EASY~PEASY BEADS

Paint Shop Pro Tutorials by Karen

There may come a time when you need some beads for graphics, maybe a string of beads to adorn a doll, or even a dream catcher or something similar. Why not make your own... Initially I will show you how to make wooden effect beads as it`s the longer process, but by changing a simple step you can make coloured beads just as easily! You will need a pale "glass" globe tube and woodgrain fill pattern (optional) You can download my globe HERE... unzip into your tubes folder. Feel free to right click and save the woodgrain fills below to your computer.

Start a new image and make the setting as in fig 1

If using one of the above woodgrains, open in psp and minimise it (click the minus sign at the top)... Next go up to effects/texture effects/sculpture. Choose a wood effect fill and make the settings as in fig 2. Click OK.

Go back up to effects / geometric effects/circle (fig 3)

Now you need some spare canvas to work on, go to image / canvas size (fig 4) click OK.

Click on the magic wand tool, right click it and make settings as in fig 5 then close dialogue box.

Left click on blank canvas, you should now have "marching ants" around the bead and canvas,(fig 6) you only want the bead selected, so now go to selections/invert (fig 7)

Go back to selections / modify / contract (fig 8) click OK.

Now go up to edit / copy / edit / paste as new image...(fig 9) You can now dispose of the original image as it`s no longer required.

You need more blank canvas again, so go back to image / canvas size (fig 10) click OK.

Now go to layers / new raster layer (fig 11) click OK.

Click on the tubes tool icon then right click it, select tool options and choose the palest glass globe tube you have.  Close the dialogue box then click on the bead to add the glass (fig 12)

If like mine the glass doesn`t quite fit the bead, click the deformation tool and use the pointer to resize/reposition the glass (fig 13) (or if you prefer you can resize the glass tube at the tubes tool options before adding it to the bead)

Now go to layers / merge / merge visible. Click on the magic wand tool then click on the blank canvas, then go selections / invert / selections / modify / contract (fig 14) click OK.

No go edit / copy / edit / paste as new image. You can now dispose of the original image. You can now resize it if you like (e.g fig 15)

That`s your basic round wooden bead... save it now as a tube, psp image or transparent gif (best tubed) Don`t close the original once saved, you can now use the same bead to make a long or oval one. Click on the deformation tool then use it to drag the sides in to form a long or oval bead (make sure the wood grain is going along the length of the bead for more realistic effect). Now deselect the bead by clicking on the mover tool, then go edit / copy / edit / paste as new image. Voila...there`s your long/oval bead, 2 - 3 beads from the same image! (fig 16) Save as before.

OK...that`s the wooden beads, why not make coloured ones... Simply start the new image with a coloured background or colour the white one instead of using a pattern fill, then do everything else the same... why not also try some different pattern fills and see what you can come up with. Have fun!

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Ready?... Here`s how I make my beads...

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial which was written for v7 but should adapt for other versions.