Duplicate Or Delete Multiple Layers At The Same Time: Photoshop CS2, CS3, CS4 Layers.

22/01/2010 by admin.

If, like me, you regularly work with dozens of layers, this Adobe Photoshop tip will save lots of time by allowing you to select multiple Layers at the same time. Once you have selected your choice of layers, you can then quickly duplicate, delete or apply Filters and Commands to them.

(My completed gem encrusted Union Flag - 800+ Layers Gem Britannic - can be viewed here).

(This tip is suitable for Photoshop CS2, CS3 and CS4 (Extended) - and I am using Windows XP).

Open your work onto Photoshop’s workspace.

Then activate the Move Tool.

First, press and keep pressed your Keyboard’s Shift Key.  Now, let’s say for example, you wanted to highlight/activate just the blue gems’ layers, below.  You would highlight each respective layer in the Layers Palette by carefully left-clicking over each blue gem.

Note
You must ensure every gem (or object) is highlighted in the Layers Palette: if its not highlighted, it won’t move as a unit.

Zoom Tool Tip
If you Zoom into your work using the Zoom Tool you will find it easier to highlight intricate objects.  (Remember to reactivate the Move Tool after Zooming in).

Keep the Shift Key pressed: and simultaneously press and keep pressed the Keyboard’s Alt Key.  Now, whilst the Shift and Alt Keys are pressed; hover your cursor over the area you want to move (for example the blue gems), and your cursor icon will change to two Arrowheads - one will be White and the other will be Black.  Now, while the Shift and Alt Keys remain pressed; drag your cursor away from the area you are copying (for example, the blue gems).  All highlighted Layers (gems) will then behave as if they were one unit: that is to say, they will all move together - as illustrated below.

Important
After you have duplicated your layers, (for example, the gems), at this stage, don’t drag them to a different position, dragging them now will cause the unit to break up, and you will have to go back and highlight them again.

To move your highlighted objects as one unit; you can either nudge them into position using your Keyboard’s Arrow Keys.

Alternatively, from the top menu, choose Edit then choose Transform: then select a Transformation Tool from the subsequent drop-down list.

After they have been repositioned, click the following Commit Transformation Tick.  Alternatively, tap your Enter key.

Delete Objects Tip
Whilst their layers remain highlighted, objects can be deleted by tapping your Keyboards’ Delete Key.

Smart Filters Tip
After any transformation, it’s always a good idea to apply a Sharpening Filter.  To apply a filter to your selected unit, you must convert them to Smart Filters first.  To do so, from the top menu, choose Filter then choose Convert for Smart Filters.

Once your selected unit has been converted into Smart Filters, they will be merged into one layer.  This layer (the merged unit) can then be moved with the Move Tool in the usual manner.  You can then apply a Sharpening Filter of your choice.

Smart Objects Tips
As an alternative to Smart Filters, your selected group can be converted into Smart Objects.

Applying Filter or Commands to Smart Object and Smart Filters
To be able to apply any Command or Filter to Smart Filters or Smart Objects, they must be Rasterised first.  To Rasterise a Smart Object/Filter’s Layer, right-click the layer (in the Layers Palette), and choose Rasterise Layer from the subsequent drop-down list.

 

You can now apply one of the following Adjustments, or a Filter of your choice to the Rasterised Smart Object/Filter’s Layer.

If the duplication has missed out some of your work, (this can happen if all objects haven’t been highlighted): after your unit has been fully repositioned - you can quickly fill in the gaps by duplicating a single object by Alt/Clicking and dragging away from the object.

My comprehensive on-line Photoshop Layers tutorial can be found here.

 

Wendi E.M. Scarth. (22nd January 2010).

 

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Produce Smooth Text: Photoshop and Paint Shop Pro Tip

14/01/2010 by admin.

This tip is suitable for Paint Shop Pro and Photoshop students.

If, after having applied text with Paint Shop Pro or Photoshop, you notice its edges are ragged and unsightly, you will find changing the Antialias setting produces smooth, sharp edges.

