This is a detailed tutorial with many screen shots, so even very inexperienced PSPers should be able to complete it with no problem. Only a basic knowledge of Paint Shop Pro layers tools are needed for this tutorial. No outside tools or filters are used.

Step 1 - Face

Open a new image, 350 x 350 with a transparent background.
Activate the Preset Shape Tool.

Choose the Ellipse from the drop down window.
Settings:
• Retain Style: = Unchecked
• Anti-alias: = Checked
• Create as Vector: = Checked


• Foreground/Stroke: = Null (Turned off)
• Background/Fill: = Flesh tone, #E5CCBD

Hold the Shift key down to make a perfect circle and draw the circle near the center of the image. Make it about 120 x 120 pixels large or so. Leave enough space for a hat and beard.

Rename the new Vector Layer Face 1.

Step 2 - Cutout

• Convert the Face layer to a Raster Layer
• Go to Selections/Select All
• Go to Selections/Float
• Then Effects/3d Effects/Cutout
  
  Settings:
  • Offset Vertical: -5
  • Offset Horizontal: -5
  • Opacity: 100
  • Blur: 50
  • Shadow Color: #BF9279
  • Fill interior with Color: Unchecked
    
    
• Ctrl D to deselect.

Step 3 - Nose

With the Preset Shape tool and the same settings as in Step 1, draw a nose.

Make the new circle for the nose about 45 x 45 pixels. If you draw your new circle away from the original one you will be able to see it better.

Once the nose is drawn, drag it over above the center of the face.

  Save

Step 4 - Nose Cutout

• Rename the new vector layer Nose
• Convert the Nose layer to a Raster Layer
• Go to Selections/Select All
• Go to Selections/Float
• Then Effects/3d Effects/Cutout
  
  Settings:
  • Offset Vertical: -2
  • Offset Horizontal: -2
  • Opacity: 100
  • Blur: 13
  • Shadow Color: #BF9279
  • Fill interior with Color: Unchecked
    
    
• Ctrl D to deselect.

Step 5 - Eyes

Make sure the Preset Shape Tool is still active and the Ellipse selected from the drop down window.
Leave settings in the tool ribbon the same except for these settings:

• Stroke size: 3
  
• Foreground/Stroke: Black
  
• Background/Fill: Blue #2832FC

Draw an ellipse on one side of the nose similar to the Eye 1 in the sample.

When you are happy with the size and shape of the eye, Ctrl C to copy it and Ctrl L to Paste as a new layer. You can then move the eyes individually until you are happy with the positions.

Note: I like to use the Mover Tool for reposition something as small as this because it is easier to see what you are doing.

You have now created two new Vector layers.

1. Convert both new vector layers to Raster Layers
2. Right click on the top eye layer and choose Merge/Merge Down
   The eyes are now on the same layer.
3. Rename the new layer Eyes

Step 6 - White of Eyes

 Activate the Paint Brush Tool and use these settings:

• Shape: Round
• Size: 5
• Hardness: 100


• Step: 25
• Density: 100
• Thickness: 100
• Rotation: 0
• Opacity: 100
• Blend Mode: Normal
• Foreground/Stroke color: White

Left click in each eye to add the highlight.

  Save

Step 7 - Mustache

We will be using white for the mustache which might be a bit hard to see on the transparent background. It may help if you add a raster layer at the bottom of you layer palette and flood fill it with a solid color. You can always delete it later. You'll see that my examples have a green background for this reason.

Activate the Preset Shape Tool again and choose the Triangle from the drop down window.

Settings:

• Retain Style: = Unchecked
• Anti-alias: = checked
• Create as Vector: = Checked
• Foreground/Stroke: = Null (turned off)
• Background/Fill: = White

Draw a triangle from upper right to lower left and make it rather flat as shown in the example.

 Activate the Pen Tool.
      Choose the Edit Mode in the Tool Ribbon.

Hold your mouse at the center bottom line of the triangle and you'll see a curved line near the curser. Hold the Ctrl key and the curve will turn into a + Add. When that happens, click once to add a Node.

If the new node isn't selected, (it should be darker than the rest), click on it to select it.

Then Right Click on the node and a menu will appear.

Choose Node Type/Curve Before
Right click again and choose Node Type/Curve After.

