Beaded Curtain Using
Custom Line Styles

PSP9 version

*NOTE*

Sometimes the links for filters change, it's difficult (and a lot of work) to
keep changing them on individual pages, so I have created a page with
links to filters and programs that I have used in my tutorials.
That way it is easier for me, because when there are changes I will
only have one page to update and hopefully better for you, because I'm
less likely to miss a page out when doing the updates :)

You will find links to filters/programs used in this tutorial Here
the link will open in a new window

Filters and programs used in this tutorial :-
Paint Shop Pro
Super Blade Pro
Materials :-
My sg_just peachy SBP preset Here

My presets are all in their own named folders, you can either empty
the contents of the folder into SBP's Environments and Textures, or
keep them in their own folder and navigate to them from SBP. I have
written an explanation on how to do this which you can find HERE

This tutorial assumes that you already know where to find the tool boxes
and palettes and have set up the workspace and preferences to suit yourself.
Some images have been made smaller to shorten file size

Some of the screenshots only show parts of the image.

Please Note*

My tutorials were written for people to learn
from, so PLEASE DO NOT SCRIPT THEM.

Part One Creating Custom Lines

Step 1.
Open a new image (the size doesn't matter as we are
not actually going to be using it, but an image has
to be open or the tools will be greyed out).

We will start by creating the custom line styles
that we will use to make the beaded curtain.

1st line
Activate the 'Pen' tool.
On the Tool Options Palette click the 'Line Style'
window, to open up the dropdown list. If it isn't
already selected, select the '+Solid' line (at the
top of the list), then click on the 'Custom' button.
It is in the bottom right corner on the dropdown list.

We are going to edit this line. When we have finished
editing, we will save it as a new line by clicking the
'Save as New' button (don't click the save button,
because we don't want to overwrite the solid line).

OK, I know that's obvious, but I just want to make
sure that no-one does it by accident ;)

Step 2.
The length of the dashes and spaces and the caps
mentioned in the following steps were what I used
to create the beaded curtain in this tutorial.
Feel free to experiment with them, I'm sure
you can come up with lots of variations of your own.

To make a dash for the first section of our line,
click on the 'Add' button. A slider will appear just
under the ruler. When this slider is active, it is
highlighted in green. The position of the slider
governs the length of the dash, moving it to the left
makes the dash shorter and to the right makes it longer.

We will make the dash 14 pixels.
Put 14.00 in the 'Length' box (alternatively you
can drag the slider to the 15 pixels point using
the ruler as a guide).

Click the 'Add' box again. A new slider will appear.
The new slider is now active and the previous one is grey.
This time the slider is highlighted in red
(green for dashes, red for spaces).

Only one slider is active at a time, if you want
to adjust the position of a slider that is not active,
click on it to make it active.

The position of this slider determines the length of
the space. We are going to make a space of 4 pixels.
Put 4.00 into the length box, the slider will
automatically move along the ruler by 4 pixels .
(I have moved along the ruler for the screenshots, so
that you can see where the new sliders are).

(If you prefer, you can do it the other way around,
add 4 (the length we want the space to be), to
14 (the length of our first dash), making 18, then
move the slider to 18 on the ruler. The number in
the length box will change automatically).

Step 3.
Next we will add a shorter dash (7 pixels).
Click the 'add' button, then put 7.00 in the length box

We'll add another space of 4 pixels here, so
click 'Add' and put 4 in the length box

Step 4.
Now we will add caps to the segments of the line.

Put a tick in the 'Different segment caps' box,
we can then put different caps between the dashes
than we use on either end of the line.

In the section for 'First cap' click on the dropdown
window section to open up the list of available caps.

Select the Fleur de lis, then click the 'Size' button.
Tick the 'Link Axes' box (unless you want to make the
height different to the width). Make the width 1.40

In the section for 'Last cap'choose the Fleur de lis,
but make the size 2.00
The line in the preview window should now look like this.

Step 5.
Next we will put caps in between the segments.
For the 'Segment start' choose the 'Ball' size 2.00
and for the 'Segment end' choose the 'Ball' size 2.50

This is the line seen in the preview window.

Now click 'Save as New' and give it a name that is
individual, you don't want to overwrite any existing lines.

This is the line we will use to make the strings of beads.
Now we will make a custom line to create the bar for hanging
our bead strings from, this one will be much simpler.

Step 6.
2nd line
Change the line style back to '+Solid line'
and click on the 'Custom' button

We don't need to add lines or spaces this time.
For both the First cap and the Last cap choose
the Football and make the size 5.00 (feel free
to choose different ends and sizes if you want to).

Click 'Save as New' and give it a name.
You can now close the image.

Well that part was nice and easy :)
Now we can create our beaded curtain

Part Two The Beaded Curtain

Step 7.
Open a new Transparent Raster Image, large enough
for creating your beaded curtain. I used 400 x 400
flood fill with a dark colour (this makes it easier
to see what you are working on and can be changed later).

In the materials palette make the foreground style
'Color' and make the colour white with no texture.