Resolution Tip
Remember to set a New Image Resolution that is suitable for your needs.  For example, you may find increasing the Image/Canvas Resolution to 200 Pixels per Inch, as illustrated below - produces smooth, sharp text.

Paint Shop Pro New Image Resolution

Photoshop New Image Resolution

Photoshop CS CS2 CS3 CS4 (Extended)
First apply your text: then experiment with the following Antialias settings to see how they improve its appearance.

(Turning the Antialias setting to None can produce unsightly, ragged text).

Paint Shop Pro 7
Prior to applying your text: (from the following Text Entry dialogue); ensure the Antialias tick box is marked, as illustrated below.

Paint Shop Pro 8 9 X XI X2 Photo (Ultimate)
Prior to applying your text: (from the following Text Entry Bar); experiment with the Smooth and Sharp Antialias settings. (Turning the Antialias setting Off can produce unsightly, ragged text).

Saving Your Work: Paint Shop Pro and Photoshop
If you are printing or redistributing your work, remember to save it as a Gif, and not a Jpeg: - Optimise and Save Images Adobe Photoshop: Optimise and Saves Paint Shop Pro.

Wendi E M Scarth. (14th January 2010).

 

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Utilise Photoshop’s CS4’s Rotate View Tool To Rotate A Canvas

09/01/2010 by admin.

This tutorial demonstrates how to utilise Photoshop CS4’s Rotate View Tool.

Read Adobe’s Notes On GPU And Open GL Features And Limitations In Photoshop CS4 Here

To begin, mark the Enable OpenGL Drawing box: (from the top menu, choose Edit then choose Preferences then choose Performance).

If your Enable OpenGL Drawing setting is greyed out as illustrated below, it could indicate that your Video Card doesn’t support Open GL.  Another reason why this option could be greyed out is, if you also work with Paint Shop Pro X, XI, X2 Photo, you might have reduced your Hardware’s Acceleration.  If, like myself, reducing your Hardware’s Acceleration (in order to open Paint Shop Pro), is greying out the Enable OpenGL Drawing option, then read my Paint Shop Pro tips explanation to discover how to increase your Hardware’s Acceleration.

Increasing Your Hardware’s Acceleration Note
Close Photoshop before increasing your Hardware Acceleration: then restart Photoshop once you have increased the Hardware Acceleration.

Reduced Hardware Acceleration: Enable OpenGL Drawing Is Greyed Out

Hardware Acceleration Increased: Enable OpenGL Drawing Setting Is Now Active

If increasing your Hardware Acceleration has worked; upon reopening Photoshop CS4, you will see the following dialogue box.

Rotate View Tool Note
You use the Rotate View Tool to rotate a canvas non-constructively; this Tool rotates the canvas and not the image.   Rotating your canvas can be useful for many reasons, including facilitating easier painting, drawing and designing. OpenGL is required.  It can also used with Macbook Pro and Macbook Air computers with multi-touch trackpads to non-destructively rotate a canvas.

To use the Rotate View Tool, first open an image onto Photoshop’s workspace.

Then from the Toolbar, activate Photoshop CS4’s Rotate View Tool.

Then left-click over your image, and rotate it by swivelling (or dragging) your cursor in a circular or semi-circular movement.

Compass Note
A compass will indicate north of the image, regardless of the current canvas angle - as illustrated below.

Alternatively, enter a numerical value (to indicate degrees of shifting), into the Rotation Angle field.

You can also click (or click and drag to scrub) on the following Set Angle of Rotation dial.

To restore your canvas to its original angle, click the Reset View tab.

Now you are familiar with this Tool, it can be implemented within your workflow to produce better paintings, drawings and designs.

Wendi E.M. Scarth. (9th January 2010).

 

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Slice Web Images Using Paint Shop Pro’s Image Slicer Command

08/01/2010 by admin.

This tutorial demonstrates how to slice web images into smaller sections using Paint Shop Pro’s Image Slicer command. Once saved, you can either save sliced images to a folder on your hard drive, so you can use or edit them in an HTML editor such as Dreamweaver, or Golive.  Alternatively, you can save image slice settings to the Clipboard, then navigate to where the destination HTML code is stored; open your code, then paste them directly into it.

