"Bug with Boots"
An Introduction to Vector Drawing with PSP X

This tutorial was written for Paint Shop Pro version X.
Tutorial is offered here free of charge for personal use only ... please read terms of use.

Please click here for a few notes about tutorial format.

Ms. Ladybug looks 'cute as a bug' in her new boots! This stylish little cartoon was created using the vector tools in Paint Shop Pro X. No drawing skills needed! Everything is created with preset shapes! Tips for new users included.

Note: Nearly any version of PSP that has vector tools could be used (v.6 or newer). Name and location of commands and tool options may be slightly different. Remember! You can get a free demo of PSP X from Corel.com.

What is vector? There are basically 2 ways to create digital drawings...raster and vector. Raster images are made by 'painting' pixels. Raster images degrade in quality when resized. Vector images are objects created with coordinates rather than pixels. As we change position, shape & color of objects, PSP does the vector calculations for us. We can re-size, rotate, distort and edit vector objects in a number of ways without losing line quality.

Tip: One of the great benefits of vector tools is the ability to change your mind about color and other things without starting over. Simply edit the Properties. First, select the vector shape you want to change with the Pick Tool. At the far right of the Tool Options palette is the Properties icon. When you select the Properties icon the Vector Properties dialog box will appear allowing you to change a number of settings, including color, stroke width and anti-alias.

Nodes and other new words

For our Bug in Boots, we'll be editing the contours of some Preset Shapes by changing node types and by modifying line segments. It helps to be familiar with the following terms:

Object = a vector line or shape created with the Pen or Preset Shape tool.
Path = all of the contours that make up an object. A path goes in one direction from 'start' to 'end'. Moving a path will move the entire object.
Contour = contains one or more line segments.
Line Segment = the straight or curved line between two nodes.
Node = Nodes are the square points on a path or contour that allow you to change the shape of a line or curve. You alter a vector object by moving, adding, merging or deleting nodes or by rotating the node handles.
Vector Background = This is an option available in versions 8, 9 and X. A vector background is a transparent background.

You must select a vector object in order to edit it. Some of the differences between PSP X tools & older versions are:

There is no Object Selector tool in PSP X. Use Pick tool to select, use Pen tool to edit.
There is no Pick tool in older versions. Use Object Selector to select & edit.
In all versions, vector objects can be selected by selecting the appropriate layer on the Layer palette.
In PSP v.8 thru X: When any vector tool is selected, the Tool Options palette bar appears. In older versions, Tool Options are contained in a dialog box that appears when object is selected with Object Selector.

Step 1. Materials and Settings

Create a new image 300x300 pixels. File>New

Choose either a raster background or transparent vector background. If you choose raster, you can select a color to match your webpage, blog or scrapbook background. Your vector objects will be created on a separate layer. If you choose vector background, you will be working with a checkerboard grid that indicates transparency.

Tip: While creating, I always use a white or off-white raster background instead of busy checkerboard. I think it makes things easier on eyes. Later I will change to transparent by deleting the raster layer or will match it to page background.

Ladybug colors: For vector shapes, the foreground color is the stroke (or outline) of the shape and the background color is the fill of the shape. Choose colors from Materials palette. Black will be the outline/stroke color. You can use my choices or your own choices for fill. I will use red for body, plus some yellow and blue.

Note: There is usually at least 3 different ways to select a command in PSP. For the purposes of this tutorial, commands from the main text menu will be described. You can customize PSP to add command buttons to your toolbars (see 'Customizing Workspace in PSP X'). You can also use keyboard shortcuts (see PSP Help menu for 'Keyboard Map').

Step 2. Create Body and Head

With the Present Shape tool, create the following shapes in the order listed. Don't be too particular about exact size or placement, we can adjust that later. Click Apply after each shape to deselect or shape may be affected by changes made to Tools Options or Materials.

On the Tools palette, select Ellipse from the Preset Shape flyout menu.

BODY: From the Tool Options palette select Mode:Draw Ellipse (the oval icon), Show Nodes optional, Create On Vector checked, Line: solid, Width 2, Anti-alias checked. Colors: Black for stroke and red for fill. Draw oval in center of canvas, about 1/3 of height. Apply.

