This tutorial was written on April 2005, 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! Lieveheersbeestjes in english Ladybugs...lolol!
I did use the jpeg optimizer for faster loading, so the images do look a bit weird, sorry.

It is assumed that you have a good working knowledge of PSP.
This tutorial uses vector shapes.
It isn't really difficult and you can save it as a preset shape as well as a tube.

• PSP 9      download a free trial version.....and I'm sure you will have lots of fun.

  The tools I used:  

  Preset Shapes   Object Selector   Pen Tool 

 

Let's try to make these Lieveheersbeestjes!......I hope you will have fun!
Open up a transparent image size around 700 x 600  16 million colours (24 bit).
I know it's a bit large, I need a lot of space...LOL, make it smaller if you like
for example 600 x 500.
Don't forget to save as you go along.

*note* I did save it as a preset shape first....before promoting to layers.
Make all parts on a separate layer and name them too,
so then you will know what it is *s*.

Add a new Vector Layer Click on the Preset Shapes set to ellipse, foreground set to null, background #c00000. We will begin with the wings, and edit the nodes as shown. Save!
Rightclick on the wing layer choose copy from the menu, again rightclick and choose paste new vector selection. On the copied layer, rightclick and choose properties, change the color to black. Arrange this layer under the wing layer and rename it to body. Make the body a bit larger than the wings, choose the objectselector and pull it a little bit down. *note* I did group my body and wing layer by holding down the shift button, rightclick and choose group from the menu. Save!
Add a new Vector Layer Now we need some dots, set your background color to black, and shape to ellipse, make a dot, then do the same as we did with the body, choose copy and paste and arrange the dots as you like. *note* Rightclick on the layer and choose select none from the menu. Set background to null and foreground to black. Choose the pen tool, draw lines, width set at 1, draw a line and shape the line with the nodes set at symmetric. *note* I did group my dots and line the same way as the body and wings. Save!
Add a new Vector Layer Same settings, only line width set at 18, draw 2 legs with the pen tool as shown. Save!
Add a new Vector Layer Set foreground to null and background to black, choose the preset shape set at ellipse, and draw the foot, shape it as shown. Make a second, shape this one also as shown. I did group the feet and legs too. Move this layer under the body and wing layer. Save!
Add a new Vector Layer Same settings, only preset shape rectangle, edit the nodes and try to shape it as shown. Move this layer also under the body layer. Save!
Add a new Vector Layer Preset shape set to ellipse, color #ecc4aa, and draw the head. Save!
Add a new Vector Layer This looks maybe a bit tricky...lolol...but it did work for me. Foreground black, background null. Use the pen tool and select point to point drawing I did have the line width set at 2. When I was done I did edit the nodes... set them at symmetric first, then at cusp. Now the trick...maybe you already knew...lolol.... I did set the background color to black, and now it was filled. Save!
Add a new Vector Layer Draw the eyes with the preset shape ellipse, and draw the nose and lips with the pentool. I did set the lines to width 1. *note* I did keep zooming, so I could see it much better. I did group the eye, nose and lips layer. Save!
Add a new Vector Layer Now for the antenna's...or what they are called....lolol...draw with the pentool set at draw lines, and line width set at 8, color same as the wings, draw 2 lines, and shape them as shown. Use the preset shape, color black set to ellipse, and draw 2 dots, place them at the end of the antenna's and group these too. Save!
This was quite a workout..lolol. If you have made it so far...be proud!!! *note I did group all of the layers and other grouped layers, and named it "Ladybug". This is what we have now. Save!
Take a break, and when you are up to it, we will go to the next page!!