This tutorial was written on January 10th 2003 and © by Lady Oz. You may make a copy of this tutorial or print it out for your own personal use ONLY. Do not send through emails nor put on your own site, but if you would like to LINK to my tutorials please do so. Also what you create belongs to you, I only own this tutorial and wish it to stay on this page. *s*.
*Disclaimer* I got the general idea for this Irish Leprechaun from a tiny piece of clipart on the Internet, I liked the stance and set up so thought that it would make a great vector and shading project. The original was an ugly looking character who looked more like a monkey and a skinny looking runt at that...I've made this one to look more like my Leprechaun that sits in my fern barrel on my patio...sort of jolly and well fed. LOL Shaun the Leprechaun is one handsome dude....to be sure! Aw...shucks...he's blushing now. *s*
This tutorial uses vector shapes and shading, also a chance to save your vector layers as a preset shape....only if you want to though. *s* It is assumed that you have a good working knowledge of PSP.Please email me if you encounter any problems due to my instructions or mistakes, so that I in turn can correct them. I'd love to see your results and don't forget to share any good ideas or additions you may have! *s*
What I used for my Leprechaun.
PSP 7
download a free trial version.....you won't be sorry...but you will be hooked. *s*
Tools you will be needing to do this tutorial are as follows:
Preset Shapes
Object Selector
Draw Tool
Retouch tool
Layer Visibility Toggle
Now to make Shaun the Leprechaun! *s*
Step 1* Open up a transparent image size around 500 x 500 16 million colours (24 bit). Don't forget to save as you go along....I suggest also that you name your layers as we finish each one, as there are many layers and it will save confusion (my image had about 49 layers) ....though I don't always name my layers, only when there are lots of them.....saves me a whole heap of time trying to find things. *s*
**Also, bear in mind that when you add a new vector layer and give it a name...you can also click on the plus sign beside it and name any of the shapes below it accordingly. For example...you've added a new vector layer for the Eye...to make up the eye we need an ellipse for the eye another one for the iris and yet another one for the pupil ...then maybe some draw lines for the eyelashes....so you would need to change each of these shapes and name them accordingly. I know it is a pain, but the reason for this is that when you group and export your image as a preset shape, then when you choose to open it at some later date, each part will have kept its original name and it will save you a lot of time by not having to check each shape out to see what it actually is....this last action takes a lot longer than naming them when you first make your image.** See Fig 1...2 and 6 in Step 26
Save as a PSP file!
Step 2* Foreground #636C45
Background #6BA552
These are the colours that I used
for his clothing etc.
Step 3* Add a new Vector layer...call it 'body'...remember to click on the plus sign beside the layer and change 'ellipse' to 'body'...do this for all your vector layers and for each shape below them as pointed out in Step 1.
Antialias...checked
Create as Vector checked
Line width 1
Draw an oval shape in the center of your canvas. See the diagram opposite for my basic shape.
Save!
Step 4* Highlight Layer 1 and add a new Vector layer...call it 'right thigh'
Keeping the same colour and settings.....draw an oblong for the 'right thigh'. *when I refer to the right or left side of the image, I mean in reference to Shaun...his left and his right side...okay? *s*
Duplicate this layer..... 'mirror'... rename it 'left thigh'...adjust the nodes and shape to your liking....Rotate this one anti-clockwise a little.
*I only ever do a rough shape when in the early stages as I always seem to change things around before I save as a preset shape or change to raster layer etc....sort of like doing a rough sketch....but if you want to do it perfectly straight away...hey, that's up to you...this is just my preference. *s*
Save!
Step 5* With Shaun's 'right thigh' layer highlighted, add a new Vector layer and call this one 'right lower leg'..
Draw an oblong shape again and in the same way as before, add and change nodes around until you get something like this one above.
Duplicate this layer and mirror...rename it 'left lower leg' and drag this one under the right leg on the layer palette....I adjusted the shape in a couple of areas too.
Save!
Step 6* With the 'body' layer highlighted...add a new Vector layer....call this layer 'shirt'.....don't get to see much of his shirt. LOL
Draw a small oval shape and pull the handles out and up on the top node until you get something similar to the one in the opposite pic. You may of course need to go back to your body layer and adjust the top of the body shape so that it does not show above the shirt.
Save!
Step 7* With Layer 1 highlighted...Add a new Vector layer....calling this one 'coat tails'.
Draw a rectangular shape...and in the same way as before, add some nodes and move these around until you get something similar to the one in the opposite pic.
Save!