DOTS: Use the same settings as above from the Tool Options palette. Colors: None for stroke and black for fill. Draw 3 or 4 oval-shaped dots on the body of Ms. Ladybug. All different sizes is cuter. Apply.

HEAD: From the Tool Options palette select Mode:Draw Circle, Width 2, Anti-alias on. Colors: Black for stroke & yellow for fill. Draw a circle for head, overlapping the red body. Apply.

EYES: Same settings as above. Colors: None for stroke and black for fill. Draw 2 small circles for eyes. Apply.

CHEEKS: Same settings as above. Colors: None for stroke and red for fill. Draw 2 small circles for cheeks. Apply after each shape.

Are your eyes too large? Are your cheek circles 2 different sizes? Both of these things are easily fixed. We'll do that in next step.

Step 3. Make Adjustments, Move & Resize

In the following steps, some things may be too small to see well ...so don't forget you can Zoom In to enlarge. This is especially helpful when editing nodes. In PSP X, the Zoom tool is in the Tool bar on same flyout menu as the Pan tool. When either tool is selected, the Zoom In/Out options are shown on the Tool Options palette.

Tip: You can keep Zoom options visible all the time by adding Zoom In and Zoom Out buttons to a toolbar (see Customize Your Workspace in PSP X).

If you want to change the size of Ms. Ladybug's eyes or cheeks, zoom in closer and do one or both of the following.

To make larger or smaller: Use the Pick tool to select the object you want to change. A bounding box will appear. Grab one of the corner controls with left mouse button and drag it out to make larger or push in to make smaller.

To make same size: Use the Pick tool to select the shape that is correct size. The object selected first controls how all the other vector objects are sized. While holding Shift key down, click the other eye (or cheek), release Shift. Both objects should be selected. Right click the selected objects and, from the popup menu, hover mouse over Make Objects Same Size until a flyout menu appears and then select Both.

Before we move on to the next step, make any other adjustments to position or size of the shapes. Use the Pick tool to (1)select and drag one of the shapes to another position or (2)to adjust size by dragging one of the corner handles.

Step 4. Give your bug some boots

Before we give Ms.Ladybug her new boots, she needs some legs!
Select the Pen tool. From the Tool Options palette select Mode:Draw Point to Point, Connect Segments UNchecked, Line solid, width 4, anti-alias OFF (for clean straight lines). Colors: Black for stroke and none for fill.

Click and drag the Pen tool to draw 3 short strokes for the 3 legs. After drawing the each leg, click Apply on the Tool Options palette to create each leg as a separate shape. Leave enough room for boots in between each leg.

To draw the boots, select Rectangle from the Preset Shape flyout menu (on Tools palette).

Tool Options: Rectangle icon should be selected. Check Show Nodes and Create On Vector. Line: Solid, Width 2, Anti-alias checked. Colors: Black for stroke and blue for fill.

Draw 1 rectangle for the first boot. Right click the rectangle, select Convert to Path from popup menu.

We need to do some node editing to make this blue rectangle look more like a boot! When done editing, we'll copy and paste finished boot onto the other two legs.

Step 5. All about nodes

The nodes for vector shapes have 1 or 2 control arms (also called handles) but sometimes there are no handles visible. Sometimes you have to change the Node Type before you can see any handles. Sometimes you just have to Zoom in closer because handle may be hiding behind a line.

There are four types of nodes: symmetrical, asymmetrical, cusp, and smooth. A node's current type will be grayed out on the Node Type menu.

Cusp nodes: A cusp node creates extreme changes in direction ...sharp corners! Each handle works independently from the other.

Symmetrical nodes: If you wish to create a curved line, you would use a symmetrical node. This type of node creates the same curve on both sides of the node. Both handles work as one.

Asymmetrical nodes: If you wish to create a rounded corner or curve that is different on each side of the node, you would use an asymmetrical node. Node handles work independently like handles for the cusp node, but the line segment creates a rounded curve where a cusp node creates a sharp change in direction.

