Tole Birds Tutorial

Tole Design and Tray Tutorial

For PSP 7 and 8

All you will need for this tutorial, besides PSP, is the tolebirds.zip file. There is a tutorial for using the PSP 8 Materials(Colour) Pallete here. Just hit the Back arrow to return here.

The terms of use are here

NOTE: Each step which needs a new layer will use the format with the name of the new layer, and then the selection for that layer. So Whatever layer - whatever.sel, means make a new layer Whatever, and then get the whatever.sel file by going to Selections - Load from disk.

In PSP 8, go to Selections - Load/Save Selections - Load Selection.

Here is a colour chart you can use--just right-click and save. These are the colours I used, but this is your image, so use any colours you like--this is your image!

1. Open a new image, 643 x 418 pixels. Flood-fill with black.

2. Tail feathers layer - 01tailfeathers.sel.

Flood-fill with #627B9A and then go to
Selections - Modify - Contract - 4 pixels.
Flood-fill with #6D90B8.
Get 01tailfeathers.sel again
Effects - Blur - Motion Blur - Angle 358, Pixels 13.
PSP 8--Adjust - Blur - Motion Blur - Angle 358 - Pixels 13.
Effects - Noise - Add - 10% Uniform
PSP 8--Adjust - Add/Remove Noise - Add Noise - 10% Uniform

NOTE: On each layer the procedure will be the same. After colouring the selection, get the selection again. Then add the same Motion Blur and the same Noise. You don't have to change the settings.

3. Stalk layer - 02stalk.sel.

Flood-fill with #A5B994
Selections - Modify - Contract 4 pixels
Flood-fill with #D0DCC4
Get 02stalk.sel again
Effects/Adust - Motion Blur
Effects/Adust - Noise

4. Leaf 1 layer - 03leaf1.sel.

Flood-fill with #81A17C
Selections - Modify - Contract 4 pixels
Flood-fill with #A1B590
Get 03leaf1.sel again
Effects/Adust - Motion Blur
Effects/Adust - Noise

5. Leaf 2 layer - 04leaf2.sel. Follow the same directions as for the Leaf 1 layer.

6. Leaf 3 layer - 05leaf3.sel.

Flood-fill with #788460
Selections - Modify - Contract 4 pixels
Flood-fill with #34554E
Get 05leaf3.sel again
Effects/Adust - Motion Blur
Effects/Adust - Noise

7. Leaf 4 layer - 06leaf4.sel

Flood-fill with #2E4441
Selections - Modify - Contract 4 pixels
Flood-fill with #A5B994
Get 06leaf4.sel again
Effects/Adust - Motion Blur
Effects/Adust - Noise

8. Beak and Feet layer - 07beakfeet.sel

Flood-fill with #FFFFBF.

9. Leaf 5 layer - 08leaf5.sel.

Flood-fill with #788460
Selections - Modify - Contract 4 pixels
Flood-fill with #32554F
Get 08leaf5.sel again
Effects/Adust - Motion Blur
Effects/Adust - Noise

10. Flower Bell layer - 09flowerbell.sel

Flood-fill with #F8B4B1
Go to Effects - 3D Effects - Inner Bevel
Use the Preset Pillow, changing the Ambience to 38

11. Flower layer - 10flower.sel.

Flood-fill with #A75557
Selections - Modify - Contrace - 8 pixels
Flood-fill with #C8817F
Get 10flower.sel again
Effects/Adust - Motion Blur
Effects/Adust - Noise
Keep selected

Now, get the Retouch tool

, using the following settings:

Soften (You find this setting by clicking on the second tab.)
Shape Round, Hardness 100
Opacity 29, Step 25, Density 75,

go over the flower until you like how it looks.

For PSP 8, Click on the Dodge Brush

and when the menu pops up, click on Soften. You can adjust the settings on the tool bar above the work space.

12. White Feather layer - 11whitefeather.sel.

Flood-fill with black
Contract 1 pixel
Flood-fill with white
Contract 4 pixels
Flood-fill with #E0D1CA
Get 11whitefeather.sel and add the Noise and the Motion Blur.

13. Bird layer - 12bird.sel.

Flood-fill with #637A9C
Contract 4 pixels
Flood-fill with #688EB2
Get 12bird.sel again and add the Noise and the Motion Blur
Add the Noise again

14. Wing layer - 13wing.sel. Flood-fill with #3B3F65.

On the same layer, with the same blue colour, use the Airbrush tool

to draw the bird's eye. Here are the settings I used:

Shape Round, Size 6, Hardness 100
Opacity 75, Step 25, Density 100.

Note: In PSP 8, the Airbrush Tool is accessed by clicking on the brush tool

.

15. Gems layer - 14gems.sel.

Flood-fill with #AE7983
Contract 2 pixels
Flood-fill with #F8B4B3
Apply the same Inner Bevel as before.

16. Heart layer - 15heart.sel.

Flood-fill with #9E3E40
Contract 2 pixels
Flood-fill with #C8817F
Contract 4 pixels
Flood-fill with #C8817F
Get 15heart.sel again, and add the Noise and the Motion Blur.
Add the Noise again.

Almost Done!!!

16. Now we have to merge some layers. First, we'll do the Bird. Turn off the following layers by clicking on the glasses in the Layer Pallette:

Layer 1
Tail feathers
Stalk
Leaf Layers 1-5
Bellflower and Flower layer
Heart layer

Now you should just have the bird with it's blue and white feathers, beak, feet, and gems.

Right-Click on the Beak and Feet layer in the Layer Pallette, and Merge - Merge Visible.

Now go to Layers - Duplicate layers
Image - Mirror

(You can use the Mover Tool

to place the second bird after the other layers are turned on.)

Now turn off the two Bird layers, and turn on the Flower and Flower Bell layers, and merge them. Duplicate this merged layer and go to Mirror - Image.

To make the tray, go HERE

If you have any questions or comments, our email contact is here.