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All graphics and tutorials on this site are copyright © 1998 by Dr. Jo Ann/Visual Sonnets.

Please, see the Terms of Usage for use of graphics.  Tutorials may not be reproduced without express written permission of the author.

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What is Visual Sonnets' "Sandbox"?

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The Sandbox is where I play to learn and to learn to play.

The Sandbox is part of Dr. Jo Ann's Visual Sonnets site.  Below are select portions of the site which use Blade Pro to achieve interesting effects.

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What is here?

Tutorials on creating some interesting effects using Paint Shop Pro and Blade Pro.  These tutorials can easily be adapted to any other graphics program which supports the Blade Pro plugin, and layers with variable opacity and blend modes. 
Most of the tutorials are intended for seasoned users of PSP who are comfortable with layers and manipulating selections.  I rely heavily on dingbats and B&W clipart.
Two Paint Shop Pro 5  tubes of fleur-de-lys. 

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Tutorials

vs-sm-gold-fleur.jpg (1324 bytes) Simple Faceted Gems

This tutorial shows how to create "gems" with simple facets.  It includes the Blade Pro presets needed, and two "master" files for the gems shown at right.

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vs-sm-gold-fleur.jpg (1324 bytes) Creating Buttons for Mouseovers

This tutorial shows how to create buttons with two states.  While not for mouseovers, alone, these are easy to get going with.   Also, it shows how to make "frames" from solid dingbats, and the power of layers and saved selections. This uses Blade Pro to get that "transparent" look, but you don't neccessarily need it to implement most of the ideas.

 

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vs-sm-gold-fleur.jpg (1324 bytes) Incised Decorations with Dingbats

This tutorial shows how to use complicated dingbats to give Blade Pro an incised look.

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vs-sm-gold-fleur.jpg (1324 bytes) Creating Pearls

'I've been wanting to make lovely pearls and other jewels without an expensive plug-in, so here's one you can do with Blade Pro.   Inspiration, spurred on by Andrew Ronayne's Blade Pro pearl presets, struck.  Enjoy.

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vs-sm-gold-fleur.jpg (1324 bytes) Shifting Light on Gold

The effect I'm trying for is a light source playing over a golden surface.  There are Blade Pro settings and a tutorial available for this.

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vs-sm-gold-fleur.jpg (1324 bytes) Stained Glass

This is the tutorial which started the whole thing.  I wanted a stained glass that had a bevel and that I could see through.  Blade Pro got me there.

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Tubes

vs-sm-gold-fleur.jpg (1324 bytes)I've been having some fun making various fleur-de-lys with Blade.   I put together two tubes.  One is a rainbow of fleur "jewels".   These look smashing on a black background.  The other is made up of different warm colored metals.  They are both available as a WinZip file (90KB).

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vs-mail-on.jpg (1888 bytes)Please e-mail me with comments or questions.

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All graphics and tutorials on this site are copyright © 1998 by Dr. Jo Ann/Visual Sonnets.

Please, see the Terms of Usage for use of graphics.  Tutorials may not be reproduced without express written permission of the author.

vs-main-linkback.jpg (3665 bytes)

This page was last modified on 09/09/98 08:18 AM CDT.