Creating a Feather in PSP 7

I had a request on how to make a feather in PSP, so I did a little experimenting and this is what I came up with. We won't be using any plug-in filters but will be utilizing different features already in PSP.

I am so pleased to show you what Beverly R. from FBNG did with the feather that she made from this tutorial. This is what she had to say about the tutorial, "Patti, really enjoyed doing these...easy and so realistic...thank you! ((Hugs)).....Beverly "

Won't you stop by her homepage if you get a chance? Thank you so much Bev for allowing me to share your creation with others.

This tutorial is written in and for PSP Version 7 and assumes you have a working knowledge of PSP at an intermediate level. I am sure this can easily be done in Version 6 with a few adjustments in paths but I have only used Version 7 so I can't make promises *S*

Please note graphics are reduced in size to save on downloading ~~ your image will appear much larger on your PSP work area. My images also show a white background from when I saved in jpg to load and yours will show the transparent background.

You will need:

JASC's PSP (30 day free trial)- You can get it HERE

Step 1:
Open a new image 400x400, 16 million colors, transparent background. We want to have plenty of room to work with and will be resizing your finished feather before we are finished. Set your foreground color to #FDF2DB and your background color to #C2AA94.

Step 2:
On your color bar set foreground styles to null and background styles to gradient fill:

and use the following selections:

Your color bar should look like the following:

Step 3:
Open your preset shapes and select ellipse as below:

Draw an oval from coordinates 140,30 to 280,340

Step 4:
Go to Effects--Geometric Effects--Spiky Halo and apply the following settings:
Your feather will now look like this:

Step 5:
Go to effects--Geometric Effects--Perspective Vertical and set at 100%

Step 6:
Select your retouch tool ~~ Push option with the following settings.
Gradually pushup around the right side of your feather to give a glittery effect.

Step 7:
Now we're going to add a little motion to our feather. Go to Effects--Blur--Motion Blur and apply the following:

Step 8:
Take your selection tool set at Rectangle, Feather 0, Antialias checked and select the left half of your feather and press delete (or edit-->cut). Your feather will now look like this:

Step 9:
Go to your layer palette, right click on your layer and duplicate. Go to Image--Mirror and use your mover tool to move the left half of your feather next to the right half.

Step 10:
Go to Layers--Merge--Merge Visible

Step 11 (optional):
If you feel your feather is too "fat" then go to your deformation tool and push in the middle squares a tad until you have the "right size" feather for you.

Step 12:
Now we want to crop our feather down and get rid of all the excess background. Pick up your selection tool (still set at rectangle) and draw a rectangle around your feather. Go to Image-->Crop to Selection and voila!
Don't forget, your background will be transparent.

Step 13:
Export your feather as a tube for future use. Go to File-->Export-->Picture Tube leave all settings at default and name your feather. I always name what I have made and tubed with an MD-filename so I will know that it is one of my creations.

I hope you have enjoyed this little tutorial on making a feather as much as I enjoyed making it.

If you have any comments or questions please do not hesitate to E-Mail me.

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If you would like to use this tutorial for group settings, please contact me. Just click on the above mail slot *S*

Tutorial written and created by Patti Wavinak for Moon's Designs. These Tutorials are copyrighted by law. You may LINK to them only. You may not remove any of the graphics, zip files or html within these pages to reproduce these Tutorials, without the expressed permission of Moon's Designs. These pages may not be removed from this website and sent via e-mail, nor saved, stored or archived in files in YahooGroups or other mailing list sites, nor may they be translated and placed on another site.
Creations made from these tutorials are your creations..

Moon's Designs holds the copyright to all selections, original tubes and original images that I have created and provided for use within my tutorials. Page backgrounds and images are created exclusively for this website and may not be downloaded or used without written permission.
If you would like to use any of my tutorials for group lessons please contact me.

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