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opals-linkback.jpg (3766 bytes)

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Tutorial on Creating Pearls

pearl-demo.jpg (1720 bytes)      This tutorial covers the steps needed to make pearls.

Required:

  • Paint Shop Pro Version 5. (PSP5)
  • Blade Pro
  • Blade Pro settings by Andrew Ronayne found at New Dawn Micro.  In particular, amr real pearl2.q9q, found in a zipped file of three pearl presets.

 

Step 1To achieve the effect, at right, open a 100 x 100 pixel image with 16 million colors.  I set the color to a very pale (bluish) grey.  The HSL I used was 213, 85, 243.  Use the Selection tool to select a circle that (about) fills the image.  Check anti-alias.

pearl-spacer.jpg (813 bytes)

Step 2Now, apply "amr real pearl2.9q9", as obtained above, to the circle.

pearl-step-a.jpg (1632 bytes)

Step 3Again, use the circle selection tool.  Position it centered at 60, 60 and select a circle about 50 pixels in diameter.  Copy this selection.

pearl-spacer.jpg (813 bytes)

Step 4At this point you could just paste to a new image, etc. , but I wanted to make the spacer at left.  I opened up a 100 x 100 image and flood filled with the pattern on this page.  I then pasted the selection from Step 3 as a new layer, and added a drop shadow.  Results are at right.

pearl-step-b.jpg (1808 bytes)

Step 5The above looks pretty good, but could use some "smoothing".  I used image resize but I unchecked the "All Layers" box.  This resizes just the pearl.  Results are seen at right.

pearl-spacer.jpg (813 bytes)

Note 1You can play around with sizing by starting with a larger image and larger circle.  That is what I did to get the larger pearl at the top of the page.  In that case, you need to increase the radius of the preset to about 140.

pearl-spacer.jpg (813 bytes)

Note 2At Step 4, you might want to apply a slight Gaussian blur to the selection before adding the drop shadow.

pearl-spacer.jpg (813 bytes)

Note 3The color that you start with in Step 1 does make a difference.  It is strongly suggested that only very light, unsaturated colors be used for realistic looking pearls.

pearl-spacer.jpg (813 bytes)

pearl-demo.jpg (1720 bytes) E-mail me with any questions or comments.
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This page was last updated on 09/09/98 09:39 AM CDT