CUTOUT EFFECT

Paint Shop Pro Tutorials by Karen

I have often admired cutout style graphics on other people`s websites, so I decided to try and make some myself. It took a lot of trial and error. I have found this effect looks best on single colour fine textured background, and works best for text and dingbat fonts. I will give you a basic idea of how I make my cutouts, but if you vary the shadow depth, colour etc, you can achieve a variety of results.

Open a new image with settings as fig 1.

Click on your flood fill tool, then open your styles pallette and choose a lightly textured fill pattern. Close the dialogue box, click on your canvas to fill with your chosen pattern. Go to layers / new raster layer. This is your cut out layer, so name it "cut" or something similar. Make the settings as in fig 2 and click ok.

Go back to layers and make sure the cut layer is active. Click on your text tool, then click on your canvas to activate the fonts. Choose "selection" and tick/check "antialias",Select a font and font size, enter your text, or select a dingbat font you want to use and enter the letter/s. Click ok. (fig 3)

You should now have marching ants around your chosen text / dingbat. (fig 4) Click on your mover tool, right click on image, hold mouse button down dragging the image into place. Now go to effects / 3D effects / cutout, and make the settings as fig 5.

Go to layers / new raster layer. This is your shadow layer so call it "shade" or similar. All other settings remain the same as in fig 2. Click ok. Go back to layers and make sure the shade layer is active. Then go to effects / 3D effects / drop shadow. Settings at fig 6, click ok.

6

Go to selections / select none / layers / merge / merge visible and save your graphic. This is your basic cutout effect ( fig 8)

Here are a few samples done using the same technique and different dingbat fonts.

Try it with other colour themes, shadow depths, etc. It`s easy, fun and attractive!

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial which  is written for P.S.P version 7, but should adapt for other versions.

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