Step 8* With 'shirt' layer highlighted...add a new Vector layer....calling this one 'right side vest' ...
When you are happy with it...duplicate this layer and rename it 'left side vest'. Mirror....then adjust the nodes so that it looks something like in this picture. >>>>>>
This is what we have so far!
Save!
Step 9* With 'left side vest' layer highlighted...Add a new Vector layer....call this one 'right side coat'. **Take it step by step and you won't get confused....mistakes happen when you skip steps....apart from any blunders that I may have made, that is. *g*
Duplicate this layer and 'mirror'...call this layer 'left side coat'....I grabbed the bottom node on this side and pulled it down...like in the pic opposite.
Save!
Step 10* Still on the 'left side coat' layer...add a new Vector layer...this will be the 'right collar'.
Draw an oval shape edit the nodes in the same way as before until you get something like this pic. >>>>>
Duplicate this layer and 'mirror'....rename it 'left collar'.
Save!
Step 11* With 'shirt' layer highlighted...add a new Vector layer...this will be the 'right sleeve'.
Draw an oval shape edit the nodes in the same way as before until you get something like this pic. >>>>>
Keeping this layer highlighted....add a new Vector layer...call this one 'left sleeve'. Draw a smaller oval shape and edit the nodes so that they look similar to this one.....it needs to be shorter than the right sleeve because it is a bent arm. >>>>>
Save!
Step 12* Highlight the 'right sleeve' layer...add a new Vector layer....call this one 'right cuff'.
For mine, I made the four corner nodes 'Symmetric' and the others 'Cusp'.
Duplicate this layer and rename it 'left cuff'...rotate the cuff so that it fits onto the left sleeve.
This is what we should have so far....we are trying to line up all the pieces of coat etc so that we can blend them into one later on in the tutorial.
Save!
Step 13* With the 'body' layer highlighted, add a new Vector layer....call this one 'neck'.
Foreground : #FFDBC1
Background: #FFE7D6
Draw a shape for the neck adding two extra nodes at the top of shape. The top outer two nodes on mine need to be moved out more but I will do that later on.
Save!
Step 14* Keeping the 'neck' layer highlighted, add a new Vector layer....call this one 'head'.
Save!
Step 15* With 'head' layer highlighted...add a new Vector layer....call it 'right eye'.
Foreground : #422510
Background: #FFFFFF
Draw a shape for the eye...when happy with it....duplicate the layer, mirror it and rename it 'left eye'.
Add a new Vector layer....call it 'right pupil'.
Foreground : Null
Background: #422510
Draw a small circle for the pupil in the center of the right eye....Duplicate this layer, mirror it and rename it 'left pupil'.
Save!
Step 16* With 'head' layer highlighted...add a new Vector layer....call it 'nose'.
Foreground : #FFDBC1
Background: #FFE7D6
Draw a shape for the nose.
Add a new Vector layer and call it 'mouth'. I decided to make mine look as though he is talking....you may prefer to have yours quiet, or maybe with a pipe in his mouth...up to you. *s*
Foreground : #B66052
Background: #DB8D8D
Draw a small heart shape for the mouth and shape it the way you want. Okay...he's looking not too good at the moment but he will start to look better soon....hopefully. *g*
Save!
Step 17* Add a new Vector layer....call it 'beard'.
Foreground : Null
Background: #EAE8E8
Draw a shape for the beard and move the nodes 'til you get the shape you fancy.
I then used the
Add a new Vector layer...call it 'right eyebrow'...use the draw tool on 'freehand' and with a slightly darker colour than the beard.....I had to do these ones a bit too dark as they weren't showing up in the screen capture properly...but you get the idea. Duplicate...mirror and rename 'left eyebrow'.
Save!
Step 18* Highlight the 'right sleeve' layer and add a new Vector layer....call it 'right hand'. Foreground : #FFDBC1
Background: #FFE7D6
OR....you can use the Preset shape Ellipse to make yours.
Save!
Step 19* Highlight the 'left cuff' layer and add a new Vector layer....call it 'left thumb'.
Add a new Vector layer....call it 'left hand'.
This needs to be above the sleeve and cuff etc...you will see why shortly.
Save!
Step 20* With the 'body' layer highlighted...add a new Vector layer....call this layer 'hat'.
Foreground #636C45
Background #6BA552
Draw an oval shape and shape accordingly.. similar to the one in the opposite pic.
Add a new Vector layer....call it 'hat rim'.
Save!
Step 21* Add a new Vector layer....call this layer 'right ear'.