(I explain how Image Maps and Rollovers are created at the end of this Image Slicer tutorial).

Create Glossy Navigation Buttons, 49 On-line Paint Shop Pro Tutorials

1/
To begin, open your completed web image onto Paint Shop Pro’s workspace.  (Your Layers don’t have to be flattened).

Image Slicer Note
Using the Image Slicer, you can create a table from the image, saving the location of each sliced section as a region in the table, and generating the HTML code for the column and cells. You can then copy this code into your source files so that the image can be reassembled when the user downloads the web page.

2/
Now, from the top menu, choose File then choose Export then choose Image Slicer.  You will then see the following Image Slicer dialogue box.

To slice up your image; left-click the Grid tab highlighted above.  Then left-click over your image, (in the Image Slicer’s Preview Pane): and you will see the following tiny grid icon.

After left-clicking: the following Grid Size dialogue box will appear.  The Grid and Columns can then be altered to suit your slicing needs.  Alternatively, if you are happy with the default Rows and Columns, click OK.

After clicking OK, a slicing-grid will then be applied to your image, as illustrated below.

Tip
You can reposition the grid-lines by clicking the following Arrow Tool, then dragging the lines to new positions.

Alternatively, you can click the Slicer Tool to manually add lines, rows and columns.

Tip
Clicking over a line with the Eraser Tool removes unwanted grid-lines.

 

Now, from the subsequent Slice Options dialogue box, give each slice a unique name, and don’t forget to add an Alt Tag, so that your visitors can read about the image before it completely loads.

Note
When entering a name for your slices, don’t use capital letters or special characters.  In addition, if you are leaving spaces, remember to underscore them _ (as illustrated below).

3/ Save your Sliced Image
Now you have created your rectangular slices, it’s time to save them.  Saving your slices exports them (individually) to a destination of your choice for example My Documents - where they can be utilised in your HTML editor, in your usual manner.

To save your sliced image, click the following Save As tab.

  Now, enter a name in the subsequent Save As dialogue box, then click Save.

Tip
You may find it easier if you Copy and Paste the Slices and HTM page into a New Folder.

Exporting your Slices via the Clipboard
Save the HTML code to the Clipboard by clicking the following Save To Clipboard tab.

Then navigate to where the destination HTML code is stored, open your code and press Ctrl and P to paste in.

Using an HTML Editor
Alternatively, your slices’ URLs can be assigned in an HTML editor, for example Dreamweaver or Golive, in your usual way.

(My Optimise and Save Images tutorials demonstrate how to optimise images for the web).

Optimisation Tip
Always save plain text graphics and images that have a low colour-count as Gifs: and save photographs or complex graphics with a high colour-count, as Jpegs.

Rollover Notes
A rollover is an image or section of an image that changes appearance when the user activates it. Web designers frequently create rollovers for the buttons of a navigation bar. When a user clicks a button, the browser displays the linked web page (or file), and the rollover area displays a different button. You can assign a rollover to an image that is sliced and mapped by choosing an image file that will appear when the user performs a specific mouse action. To create a rollover, first create your rollover image: often, this second image is a duplicate of the original; - however, it is modified to appear differently when the mouse rolls over the original. Now, take one of the following steps: Choose File then choose Export then choose Image Mapper. (Alternatively, choose File then choose Export then choose Image Slicer).  If necessary, navigate to an image region, and use the appropriate Tool, (for example, the Polygon, Circle or Rectangle Tool), to specify the region where you want to add a rollover.  Now, click Rollover Creator and the Rollover dialogue box will appear. Then mark the Mouse over, Mouse out, Mouse click, Mouse Double Click, Mouse up, Mouse down  boxes.  Click the Open tab and the Select Rollover dialogue will appear.  Now, navigate to and activate the graphics file you want to use.  (If you do not select a file, the original will be used).  Click Open.  Then from the subsequent Rollover Creator dialogue box, the file path will appear in the box beside the tick box.  Now, click Close to return to the Image Mapper (or Image Slicer) dialogue box. You can then preview your work in a browser by clicking the Preview button.

