Leaf by vector

I wrote this tutorial on my own.  Any similarity to another tutorial is purely coincidental.  I claim the copyright to my tutorial. You are free to do whatever you please with what you make, but please do not take my tutorial.  Do not send the tutorial through email.  Only share my link.

This tutorial was created for some friends of mine who wanted to begin learning more about PSP.  It is intended for beginners to learn how to draw and shade a leaf.  If you have any questions, please feel free to Email  me.

To do this tutorial you will also need Paint Shop Pro.  I wrote this with  Paint Shop Pro X, but the steps may also be done in any version.  You may download a free trial at Corel.

Remember to save as a psp file often!

Download the Teardrop Shape

1.  Open new, transparent image, size = 400 x 400.

2.  Set your background color to green, and foreground to null.  Choose the preset shape tool, set to Create as a Vector.  Draw a teardrop.

3.  Right-click on the layer and choose Convert to Raster Layer.

4.  Selections > Float

5.  Effects > 3D Effects > Cutout.  Apply these settings:  Vertical & Horizontal = 2, Opacity = 50, Blur = 35.

6.  Selections > Defloat

7.  Choose the airbrush tool (menu with paintbrush).  Set the shape = round, size = 5, hardness = 50, step = 10, density = 60, thickness = 100, opacity = 100

8.  Layers > New Raster Layer.

9.  With a slightly lighter green, airbrush some veins onto the leaf, like in the picture.

10.  Adjustments > Blur > Gaussian Blur.  Apply these settings:  Radius = 3

Layers > Merge > Merge Visible.

11.  Choose the lighten/darken tool  Set the shape = round, size = 5, hardness = 75, step = 10, Density = 80, thickness = 100, opacity = 70

12.  Left- mouse button = lighten.  Right mouse button = darken.  Darken around the edges of the vein and the leaves, lighten around the centers between the veins.  See picture below.

13.  Choose the Soften tool.  Shape = round, size = 45, hardness = 100, step = 10, density = 100, thickness = 100, opacity = 100.

14.  Soften over all the lighten and dark spots.  If necessary go between the lighten/darken tool and the Soften tool.  Soften some, lighten/darken some, smooth some, etc.  Until you are happy with the shading on the leaf.

15.  Save this as a tube for later use.  File > Save As  (.psp or pspimage extension)

 Please do not remove this tutorial from my site.  Share my url.