Foreground : #D99665
Background: #FFE7D6
Draw an oval shape and shape accordingly.. similar to the one in the opposite and above pic.
Duplicate this layer and mirror it...rename it 'left ear'.
Now while we are still on with his head...let us also add some cheeks
Add a new Vector layer....call it 'right cheek'.
Foreground : #B66052
Background: #DB8D8D
Draw an oval shape...Duplicate this layer, mirror it and rename it 'left cheek'. I'd say that he is looking rather 'cheeky' now...a real Irish rogue. *s*
Save!
Step 22* With the 'lower right leg' layer highlighted....add a new Vector layer....call this layer 'right shoe'.
Foreground : Null
Background: #000000
Draw an oval shape and shape accordingly.. similar to the one in the opposite pic. It depends on the shape you are wanting as to what you change the nodes to.
Duplicate this layer and mirror and rotate it...rename it 'left shoe'.
Add a new Vector layer....call it 'right buckle'.
Foreground : #CFD103
Background: #000000
Select this button shape from JASC preset shapes...with these settings and draw out a small buckle...rotate until it fits properly onto the shoe.
Duplicate this layer...renaming it 'left buckle' and fit in the same way.
Believe it or not...we are nearly there as far as the vector shapes go...I promise. *s*
Save!
Step 23* Highlight the 'right sleeve' layer....add a new Vector layer....call this layer 'shamrock stem'. Foreground : #8FA470
Background: Null
Add a new Vector layer....call this layer 'shamrock'.
Foreground : #616143
Background: #6BA552
Draw three heart shapes and rotate and node edit each one until you are happy with the results....fit on top of the stem.
Save!
Step 24* With 'left thumb' layer highlighted....add a new Vector layer....call this layer 'Stick'.
Foreground : Null
Background: #9F7560
Draw a long oblong shape and edit the nodes until you have a knobby looking stick.
Save!
Step 25* Highlight the 'left vest' layer and add a new Vector layer....call this layer 'vest buttons'.
Foreground : #808000
Background: #CFD103
Draw a small button and copy/paste two more and move into position.
With 'right side coat' layer highlighted....add a new Vector layer....call it 'coat buttons'.
In the same way as for vest buttons, make two larger ones for the coat.
To finish off you can make him a bow tie and also decorate his stick with a bow too. Make sure to add a new vector layer for each of these bows so that you can work on them later. I also made a large shamrock for him to stand on...vector layer too. *s*
hi de diddle di diddle di dee di di!
Guess what? Yay! you can now save him as a preset shape and then decorate him up a bit in whichever way you want.
*I know, I know...I've earned my reputation as a 'Slave Driver'...but geeez you don't want to be bored to death with 'easy peasy' stuff all the time do you? LOL
Save!
Now if you want to, you can make a copy of your image Shift+D at this stage and close the original down for safe keeping. Here's where we save him to a Preset Vector Shape.
Step 26* Grab the Object selector Do not deselect.
Now make your Layer Palette active and look for this new group...which will be at the bottom of all the layers. In this case on mine it is under the 'large shamrock' shape....I changed this to loz_leprechaun and also, more importantly, changed the Group 1 layer to the same for my shapes library.....otherwise when you save the preset shape, it will save as 'Group 1' no matter what you may choose to call it. *I have only just found this out after pulling my hair our so many times, wondering why my new shapes could never be found under the name I gave them and that every one was saved as 'Group 1' ......aaaargggggh! LOL
Please note that all the layers above this layer are now empty as they have been transferred to your new group....but don't delete them as when we are finished, we will undo the grouping and revert back to the way they were.
Do not deselect.
Right click on image again and choose 'export shape'. Give your shape a name and OK it. You will get a warning message...that's okay just click OK.
Now we need to test out whether or not our saving worked...cross fingers. Well as you can see opposite, mine has saved successfully. Look for your shape and select it...open up a new image so that you can test that it is okay. Make sure that you have both 'Retain style' and 'Create as Vector' checked when you select your shape.
When I tested mine, this is what my layer palette looked like after I clicked on that little plus sign at the side of where it says 'Layer 2'. See Fig 6
Once you know that it is safely there and is correct....open up a new image and test it out...you can then use this saved shape to continue working on. Close the copy of the original that we used to group and save as a preset shape...we don't need that now....no need to save it as we have a saved copy of the original as a psp file and also the saved preset shape. *s*
Fig 1.
Fig 2.
Fig 3.
Fig 4.
Fig 5.
Fig 6.
I'm happy with mine so over to the next page to dress my Shaun up a wee bit....let us proceed to convert to raster! *g*