Image Mapping Notes
An image map is a graphic that contains a mapped area (called a region or hotspot), that links to a URL. The cell can be a circle, rectangle, or irregular shape. When you move the mouse over the cell, the cursor changes to a hand indicating that you can click that area to jump to another web page.

Creating Map Areas
You create and edit map areas with the Tool in the Tools group box of the Image Mapper dialogue box, then assigning map area properties.  After you have created the map areas (or regions), you can assign URLs, alternative text, and targets.

Saving Image Maps
You can save image maps to a folder on your hard drive so you can use or edit them. You can also save map settings to the
Clipboard and then paste them into the HTML code. When you save the map settings, you save the map area arrangement and the information you typed in the Image Mapper dialog box. You can then reload them into the same image, or use the settings with a different image.

Setting Image Map Preferences
After you have created the map areas (or regions), you can assign URLs, alternate text, and targets.
1. Choose File then choose Export Image Mapper. The Image Mapper dialogue box then appears.
2. Now, choose one of the following Tools, and draw in the preview window to create a hotspot:
• Rectangle Tool — drag the cursor to enclose a square or rectangular-shaped hotspot area.
• Circle Tool — drag the cursor to enclose a circular or elliptical hotspot area.
• Polygon Tool — click to set the starting point and continue moving the cursor and clicking to enclose an
irregular-shaped hotspot area. Double-left-click to complete the polygon.
3. In the URL drop-list, type the address of the web page to which you want to link.
If you want to select addresses already used in the image, click the arrow in the box and select the address you want from the URL drop-down list.
If you do not want to link to a web page, type #.
4. In the Alt text box, type the text that appears if the image does not load or if the user has images disabled in the Web browser.
5. Choose one of the following target frame options from the Target drop-list:
• _blank — loads the linked page in a new browser window
• _parent — loads the linked page in the parent frame set of the link. If the link is not in a nested frame, the image loads in the full browser window.
• _self — loads the linked page in the same frame as the link.
• _top — loads the linked page in the full browser window and removes all frame.
6. Click Save. The HTML Save As dialogue box will appear.
7. Navigate to the folder where you want to save the HTML code, then click Save.
The Image Map Save As dialogue box will appear.
8. Now, navigate to the folder where you want to save the image and click Save.

Wendi E. M. Scarth.  (8th January 2010).

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Utilise Photoshop’s Slice Tool to Slice Web Images

05/01/2010 by admin.

This tutorial demonstrates how to slice an image (or a website design) into smaller sections using Photoshop’s Slice Tool, and is an alternative method to slicing an image using the Crop Tool.  After they have been created in Photoshop, your slices are then ready to export into an HTML editor such as GoLive or Dreamweaver, in your usual manner.

(I am demonstrating this technique using Photoshop CS4 - 342+ Photoshop PDF Tutorials).

Slicing up a large image, or website design - ensures your website doesn’t take an unreasonable time to load, and hopefully stops visitors from leaving your website before your image loads.  In addition, slicing a large image or a website design lets you save different areas as Jpegs, which is the format used to save high-colour photographic areas: or Gifs, which is the format used to save text, navigation buttons or images with a low colour-count.

Slices divide an image into smaller images that are reassembled on a web page using HTML table or CSS Layers.  By dividing the image you can assign different URL links to create page navigation, or optimise each part of an image using its optimisation settings. You export and optimise a sliced image using the Save for Web (& Devices) command.  Photoshop then saves each slice as a separate file and generates the HTML or CSS code needed to display the sliced image.

When working with slices, keep these basics in mind:
You can create a slice by using the Slice Tool or by creating Layer-based slices.
After you create a slice, you can select it using the Slice Select Tool and then move, resize, or align it with other slices.
You can set options for each slice’s such as slice type, name, and URL in the Slice Options dialogue box.
You can optimise each slice using different optimisation settings in the Save for Web (& Devices) dialogue box.

Ruler Tip
Press Ctrl then tap the R Key to display Photoshop’s Rulers.