Add a new Vector layer, naming it 'crossbar'.
Select the Pen Tool
On the tool options use these settings
Mode = Drawing Lines and Polylines
Show Nodes=Ticked Conect Segments = Unticked
Create on vector = Ticked
Line style = choose the 2nd line that you created
(the straight line with a knob at each end)
Width = 4
Antialias = Ticked
Hold down the shift key, to keep the line straight
and draw a horizontal line the width that you want
your curtain to be, near the top of the image.
Go to Objects...Align...Horz. Center in Canvas

screenshot only shows the top of the image
Go to Layers...Duplicate...Use the Mover tool to
place the duplicate bar just below the first one

Make sure the top layer is active and go to
Layers...Merge...Merge Down...then
Layers...Convert to Raster Layer...

Step 8.
Add a new Vector Layer naming it 'centre string'
Select the Pen Tool.

Change the Line style to the 1st line that you made
(the string of beads) and change the width to 3.00
The other settings should be the same as in step 7.
Hold down the shift key and draw a vertical line from
the top bar downwards (the length is up to you, I drew
mine right to the bottom of the image).
Go to Objects...Align...Horiz. Center in Canvas...

Step 9.
Go to Layers...Convert to Raster Layer.

That is our centre string of beads. We will now draw
all of the strings to the right of it, then duplicate
and mirror them to make the left side.
It halves the work doesn't it? ;)

Add a new Vector layer, naming it 'right strings'.

Draw a line from the lower bar downwards, making it
a different length to your centre string of beads.

You may need to adjust the the positions of the strings
closer together, or further apart, you can do this as you
go along. The last line drawn will have both the top and
bottom node selected, so you can move the whole line in any
direction, using the arrow keys on the keyboard. If you prefe
you can make your adjustments when the right side is finished.

Here's my screenshot of the first of my 'right side' lines.

Draw a new line from the top bar downwards.

Keep drawing new lines, alternate between starting
at the the top bar and the lower bar and make the lines
different lengths.

Step 10.
I made my adjustments after completing the right side.
The position of most of my lines isn't too
bad, but some need a little bit of adjusting,
especially the large gap arrowed in this screenshot

To make any ajustments, click the top node on the line
that you want to move, then hold down the shift key and
click the bottom node, so that both are selected.

Use the arrow keys on the keyboard to move the line in
the direction you want the line to move.

If you want to make a line longer, or shorter click on
the bottom node to select it and drag it down (or up).
You can do the same with the top node.

Here are my strings of beads after I finished my adjustments.

Step 11.
Go to Layers...Convert to Raster Layer...
To make the strings of beads for left side go to
Layers...Duplicate...then
Image...Mirror...

Now we want to merge all of the bead layers together.
Make sure you are on the top layer and go to
Layers...Merge Down...
To merge this layer with the centre string layer.
Repeat the Merge down once.

Step 12.
You can apply a SuperBladePro preset to your strings
of beads or you can flood fill them with a colour,
gradient, or pattern and apply an inner bevel.
For this tutorial I have flood filled with gradient
and applied an inner bevel.

Click on the Foreground and Stroke properties box
In the dialogue box click on the Gradient tab, then
on the Gradient Type drop-down list and choose the
Rainbow Pastel gradient (or gradient of your choice).
Use these settings
Style=Linear, angle=0, Repeats-0 Texture=Unticked
On the layer containing all your strings of beads
Selections...Select all...(ctrl+A)
Selections...Float...(ctrl+F)
Flood fill the selection with gradient and de-select.

(If you prefer, you can lock the transparency of the
layer then flood fill. To do this open the layer palette
and click the padlock at the far right of the layer
containing your bead strings (it turns blue), this
locks the transparent areas of the layer, then you
can flood fill with your gradient.
Don't forget to unlock the transparency by clicking
the padlock again when you have finished.

Go to Effects...3D Effects...Inner Bevel...
I used these settings

Feel free to experiment with the settings, you
might come up with something that you like better :)

Step 13.
For the crossbar I applied a SuperBladePro preset.

Make the 'crossbar' layer active, then go to
Selections...Select all...(ctrl+A)
Selections...Float...(ctrl+F)
Effects...Plugins...Flaming Pear...SuperBladePro...
Apply the sg_just peachy preset (or a preset your choice).

Step 14.
Go to Effects...3D Effects....Drop Shadow...
Use these settings
Vertical offset=2, Horizontal Offset=2,
Opacity=53, Blur=5.93
Shadow on New layer=Unticked

Make the layer containing your bead strings active
and apply a drop shadow with the same settings.
Next we will merge the bead strings and crossbar layers.
Go to Layers...Merge...Merge down....

The drop shadows don't show up much against the black
background layer I have flood filled the background
with white for this screenshot

You can fill the background in any way you wish.
If you want to tube the beaded curtain
delete the background layer then go to
File...Export...Picture Tube...
Give it a name and leave the other
settings at the default values.

For this example I applied the sg_just peachy SBP
preset to the strings of beads as well as the crossbar

I hung my beaded curtain across a window for this image.

I made the window using one of my window frame tubes
available Here and I put a landcape picture behind the frame.

Have some fun experimenting, I'm sure you can
come up with some ideas of your own.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial.
Thankyou to my very helpful testers

To see my other tutorials click Here

I have adapted this tutorial for the PSPUG it can be found
there under my screen name of cassandrablue.

If you wish to contact me you can find an
email address to use included on my Site Map
Home