Paint Shop Pro Examples 

Photoshop Examples 

Filling a transparent image with a Gradient can create eye-caching forum and message board avatars.  To begin, open a New Transparent Document onto [1] Paint Shop Pro’s or [2] Adobe Photoshop’s workspace, ensuring it measures 100 Pixels X 100 Pixels: or select a document size that suits your needs.

Paint Shop Pro students, set the Colour/Materials Palette Foreground Swatch to a Gradient of your choice (Metallic Gradients work well).  And experimenting with different Gradient Styles, Angles and Repeats, find a Gradient that you like the look of.  (I selected a Paint Shop Pro Gradient called Metallic Silver and I set the Style to Sunburst). Then from the left-side Tools Toolbar, activate the Flood Fill Tool, then left-click over your Transparent Canvas to fill it with your Gradient choice.

Congratulations, your Gradient Avatar is ready to save and upload to a message board or forum, in your usual manner.

Photoshop Students
From the left-side Tools Toolbar, activate the Gradient Tool.

And from the Gradient Tools Options Palette, select a Gradient of your choice. (Metallic Gradients work well).

Then left-click and stretch a Gradient Line across your Transparent Canvas.

(For personal results, experiment with different Gradients and stretch the Gradient Line in the direction of your choice).

Congratulations, your Gradient Avatar is ready to save and upload to a message board or forum, in your usual manner.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

[3] Wendi E M Scarth. (9th December 2009). 

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