This will create handles before and after the node which can be pulled to create a curve. Shown in (1) below. If you can't see them on your image, hold your mouse to the right or left of the node along the bottom line of the triangle and you will see curved arrows appear where each handle has been placed. (2)

   

To get the bottom curve of the mustache, pull the ends of the handles down and to the sides and put the center node up until the bottom of the triangle resembles the example on the right. If you have not used Vectors before, you'll soon find out how easy it is to manipulate shapes this way.

If you don't like your result, you don't need to use the undo because you can just move the handles and node again in various directions.

Each one of the nodes will need to be converted so they will curve to form the rest of the mustache.

Right click on each node in turn and follow the steps below.

1. Left Node: Choose Node type/Curve After and pull the handle to create a curve on the left side. (See 1st example.)
   
   
2. Right Node: Choose Node type/Curve Before and pull the handle to create a curve on the right side. (See 2nd example.)
   
   
3. Top Node: Choose Node type/Symmetric which will give you handles that you can pull out side to side to increase the width of the top of the mustache.

Step 8 - Apply Cutout

When you are happy with the shape of the mustache, convert the layer to a Raster Layer to apply the cutout effect.

• Rename the layer Mustache.
• Go to Selections/Select All
• Go to Selections/float
• Go to Effects/3d Effects/Cutout
  Settings:
  
  • Offset Vertical: = 2
  • Offset Horizontal: = 2
  • Opacity: = 100
  
  
  • Blur: = 25
  • Shadow Color: = Grey #B7ABAB
  • Fill Interior with color: = Unchecked

Ctrl D to Deselect.

On the Layer Palette, drag the Mustache layer until it is just under the Nose layer.

Then with the Move Tool move the mustache into place just under the lower part of the nose.

  Save before going on to the next page to finish the Santa.

Step 9 - Hat Band

Click on the top layer, which should now be the Eyes, to make it active.

Activate the Preset Shape Tool.
Choose the Rounded Rectangle from the drop down window.

Settings:
• Retain Style = Unchecked
• Create as vector = Checked
• Anti-alias = Checked
• Foreground/Stroke = Null (turned off)
• Background/Fill color = White

Draw a rectangle for the hat band similar to the example. It's OK if it goes a bit over the eyes and nose and a little larger than the width of the head.

• Convert the new Vector layer to a Raster layer
  and name it Hat Band
• Selections/Select All
• Selections/Float
• Effects/3d Effects/Cutout
  Settings:
  • Offset Vertical: = 2
  • Offset Horizontal: = 2
  • Opacity: = 100
  • Blur: = 15
  • Shadow color: = Grey #B7ABAB
  • Fill with color: = Unchecked

Ctrl D to Deselect

Step 10 - Top of Hat

Activate the Preset Shape Tool and choose the Triangle again.

Background/Fill color to red, #FF4040. All other settings will remain the same.

Draw the triangle from upper left to lower right to form the top of the hat. Place it just a bit smaller than the top edge of the Hat Band.

Step 11 - Shape Top of Hat

Activate the Pen Tool and make sure the Mode is set to Edit.
Right click on the Top Node and choose Node Type/Asymmetric. No other nodes need to be converted.

Follow the examples on the right to:

1. Pull the node to the left until it is almost over the edge of the hat band.
2. Pull the Handle at the right of the node toward the right and up making a curve on the right side of the hat.
3. When the node is released, the right side should appear similar to the 3rd example.

Finish the hat with a cutout

• Convert layer to Raster Layer
• Selections/Select All
• Selections/Float
• Effects/3d Effects/Cutout
  Settings same as before except:
  • Change Blur to 25.00
  • Change Shadow color to dark Red, #B71f22

Move the Hat Layer under the Hat Band Layer.

  Save

Step 12 - Remainder of Hat

Make sure the top layer (Hat Band Layer) is active.

With the Preset Shape Tool using all of the same settings, create another triangle. Use a blank area of your image so that you can see what you are doing. Make the triangle wider and flatter similar to the example. Rename the Vector layer "Tassel 1".

Make sure your Preset Shape tool is still active and use the nodes and handle that you see around the new shape to position, turn, twist and reshape the triangle. First you will want to use the center circle to move it up near the top of the hat. Use the handle coming out from the center circle to twist it counter clockwise. (The black outline on the triangle in the examples was put there so that you could see the triangle. You won't want that on yours.)

