Spinning Top

PSP 7

*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
Dragonfly's Sinedots II

Materials :-
The .cfg that I used is Debs DeHaven's. She gave me permission to use it
for this tutorial and to offer it for download Here
(Unzip .cgf file into the folder you have made for Sinedots II)
*Sadly, Deb DeHaven passed away on May 7, 2005
She wrote lots of great tutorials for PhotoImpact
including several that used the sinedots filter
Her tutorials are still available Here*

some images have been made smaller to shorten file size

step 1.
open a new image 200 x 200 transparent
flood fill with a dark colour and add a new layer
Go to Effects...Plugins...Sinedots...
open the challenge1.cfg
if you are new to sinedots and don't know how to open
the .cfg file click HERE for more information

Some presets use different 'blend' settings and it is
important for this tutorial to make sure that the blend
in the sinedots setting is set to 'screen' like this:-

Step 2.
Go to Effects...Geometric Effects...
Vertical Perspective...difference=100

Step 3.
Go to Image...Canvas size...
and change the canvas size to 400 x 400
it doesn't matter if it's centered or not
because we are going to move it anyway
Make the background layer active and flood fill
with the same dark colour used in step 1.
Go to View...Grid...change the grid and guide
properties (listed inder view) to 100 vertical
and horizontal and the colour, to something that
will show up against your background. Use the
Mover Tool to re-position the sinedot to top
with the point touching the centre

the grid can be turned off now.

Step 4.
Go to Layers...Duplicate...then Image...Flip...

Turn off the visibility of the background layer by
opening the layers palette and clicking the glasses
Go to Layers...Merge...and merge visible.
Turn the background visibility back on.
Go to Effects...Reflection Effects...
Rotating mirror...rotation=23 horizontal=0 vertical=0

Step 5.
There is a peice of the sinedot in the bottom corner
which isn't wanted, so remove it either by selecting
with the Freehand (lasso)Tool and hitting delete,
or with the Eraser. I used the Freehand Tool

Step 6.
Use freehand (lasso) tool type=point to point, to
select the bottom area of the spinning top

Go to Selections...Float...
flood fill the floating selection with gradient.
The gradient I originally used is fading spectrum by
Peggy Jentoft. I no longer have a link for this,
but you can use a gradient of your choice

I used style=Linear, Angle =24, Repeats=0 and ticked
the invert gradient box. De-select

Step 7.
There is a small gap in the handle

With draw tool type=single line width=2
foreground colour=white, draw a line
between the two sections to fill the gap.
You can do this on a seperate layer and merge the two
layers after, but if you do it that way, don't forget
to turn off the background layer before merging

Change the palette foreground to the colour that
you want the handle to be, I used #80FF80
Use the Freehand Tool (point to point)to select handle

Go to Selections...Float, and flood fill selected area.
Then go to Effects...3D Effects...Inner bevel...
use these settings

De-select

Step 8.
Go to Effects...3D Effects...
Drop Shadow...using these settings

Step 9.
There is rather a lot of wasted space surrounding
the spinning top so use the Crop Tool to select the
area that you want to use for your picture
this was my screenshot

Then go to Image...Crop...

Step 10.
You can leave the background as it is if you want to,
but I flood filled mine with a gradient fill
using background #004000 and foreground #000040
style=linear, angle=0, repeats=0

Finish with a frame of your choice

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial.
Thankyou to my very helpful testers
To see my other tutorials click Here

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