Smooth nodes: This type of node creates a smooth transition between straight and curved line segments. Node handles works independently.

Nodes can be also be set to Curve Before, Curve After, Line Before or Line After.

Step 6. Add a node to shape boot

For this step, we first extend the length of the boot to add 'toe' room. Then we'll add a new node to the 'front' side to create the ankle and to round the toe.

Select Pen tool. In Tool Options palette, select Mode: Edit (or right click rectangle and select Edit Mode), Select the node at the bottom right corner of the blue rectangle and pull it horizontally to the right to make the bottom of boot longer. It will look like a very pointy toe!.

Add a node on the line segment halfway between the 2 corners on right side. Select the Pen tool. On the Tool Options palette select Mode:Edit. While holding down Ctrl key, hover your mouse over the line and +ADD will display next to your cursor pointer. When +ADD appears, left click to add a node. Drag that node to the left a little to square up the top of the boot.

Change Node Type: Right click the node you just added, select Node Type from flyout menu. Cusp should be grayed out to indicate that is the current node type, but if it isn't, select Cusp.

Right click again, select Node Type, Curve After. A control arm (aka node handle) should appear just below the node. Click and drag the end of the node handle to extend it until the toe of the boot is rounded.

Click 'Apply' to de-select and move to next step.

Use Pick Tool to select all of finished boot to copy. Select Edit>Copy either from the text menu; or right click and select from popup menu; or use Ctrl C.

Paste copy of boot onto 2nd leg. Repeat for 3rd leg. Select either Edit>Paste as New Vector Selection from text menu; or right click to select from popup menu; or Ctrl G.

Make all adjustments to size or position of the legs or boots. Refer to Step 3 for how-to notes.

Step 7. Smile and Antenna

Add Smile to Face: Select the Pen tool to draw a curved line. Tool Options: Select Draw Point to Point button, Connect Segments UNchecked, Line solid, Width< 1, Anti-alias ON. Colors: Black for stroke and none for fill.

Click and drag the Pen tool to draw a smile starting in the middle of the left cheek circle and ending in the right cheek circle. Apply.

Adjust for smooth curve: Select a node with Pen tool. Tool Options: Select Mode:Edit. Move node handle to adjust the curve.

Add Antenna: Select Pen tool to draw a curved line. Tool Options: Select Mode:Draw Freehand, Connect Segments UNchecked, Line solid, width 3, anti-alias ON. Colors: Black for stroke and none for fill.

Click and drag Pen tool to draw antenna. Start at the top of the head and move up. Drag a straight line that ends with a little curl (see image above). Apply.

Draw a second antenna. Make this one a little shorter. Apply.

To adjust the curve at the end of the antenna, select end node with Pen tool. From Tool Options select Mode:Edit. Rotate the node handle to curl the antenna a little more or a little less.

You may also need to adjust the start node to get a shape you like. You can pull on the node handle to extend the length of the antenna or drag the node to adjust position.

Step 8. Personalize

Use your imagination to personalize your critter. Add a bow, change colors or add a voice balloon/callout.

To make a bow: Choose Preset Shape. Select Triangle from the Tool Options drop down list. Line width 2. Colors: Black for stroke, blue for fill. The direction you drag mouse determines direction triangle will point. Drag triangle from left to right on the left side of antenna. Drag from right to left on right side of antenna. Triangles do not have to be perfectly symmetric. A little distortion adds cuteness.

To change colors: Select shape with Pick tool. Select Properties icon from Tool Options. In the Properties dialog box you can change stroke, fill colors, line width and other options.

To resize: Right click, choose 'Select All'. Drag one corner of the bounding box toward the center to make bug smaller. Using a corner control will resize while keeping the current proportions. If you want to change proportions, drag a side control arm.

Save 'Bug with Boots' as PSPIMAGE file type or as PSP Animation Shop if you want to create a sig tag/animation.

Save as optimized GIF to use on your webpage. File>Export>GIF Optimizer

You could also print it on sticker paper to accent your scrapbook pages!

Happy Trails! Arizona Kate

"Bug with Boots"An Introduction to Vector Drawing with PSP X