Japanese Orchid

This tutorial was written in October 2007, and © by Vera.
You may make a copy of this tutorial or print it out for your own personal use ONLY. Do not send it through emails nor put it on your own website, however if you would like to LINK to my tutorial please do so. Also what you create by using this tutorial belongs to you, I only own the tutorial and wish it to stay on this page.

Now for the tutorial...this is what we will be making!
Japanese Orchid

It is assumed that you have a good working knowledge of Paint Shop Pro.
This tutorial uses vector shapes.
I made this in PSP XI, but it can be done in all other versions too.

PSP XI download a trial version.....and I'm sure you will have lots of fun.

The tools I used:

Preset Shapes Pen Tool Paintbrush Smudge Tool Eraser Tool

Open up a transparent image size around 650 x 800 16 million colours (24 bit).
Don't forget to save as you go along.

Color pallet I used, but feel free to use any color you like.

Add a new Vector Layer
Click on the Preset Shapes set to ellipse,
foreground set to null, background the first color top row.
Draw the ellipse, and shape as shown.

Add a new Vector Layer
Click on the Preset Shapes set to ellipse,
foreground set to null, background the second color top row.
Draw the ellipse, and shape as shown.

Add a new Vector Layer
Click on the Preset Shapes set to ellipse,
foreground set to null, background the third color top row.
Draw the ellipse, and shape as shown.

Add a new Vector Layer
Click on the Preset Shapes set to ellipse,
foreground set to null, background the forth color top row.
Draw the ellipse, and shape as shown.

Add a new Vector Layer
Click on the Preset Shapes set to ellipse,
foreground set to null, background the forth color top row.
Draw the ellipse, and shape as shown.
We are done with the leaves. On to the stems.
Select none.

Add a new Vector Layer
Click on the Pen Tool, on the toolbar select
foregroud color set to the fifth color top row, background color set to null,
line width 15. Draw a line, rightclick on a node and choose Symmetric,
shape as shown.
Do the same with all other lines, as I won't repeat as above.

Add a new Vector Layer
With the Pen Tool line width 10, sixth color top row.
Draw 2 lines as shown, on top of the stem.
*note* I did group the stem layer with the 2 line layers,
hold down the shift key, and select the 3 layers,
rightclick and choose group from the menu.

Add a new Vector Layer
With the Pen Tool draw the second stem, using the same settings as the first stem.

Add a new Vector Layer
With the Pen Tool line width 10, 6th color top row.
Draw 2 lines as shown, on top of the second stem.
Group these layers same as the first stem.

Add a new Vector Layer
With the Pen Tool draw the thrid stem, 7th color top row, line width 10.

Add a new Vector Layer
With the Pen Tool draw the second part of the stem, 8th color top row, line width 13.

Add a new Vector Layer
With the Pen Tool draw the third part of the stem, 7th color top row, line width 10.
Group these 3 layers also.

Add a new Vector Layer
Preset Shapes set to ellipse, 9th color top row, and on the first stem,
shape a bud as shown.

Add a new Vector Layer
Preset Shapes set to ellipse, 9th color top row, and on the second stem,
shape 4 petals for the first orchid.

Add a new Vector Layer
Preset Shapes set to ellipse, 10th color top row, and on the second stem,
shape the fifth petal for the first orchid, drag this layer under the 4 petal layers.
Group the petal layers.

Add a new Vector Layer
For the second orchid, rightclick on the grouped orchid,
choose copy, rightclick again and choose Paste New Vector Selection.
Rotate the pasted vector selection and shape the petals as you like.
This orichid is on top of the second stem.

All vector stuff is done....lolol! At this point do as you like....
if you want, you can save as a shape by selecting all layers,
choose group and rename the grouped layer,
then from the file menu, export as a shape.

Now for the shading
I did convert all my layers before shading, do as you like best.
The shading was done on the same layer, lock the transparency first.

For the shading I used only the paintbrush....with settings as shown,
brush size 25 and for the middle 15. I used the first 2 colors of the second row.
I smudged with the settings as shown.

Brush settings.

Smudge settings.

This is how mine looks like.

Shading of the bud.
Same colors and for the top the third color second row.

Stems
First I merged all stem layers. With the Eraser Tool and settings as shown,
I erased some small parts of the stem.

Shading of the stems
Lock transparency. Using the third and forth color from the second row,
and changing the opacity of the paintbrush to 45, shade just a little bit.
Smudge changing Hardness 50, Density 50 and Opacity 75.