Note:  The following examples will show a series of moves and reshaping all done with only the Preset Shape Tool still active. No node conversion is necessary at this point. You may find other moves are necessary with your tassel.

Example 1:  Hold the Shift key while stretching the corner node to elongate the tassel end. You can also get additional manipulation possibilities by using the Ctrl key.

Example 2:  Resizing and reshaping can be accomplished using side and top nodes as well as corners.

Example 3:  Here is the intended position to strive for. Do any resizing, reshaping and twisting you need until you are happy with your result. The main thing you will want is to have the top right point even with the top of the hat and no part of the top of the hat should be exposed.

When you have the tassel side positioned, convert the layer to a Raster and apply the same cut-out effect that was used on the hat top.

  Save

Step 13 - Pom Pom

With the Preset Shape Tool and the Ellipse chosen, create a pom pom. Set your Background/Fill to white.

Convert the Vector Layer to a Raster and apply the Cut-out. Change the Blur to 15 and the Shadow to Grey, #c0c0c0.

Use the Preset Shape Tool set to Ellipse and draw an oval for the beard.

Switch to the Pen Tool and use Ctrl to add nodes. Add as many as you would like. I have added 8 nodes. We will be creating ruffles around the beard with the nodes.

Since we created a round shape, all nodes added will already have the capability of shaping in curves so you do not need to convert the nodes.

Note: You might have to click somewhere outside of the ellipse to get the nodes to show as in the example on the right.

Twist and turn the handles on the nodes to create ruffles and curls. You can have a lot of fun with this one. There is no need to manipulate the nodes at the top because it will be hidden behind the mustache.

When you have the beard the shape you wish, convert the beard layer into a vector layer and rename "Beard".

Apply the Cut-out Effect changing the Blur back to 25.

Grab the new Beard Layer and move it down under the Mustache Layer.

Use the Move Tool to reposition it.

Step 14 - Mouth

Select the top layer to make it active and use the Preset Shape Tool again with these settings:

Retain Style: Unchecked
Anti-alias: Checked
Create as Vector: Checked
Foreground/Stroke: Red #FF4040
Stroke Width: 3
Background/Fill: Black

Step 15 - Rosy Cheeks

If you have added a colored layer like the green one used in the examples, delete it now so that we can see just how it will look as a Transparent Picture Tube.

Activate the Airbrush Tool and use these settings:

Shape: Round
Size: 25
Hardness: 20
Step: 10
Density: 20
Thickness: 100
Rotation: 0
Opacity: 50
Blend mode: Normal
Rate: 5
Foreground/Stroke: A rosy color, i.e. #FEBCBC

  Save

Step 16 - Drop Shadow

A drop shadow on some areas will give a little more depth. The drop shadow was added to the sample Santa on the Tassel side of hat, the Hat Band and Mustache.

Make sure the layer you are putting the shadow on is active. Try various settings until you are happy with the shadow. I usually don't put an overall drop shadow on Picture Tubes so that they are easier to use in pictures. Here are the settings used in the example:

Tassel Drop Shadow

Offset Vertical: 2
Horizontal: 0
Opacity: 58
Blur: 3.95
Color: #808080

Hat Band - Two Drop Shadow Effects

First Drop Shadow
Offset Vertical: 2
Horizontal: 0
Opacity: 32
Blur: 3.96
Color: #808080

Second Drop Shadow
Same as the Tassel except:
Vertical: -2
Blur: 5.94

Beard Drop Shadow

Same as the Hat Band except:
Vertical: 3 Blur: 10.89

Step 17 - Export as Picture Tube

Make sure that you have no colored layers and Turn off the visibility on the bottom Transparent Layer.

Then go to +Layers/Merge/Merge Visible. You will be left with Santa on a separate Layer.

Use the Crop Tool to crop the area out that you do not want.

(Optional) I wanted my Santa to be a little wider and rounder. If you wish to change the overall shape of your Santa, use the Deform Tool and reshape him. If you had merged the layers including the Transparent Layer, this Step would have been more difficult to do.

Once he is reshaped, delete the Transparent layer, Crop again if necessary and Export as a Picture Tube.

This tutorial ©GraphicsGazette.net - 2006. You may print it or save it for your own use. What you make from the tutorial is your own to do with as you wish. Do not pass the tutorial through e-mails or groups. You may, however, link to the tut using a text link only. If groups wish to use this tut, please email me for permission at editor@hollandvoice.net.