Quickly Step Backwards
You can quickly undo a step by clicking a previous snapshot in the History Palette. (From the top menu, choose Window then click a tick before History).

Create Slices from Guides
You can create image slices from Guides.  To do so, first apply the guides to your image - View then New Guide.  Then activate the Slice Tool, and click the Slices from Guides tab, circled below.

Note
When creating slices from Guides, any existing slices are deleted.

Create Slices from Layers
A Layer-based slice encompasses all the pixel data in the Layer.  If you move the Layer or edit the Layer’s content, the slice area automatically adjusts to include the new pixels.  Layer-based slices are less flexible than user slices; however, you can convert (“promote”) a Layer-based slice to a user slice.

1. Activate a Layer in the Layers Palette.
2. Choose Layer, and then choose New Layer-based Slice.

Don’t use a Layer-based slice when you plan to move the Layer over a large area of the image during an animation, because the slice dimension may exceed a useful size.

1/
To begin, open an image or website design onto Photoshop’s workspace.

2/
Then from the left-side Toolbar, activate the Slice Tool.

And select your choice of slice Style from the Tool Options Bar.

Now, you are looking to slice your image into smaller, rectangular slices: therefore, left-click and drag out your first (rectangular) slice over your image, as illustrated below.

Tip: Resize the Slice’s Bounding Box
After you have applied your slice you will see the following repositioning handles: this means the slice is active and you can therefore resize the slice’s bounding box, should you need to.

To resize the bounding box, drag out the rectangle’s sides, (one-at-a-time), as illustrated below.

Tip
To activate an inactive slice, press down the Ctrl Key, then simultaneously left-click inside the portion you want to activate.  You can then make any final adjustments to the active portion.

3/
Now, continue slicing (or dividing) your photograph into manageable portions; and when you have completed this, you are ready for the next step.

Note
Each slice will be assigned a numerical value, as illustrated below.

Copy a Sliced Section
If you have areas of your image or website design that are roughly the same size, (for example, navigation buttons or tabs), to save time, you can copy the bounding box and drag it over to slice a different area.  To do this, hover your cursor over the bounding box you want to copy, and then press your Alt Key: and simultaneously drag the bounding box over a different area - as illustrated below.

4/
Now, either double-left-click over a rectangular slice: or click the following tab that is found on the Tool Options Bar.

Then from the subsequent Slice Options dialogue box, give each slice a unique name, and don’t forget to add an Alt Tag, so that your visitors can read about the image before it completely loads.   After you have added your text, click OK to close the Slice Options dialogue box.

(Once you have created your slices, their URLs can then be assigned to them in an HTML editor, for example Dreamweaver or Golive, in your usual way).

Note
When entering a name for your slices, don’t use capital letters or special characters.  In addition, if you are leaving spaces, remember to underscore them _ (as illustrated below).

5/ Saving/Exporting your Image Slices
Now you have created your rectangular slices, it’s time to save them.  Saving your slices exports them into a single folder names Images, where they can be utilised in your HTML editor, in your usual manner.

To save your sliced image: from the top menu, choose File then choose Save for Web (& Devices).  Then from the subsequent Save for Web (& Devices) dialogue box, optimise and save your slices.

(My Optimise and Save Images tutorial demonstrates how to operate the Save for Web (& Devices) dialogue box).

Optimisation Tip
Always save plain text graphics and images that have a low colour-count as Gifs: and save photographs or complex graphics with a high colour-count, as Jpegs.

When you are completely happy with the optimisation settings, click Save.

You will then see the following Save Optimised As dialogue box.  If you would like to save your sliced images as images only, ensure Save as type is set to Images Only, then click Save.  Your sliced images will then be saved to a folder named Images, in a destination of your choice; for example, My Documents.

 

If you would like to save your slices as HTML and Image or HTML Only, then click open the Save as type drop-down menu, and make your choice, as illustrated below.

HTML and Images

 

HTML Only

 

Centre your Work Note
If you select HTML, Photoshop places it into a table for you.  If you would like your table to be aligned to the centre, instead of to the left; then add align=”center” to your code, as illustrated below.

