Paintshop Pro 7

The Basics of PSP 7

Well, now that you have PSP 7, you'll want to learn how to use it. First off is the Standard Toolbar. This is located on the right side of your screen and is very easy to find. I have numbered it to make it easier to explain the different functions. But before we get into that, there are a couple of other easy things to cover. First, to open a new file simply press File >> New. Same goes for opening, saving ect. Under View >> Toolbars make sure that the Standard, Tool, and Tool Options are checkmarked.

This is the Standard Toolbar. It's basically the most important toolbar that you will be using. I have numbered the different functions to make them easier to explain. Most of it makes a lot more sense if you open up PSP and do it while you read this.

1. Arrow: This is a very simple function. You basically use it when you are not using anything else. If you left click on an image while on this function, and left click it again you can drag it (instead of an arrow you will now have a little hand). This little tool comes in handy sometimes but it's not that important.
2. Zoom: Another simple function. Under tool options, you can select how far you want to zoom in or out. Your zoom will be displayed in 2 numbers; x:y. This means 'x' compared to 'y'. 'x' is the size you are zoomed to and y is the actual size. So, if it says "2:1" That means you are zoomed twice the actual size and 1:2 means half the actual size. To go to the normal size simply go to 1:1. You can either select how far you want to zoom under zoom options, scroll or you can left-click to zoom in and right-click to zoom out ;). It sounds very mathematical when explained like this, but it's super easy.
3. Deformation: This tool is actually quite useful for re-sizing images. There's not much to explain about it, just make sure you don't deform your picture too much as it will usually end up looking quite odd. You can also rotate your image using this tool.
4. Crop: This tool is the first one that is not (at least in part) supplied by MS Paint. Anyways, you can left click on a certain part of your image and then drag the mouse until the part you want to crop is selected. Then double click on it, and the area you have selected will open up in a new file that is exactly that size. The down side? You will lose the rest of the image that wasn't selected.
5. Mover: The name says it all :). Basically click on an object and move it around to fit your personal needs :P. Similar to the Arrow function, but you will be able to move more things while in the arrow functions you can only move layers (we will get to those later).
6. Selection: You can select a geometric area on your image to move as in the above ;). Basically, this is encase PSP 7 doesn't consider your object as its own thing, and hence will not move it without the rest of the image. This is quite useful :)
7. Freehand: The name promises too much... This is another version of the selection tool. The only difference is that this time you are not selecting a geometric shape -- You can "freehand" it into any shape of your liking. Basically, you draw out the area you want to select with your mouse :)
8. Magic Wand: Yet another version of the selection tool. The magic wand will select things that it considers to be "one part". This is usually something that has all the same color (for example; if you have a red square and a blue circle inside of it and you click on the blue circle with the magic wand function, your circle will be selected, whilst your square isn't because it separates Blue from Red) Its not that complex, I promise :) Just try it out ;)
9. Eyedropper: This tool lets you select any color that is already in your graphic for you to use. This is especially awesome for picking a font color etc because its guaranteed to match :)
10. Paintbrush: This will let you draw all over your image :). Its often referred to simply as "brush". Under Tool options you can set all the settings for it and also choose with brush design to use. This is a very good tool to use, especially when "pixeling" (its a hobby of mine, lol). Its not that interesting for neopets graphics but its important to know none the less.
11. Clone Brush: The name says it all. You can copy one part of an images (aka clone it) as many times as you want to. I next to never use this, but in certain styles its quite helpful.
12. Color Replacer: Replaces one color with another :) nothing complex here...
13. Retouch: Another absolutely awesome tool for pixeling that is relatively useless for Neopets graphics. This allows you to smudge, dodge, burn, lighten, darken ect your image.. This is one of the tools that makes PSP so great. Play around with it :) Its definitely worth a go.
14. Scratch Remover: Pretty self explanatory. Its not perfect, but it works OK.. I haven't used it much yet though o.O
15. Eraser: woo hoo, it erases things.. No more to say about this one o.O
16. Picture Tubes: PSP comes with a row of pictures that are in picture tubes. These range from flowers to water drops. Basically, the image is already there. you just have to select what image you would like and press away :)
17. Airbrush: Very very similar to the paintbrush function, just not as "thick" and "firm. It doesn't have as much definition and looks softer.
18. Flood Fill: also known as "paint bucket", this floods your image with a certain color of your choosing.
20. Text: You get to type text with this tool. It has lots of different variables that you can play with to make your text perfect.
21. Draw: You can draw lines using this tool :). It looks boring at first glance. but the freehand style or point to point style is actually quite funky :P
22. Present Shapes: This is very similar to the picture tube except you have more choices about were you want your object, what size ect.
21. Object Selection: Simple: This lets you select an object that you created :P

Afterthoughts :) For now, this is it. You will have to play around with the rest of the functions. There will be more tutorials on how to make neopets graphics using PSP 7 coming soon :P. As always, e-mail me at Kathrin433@yahoo.com if you need more help or some information is incorrect/missing/you have a suggestion. You can also choose to neomail me at Kathrin433 if you prefer that. I am aware that the only thing I explained in this tutorial is the Standard Toolbar -- the reason for that being that the rest is quite simple/unimportant. I will (hopefully) make a layers tutorial to clear that up, but all the special effects etc is something that you can figure out for yourself because its just really easy :D