EASY VECTOR BUTTERFLY or DRAGONFLY TUTORIAL~ PSP 7
ADVANCED INTERMEDIATE - SKILL LEVEL
Completion Time ~ Approximately 25 minutes.
Written by: Designs by Laela ~ 7/2/02
Simple Vector Series - Butterfly, Class # 1 ~ Taught for the membership of the Shanghi PSP Classes - 7/2/02



This tutorial is written, assuming that you have a good working knowledge of the tools in PSP 7.
Simple Vectors are actually quite easy, once you master the 4 steps it takes to edit a node.
With just a little bit of practice, you will be making beautiful vector creations in no time.
We are beginning with a butterfly, because it is easy to use vectors to create beautiful
wing shapes. So it's a great place to start.
As we get into my series on Vectors, we will begin to get into the more complex areas of Vectors as well,
But have no fear, you will be well prepared, by the time we get there.
REMEMBER... VECTORS, ARE YOUR FRIENDS!

~ PAGE 1 ~
_________________________________________________________________________

1. Open a new image in PSP. I use a workspace of 500 x 500, so I have lots of space to play in. I'm making my background black, just so that I can see what I am doing, easier. You can always resize and then delete the layer, later.

2. Set your foreground and background colors to white.
We are now going to draw the body of our butterfly.
Go to your pre shapes and click on it.
In your tool pallete choose your elipse shape, you can use the settings below, as a guide line.
Make sure antialias, and create as vector, are checked



3. Go back to your canvas now, and draw a thin elipse for the body.
Your image, should look like this, at the moment:



Adjust the length and width of your body now with your curser, using the side and ends "middle" squares, until you get it where you want it. Then, center it on your canvas.
Once you have it where you want it, left Click somwhere on the black part of your graphic now.
Your vector lines should now disappear.
Now, go up to the top of the screen, and click on LAYERS > CONVERT TO RASTER LAYER. At this point you can rename your layer "BODY" in your layer palette, by left clicking on the layer name, and choosing RENAME.

NOTE: each vector shape, you add, will make it's own layer. So I usually go back and rename them as I go along. ~~ OK, NOT TOO BAD SO FAR ;O)

4. Our next step is to make the first top wing.
Go again, to your preset shapes. This time, choose your triangle shape. (This decision is totally up to you however. Experiment with other shapes later and see what you can come up with.
Go to your canvas, and draw a triangle, using the middle squares top and bottom, and the rotate option a little offset from the center, place your triangle where you want it.
This is what you should have now.



5. NOW FOLLOW CLOSELY HERE:
Go to your vector object selection icon once again. Click on it, Now go back and left click somwhere on the black part of your screen. You will get a drop down menu now. Click on: NODE EDIT



Now, go and click on the first of the squares, I'm starting with the top one. you will see the word start, as your curser passes over it. Click on the square, and it it will turn white, when on a black back.
Now, right click again on the square, you will see another drop down menu now.
Click on NODE TYPE > ASYMMETRIC
You should now have an arrow going thru your square (node)
Now go back, and with your curser, and, begin to move around the ends and middle of your arrow, until you have the type of curve you are looking for.



when you have the curve you want, left click on the black part of you canvas, and choose "QUIT NODE EDITING"

6. WE ARE GOING TO REPEAT THESE STEPS FOR EACH NODE NOW.
THERE ARE 3 ALTOGETHER (EACH SQUARE, IS A NODE)

SO LET'S REVIEW THE STEPS ONCE MORE:
For you next node, go back to the vector object icon on your tool bar, click it, and then go back to your canvas.
Now go back and right click somwhere on the black part of your screen. You will get a drop down menu.
Click on: NODE EDIT
Now, go and click on the first of the squares, I'm starting with the top one. you will see the word start, as your curser passes over it.
Click on the square, and it it will turn white, when on a black back. and black when on a white back.
Now, right click again on the square, you will see another drop down menu now.
Click on NODE TYPE > Asymmetric
You should now have an arrow going thru your square (node)
Now go back, and with your curser, and, begin to move around the ends and middle of your arrow, until you have the type of curve you are looking for. when you have the curve you want, left click on the black part of you canvas, and choose "QUIT NODE EDITING"

Here is what my second node looks like now.



And now I repeated the steps one more time for my third node.
Here is my third node.



Now you should have your top wing done. If it is the way you like it.
Go up to LAYERS > CONVERT TO RASTER LAYER, AND THEN RENAME "TOP WING 1"

7. Go to your layer palatte now.
and DUPLICATE YOUR TOP WING LAYER
Now go up to IMAGE > MIRROR
Using your moving tool, place it where you need it.

Here is what your image should look similar to now. ;o)



NOTE: You can use your deformation tool at this point to elongate your body and wings, to make a delicate Dragonfly. Remember...each part is still in it's own layer.