Shading leaves.
First I merged the 2 outside leave layers, lock transparency.
Using the 2 green colors from the second row, shade and smudge.
Do the same for all leaves.

All Done.
This is how mine looks all done!!!
*note* I did do a liitle Brightness/Contrast making the leaves a bit darker at the end,
but do as you like best.
I hope you did save as you went along!

Add a little.
I wanted to add a little in the middle of the Orchid,
used a tiny orange line and some black dots.
Now it's really done.....for me...lolol!!!

Another.
Made some more changes....hahaha!!

Anyway I hope you did enjoy this tutorial!!!

Tutorials

Feel free to contact me if there are any problems using my tutorial.
Home

Add a new Vector Layer Click on the Preset Shapes set to ellipse, foreground set to null, background the first color top row. Draw the ellipse, and shape as shown.
Add a new Vector Layer Click on the Preset Shapes set to ellipse, foreground set to null, background the second color top row. Draw the ellipse, and shape as shown.
Add a new Vector Layer Click on the Preset Shapes set to ellipse, foreground set to null, background the third color top row. Draw the ellipse, and shape as shown.
Add a new Vector Layer Click on the Preset Shapes set to ellipse, foreground set to null, background the forth color top row. Draw the ellipse, and shape as shown.
Add a new Vector Layer Click on the Preset Shapes set to ellipse, foreground set to null, background the forth color top row. Draw the ellipse, and shape as shown. We are done with the leaves. On to the stems. Select none.
Add a new Vector Layer Click on the Pen Tool, on the toolbar select foregroud color set to the fifth color top row, background color set to null, line width 15. Draw a line, rightclick on a node and choose Symmetric, shape as shown. Do the same with all other lines, as I won't repeat as above.
Add a new Vector Layer With the Pen Tool line width 10, sixth color top row. Draw 2 lines as shown, on top of the stem. *note* I did group the stem layer with the 2 line layers, hold down the shift key, and select the 3 layers, rightclick and choose group from the menu.
Add a new Vector Layer With the Pen Tool draw the second stem, using the same settings as the first stem.
Add a new Vector Layer With the Pen Tool line width 10, 6th color top row. Draw 2 lines as shown, on top of the second stem. Group these layers same as the first stem.
Add a new Vector Layer With the Pen Tool draw the thrid stem, 7th color top row, line width 10.
Add a new Vector Layer With the Pen Tool draw the second part of the stem, 8th color top row, line width 13.
Add a new Vector Layer With the Pen Tool draw the third part of the stem, 7th color top row, line width 10. Group these 3 layers also.
Add a new Vector Layer Preset Shapes set to ellipse, 9th color top row, and on the first stem, shape a bud as shown.
Add a new Vector Layer Preset Shapes set to ellipse, 9th color top row, and on the second stem, shape 4 petals for the first orchid.
Add a new Vector Layer Preset Shapes set to ellipse, 10th color top row, and on the second stem, shape the fifth petal for the first orchid, drag this layer under the 4 petal layers. Group the petal layers.
Add a new Vector Layer For the second orchid, rightclick on the grouped orchid, choose copy, rightclick again and choose Paste New Vector Selection. Rotate the pasted vector selection and shape the petals as you like. This orichid is on top of the second stem. All vector stuff is done....lolol! At this point do as you like.... if you want, you can save as a shape by selecting all layers, choose group and rename the grouped layer, then from the file menu, export as a shape.
Now for the shading I did convert all my layers before shading, do as you like best. The shading was done on the same layer, lock the transparency first. For the shading I used only the paintbrush....with settings as shown, brush size 25 and for the middle 15. I used the first 2 colors of the second row. I smudged with the settings as shown. Brush settings. Smudge settings.
This is how mine looks like.
Shading of the bud. Same colors and for the top the third color second row.
Stems First I merged all stem layers. With the Eraser Tool and settings as shown, I erased some small parts of the stem.
Shading of the stems Lock transparency. Using the third and forth color from the second row, and changing the opacity of the paintbrush to 45, shade just a little bit. Smudge changing Hardness 50, Density 50 and Opacity 75.
Shading leaves. First I merged the 2 outside leave layers, lock transparency. Using the 2 green colors from the second row, shade and smudge. Do the same for all leaves.
All Done. This is how mine looks all done!!! *note* I did do a liitle Brightness/Contrast making the leaves a bit darker at the end, but do as you like best. I hope you did save as you went along!
Add a little. I wanted to add a little in the middle of the Orchid, used a tiny orange line and some black dots. Now it's really done.....for me...lolol!!!
Another. Made some more changes....hahaha!!