Digital Painting A Planet With Paint Shop Pro 8 - Part I

Project Information: • Skill level: Intermediate • Corel^R Jasc^R Paint Shop^TM Pro^R 8 • General tips

In this tutorial we will paint a planet using Paint Shop Pro 8. When we are done the planet will be on a transparent background which will make it easy for you to use the planet in a larger painting or convert it into a picture tube.

Step 1. New Image window with black background. It is easier to paint the planet against a dark background. So let's start with a black background in our New Image window. We will remove this black background when we have completed the project. On the Menubar, click File > New. In the New Image dialog box, choose 3.5 x 5 in horizontal from the Presets drop-down list. Set the background color to black.

Step 2. Start a second layer. We will paint the planet on this second layer. Later, when we remove the black background, the planet will be left on this transparent layer. Click Layers > New Raster Layer. Accept the default values in the New Raster Layer dialog box.

SelectionToolsFlyout

Figure 1. Selection Tools

Step 3. Draw the outline of the planet. We will use a Selection Tool to draw the outline for the planet. Click on the Selection Tools icon and choose Selection from the group of Selection Tools. Set the values in the Tool Options Palette to the following. Then click and drag to draw a circle onto the Image Window.

Selection Type: Circle
Mode: Replace
Feather: 0
Anti-alias: Checked

Flood Fill Tool

Step 4. Fill the circle with colors. We will use the Flood Fill Tool to fill the circle with colors. Click on the Flood Fill Tool and set the Tool Options Palette to the values below.

Match Mode: RGB
Tolerance: 20
Blend Mode: Normal
Opacity: 100

Click To Enlarge Thumbnail

Figure 2 - Material Dialog Box

To choose the colors you wish to use for your planet, open the Material dialog box. Click on the Gradient tab and choose a gradient from the drop-down list. In the example, I used the Rainbow gradient. Just below this choose the first of the four Style buttons (Linear). Now click inside the circle to fill the selection with the gradient.
(See Figure 2)

Next →

Jasc^R material used by permission of Jasc Software, Inc. Copyright ©1997-2000 Jasc Software, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Paint Shop Pro, Animation Shop, Paint Shop Photo Album, Paint Shop Pro Studio and Jasc are registered trademarks of Jasc Software, Inc.