 3.

1. Click on the layer that holds the first loop you made to make it active. If you didn't rename it, it will be Vector 1. Then Ctrl C to copy the loop.
   
   
2. Highlight the top layer holding the second loop made and Ctrl L to Paste as a New Layer. ("M")
   
   You will now have 3 Vector Layers and the new loop you just pasted will probably be in the center of your image.

Step 4.

1. Go to Image/Mirror to reverse your loop. ("N")
   
   
2. Move it into place beside the one you have just copied.("O")
   
   Since the resizing and reshaping was done before we copied the loop and pasted it on a new layer, the new loop should be exactly the same shape and size as the first one.
   
   
3. Repeat the Copy/Paste as New Layer process with the second loop you drew (Vector 2). Briefly these steps are:
4. Activate Vector 2 Layer
5. Ctrl C to copy
6. Make layer on top active
7. Ctrl L to paste as New Layer
8. Go to Image/Mirror to reverse new loop
9. Move into position
10. You now have a four-loop bow ("P")

Rename your Vector Layers Loop 1, Loop 2, Loop 3 and Loop 4 starting with the bottom Vector Layer.