One of the new effects in PSP8 is
called Polar Coordinates. Depending on the material used
and the settings you use, you can create the perfect
ring. I experimented with several different techniques
and found an EASY way to create the interlocking rings
that you see above.
Remember, my tutorials are only guidelines
to help you accomplish a certain creation. Please feel
free to be inventive and take whatever liberties you
would like. I encourage each of you to do your "own
thing" and make your creation yours!
Screenshots are resized and compressed
for faster loading.
This tutorial is written in and for PSP8
and assumes you have a working knowledge of PSP.
YOU WILL NEED: JASC's PSP8 (30 day
free trial) - You can get it HERE
Step 1:
Open a new image 350x350, transparent background. Set
your material palette foreground swatch to Null, and
choose a gradient for your background swatch. I used
the Metallic Gold 01 that comes with PSP8.
Step 2:
Activate your preset shape tool, .
On your tool ribbon choose Rectangle shape, uncheck retain
style, check antialias and create as vector. There are
two reasons we are creating this as a vector. One is
that we need to extend your rectangle over the edge of
your image and vectors don't create jaggies.
Step 3:
In the middle of your image draw out a long, narrow rectangle.
Pull out your middle, side nodes so they extend over
the edge of your image.
Once you have your rectangle overlapping
the edges, go to Layers-->Convert to Raster Layer.
Step 4:
Go to Effects-->Distortion Effects-->Polar Coordinates.
Edge mode Transparent and Rectangular to polar chosen.
See the nice round, unjagged, ring
you have made?
Step 5:
Go to Layers-->Duplicate. Using your mover tool, move
your duplicated ring down and to the right similar to
what I have below.
Step 6:
Go to your Layer Palette and make sure you are on your
duplicated layer. Lower the opacity to about 54.
Step 7:
Activate your eraser tool, ,
I used the following settings.
Carefully erase the lower left part
of your duplicate ring as shown below. Zoom in if you
have to - I zoomed in to 250%. You can raise the opacity
to see how it is looking and then lower it again until
you are satisfied.
Once you are happy with your erasing,
raise your opacity to 100. This is how mine looked.
Step 8:
Here comes the fun part and why this intricate design
is really quite easy. Duplicate the copy of Raster 2
layer. Go to Image-->Mirror.
Step 9:
Duplicate the copy (2) of Raster 2 layer. Go to Image-->Flip.
Step 10:
We have a little erasing to do and we will do it the
same way as before. Lower the opacity of the copy (3)
of Raster 2 layer, erase the area that I show below.
Here is how mine looked after erasing
this area.
Step 11:
Duplicate the copy (3) of Raster 2 layer. Go to Image-->Mirror.
We need to do a little more erasing. Activate your Copy
(3) of Raster 2 layer and lower the opacity. Erase where
I have the arrow below.
When you are done, raise your opacity
to 100. You now have a very interesting design of interlocking
rings. You can go to Layers-->Merge-->Merge Visible
and save this as a .gif or you can export it as a picture
tube by going to File-->Export-->Picture Tube and
giving it a unique name.
There are many things that you can
use your interlocking rings for, such as making a website
border as I did on this tutorial.
I thank Teri for testing this tutorial
for me. She made her first gradient line thin and here
is her results. I think it turned out rather nicely ~smiles~
I hope you have enjoyed this tutorial
as much as I have enjoyed creating it for you.
If you have any problems, comments or questions
please do not hesitate to E-mail
me.
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
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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.
.
On your tool ribbon choose Rectangle shape, uncheck retain
style, check antialias and create as vector. There are
two reasons we are creating this as a vector. One is
that we need to extend your rectangle over the edge of
your image and vectors don't create jaggies. 
,
I used the following settings. 