<TABLE WIDTH=300 BORDER=0 CELLPADDING=0 CELLSPACING=0 align=”center”>

Previewing Your Work
To preview your work in a web browser, click the following Preview tab.

Assigning URLs to your slices
Assigning a URL to a slice makes the entire slice area a link in the resulting web page. When a user clicks the link, the web browser navigates to the specified URL and target frame. This option is available only for Image slices. (Note: most designers prefer to assign the URLs in their HTML Editor, and not Photoshop).

Select a slice. If you are working in Photoshop, double-left-click the slice with the Slice Select Tool to display the Slice Options dialogue box.

1. Then from the subsequent Slice Options dialogue box, enter a URL in the URL text box. You can enter a relative URL or absolute (full) URL. If you enter an absolute URL, remember to include the correct protocol (for example, http://www.mysite.com, not www.mysite.com).
2. If desired, enter the name of a target frame in the Target text box:

   _blank Displays the linked file in a new window, leaving the original browser window open.

   _self Displays the linked file in the same frame as the original file.

   _parent Displays the linked file in its own original parent frameset. Use this option if the HTML document contains frames and the current frame is a child. The linked file appears in the current parent frame.

   _top Replaces the entire browser window with the linked file, removing all current frames. The name must match a frame name previously defined in the HTML file for the document. When a user clicks the link, the specified file appears in the new frame.

Congratulations, your sliced image is complete and is ready to utilise in your HTML editor, in your usual manner.

Wendi E.M. Scarth. (5th January 2010).

 

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Quick Text Art Effects Using Adobe Photoshop’s Warp Text Tool

01/01/2010 by admin.

This tutorial demonstrates how to warp text using Adobe Photoshop’s Warp Text Tool - and I am demonstrating this technique using Photoshop CS4 (Extended).

Mixing Filters Note
There is nothing preventing you from applying more than one warping Tool or Filter at a time: in fact, mixing warping filters and further warping your text using one of Photoshop’s Transformation Tools can produce much better and personalised text-warps.

Tip
To quickly navigate through a Filter’s numerical value: first highlight the numerical value with your mouse, as illustrated below.

Then immediately (whilst the text remains highlighted) tap either the top-facing or bottom-facing Keyboard Arrow Keys: this increases (or decreases) the values - one digit at a time.

My on-line tutorial here demonstrates how to warp text around a label.

My PDF tutorials demonstrate how to warp text along different objects.

There are alternative methods of warping text; however, before using those methods, you need to Rasterise the text first: Layer then Rasterise then Type. (Note: You don’t need to Rasterise your text if you are applying the Vector-based Warp Text Tool).  After Rasterising your text, from the top menu, choose Edit then choose Transform then select your choice from the subsequent Transformation Tools - for example Perspective; as illustrated below.

Alternatively, from the top menu, choose Filter then choose Distort, then experiment with different Distortion Filters - as illustrated below.

Sharpening Tip
After you have finished warping your text, it is always a good idea to apply a Sharpening Filter to it afterwards: Filter then Sharpen.

Apply Photoshop’s Warp Text Filter

To begin, onto an open canvas, apply the Horizontal Type of your choice.

Then drag the type to a central position. (Remember to leave plenty of room for the subsequent displacement).

Tip
If you are applying a Drop Shadow to your text, do so now: Layer then Layer Styles.

Now, from the Horizontal Type Tool’s Toolbar, click the following Create Warped Text button.

Then from the subsequent Warp Text dialogue box, click open the Styles; and experiment with different text-art Styles - as illustrated below.

Tip
Before clicking OK to apply the Style of your choice: click through different Styles and Settings to see how they effect the look of your text.

The following examples demonstrate different Styles, (I have applied the default settings).  However, for personal results, always experiment with the Styles dialogue box settings.

Arc

Arc Lower

Arc Upper

Arch

Bulge

Shell Lower

Shell Upper

Flag

Wave

Fish

Rise

Fisheye

Inflate

Squeeze

Twist

Now you are familiar with the Warping Tools, Commands and Filters that Photoshop offers, you can have lots of fun creating uniquely warped text.

My Photoshop PDF Tutorials Here demonstrate how to snap type around a circular path.

Best Wishes and a Happy New Year. 

Wendi E.M. Scarth. (1st January 2010).

 

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How to Curve or Warp Text: Paint Shop Pro Tutorial

01/01/2010 by admin.

 

This tutorial demonstrates how to warp text using Paint Shop Pro.  I am demonstrating this technique using Paint Shop Pro X2 Photo, therefore, some of the Tools and Filters may differ (or be missing) from earlier Paint Shop Pro versions.

To begin, onto an open canvas, apply the text of your choice.  (Ensure Create as is set to Floating, and remember to leave plenty of room for the subsequent displacement).

Then drag your text to a central position.

(Press Ctrl then tap the D key to remove the text’s Selection Marquee).

Note
If you are applying a Drop Shadow to your text, then do so now: Effects then 3D Effects.

Tip
To quickly navigate through a Filter’s numerical value: first highlight the numerical value with your mouse, as illustrated below.

Then immediately (whilst the text remains highlighted) tap either the top-facing or bottom-facing Keyboard Arrow Keys: this increases (or decreases) the values - one digit at a time.

Sharpening Tip
After warping text, always finish by applying a Sharpening Filter to it. (Effects/Image then Sharpen/Sharpness).

Paint Shop Pro’s Warping Tools
There are many different ways of warping text: for example, you can utilise the Warp Brush Tool, the Mesh Warp Tool or the Deformation/Deform or Pick Tool - as illustrated below.

Warp Brush Tool

Mesh Warp Tool

My PDF Tutorials here demonstrate how to utilise Paint Shop Pro’s Warp Brush Tool, Mesh Warp Tool and Deformation/Deform/Pick Tool.  Alternatively, you can utilise one of Paint Shop Pro’s Distortion Filters: for example, Polar Coordinates, Ripple, Twirl, Warp and Wave.  Alternative Filters that are good for warping text are (from the Geometric Effects): Cylinder Vertical, Pentagon, Perspective Horizontal, Perspective Vertical and Skew. However, for personal results, always experiment with the Tools and Filters I have already mentioned: and remember, there is nothing stopping you from implementing more than one Tool or Filter at a time.  In fact, playing with different Filters and Tools will build the effect, so producing better (and personalised) text warps.

(My on-line Paint Shop Pro Tutorial Here demonstrates how to perspectively warp text along an object).

(My on-line Paint Shop Pro Tutorial Here demonstrates how to snap text along a hand drawn Bezier Curve).

Distortion Effects (Filters)

An interesting warping filter is Curlicues: (Effects then Distortion Effects). For my example, I chose the following settings.

Randomise Tip
For personal results, always experiment with your chosen filter’s settings, especially the Randomise Parameters (dice icon).

To apply a different warp, revert your image to its un-warped state by clicking the top menu’s Undo Arrow.

Then continue to play with different warping Tools or Filters. The following screen captures demonstrate different ways of utilising Paint Shop Pro’s “warping” Filters and, as always, experiment with the settings until you find a look you like: not forgetting to play with the Randomise Parameters (dice).

Polar (Distortion) Coordinates

Ripple (Distortion) Filter

Warp (Distortion) Filter

 

Wave (Distortion) Filter

Geometric Effects Filters

Cylinder Vertical (Geometric)

Pentagon Filter (Geometric)

Perspective Horizontal (Geometric)

Perspective Vertical (Geometric)

Skew (Geometric)

Spherise (Geometric)

 

My PDF tutorials here demonstrate how to warp text around spherical-shaped objects.

Note
Although not a warping tool as such, the Feedback Filter (Reflection Effects) as you can see below, can produce interesting results.

Now you are more familiar with the Warping Tools, Commands and Filters  that Paint Shop Pro offers, you can have lots of fun creating uniquely warped text.

My Paint Shop Pro PDF Tutorials Here demonstarte how to snap text around a circular path.

Best Wishes and a Happy New Year.

Wendi E. M. Scarth.  (1st January 2010).

 

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