Dragon's Breath
Windchimes Tutorial

I assume you have some basic understanding of PSP tools.  I consider this tutorial for intermediate to advanced level, but I included some graphics so that maybe beginners can follow it.  If you have any questions, please feel free to email me. 

This tutorial uses simple vector shapes.  There is no node editing, so a beginner should be abel to do this with little trouble.  You will also use a gradient to shade your chime.  I chose to use the metallic gradient, but you may use one of your own choice.

To do this tutorial you will also need Paint Shop Pro.  I used Paint Shop Pro 7.0 .  You may download a free trial at Jasc.

Remember to save as a psp file often!

1.  Set the foreground color box to null.  Change the background color box to 
     Gradients.  Choose the Metallic Gradient, check invert gradient, angle = 90, and 
     repeat = 0.

2.  To begin, open a new file, 400 by 400, 72 resolution, transparent background, 
     16.7 million colors.

3.  Choose the preset shape tool  from the left toolbar.  In the preset shapes box, 
     choose the cylinder shape, check antialias, check create as a vector, line width=2, 
     and line style = solid line.

4.  On the New file drag out the cylinder with the preset shape too, starting at 
     (100,50) to (110, 255).  Watch the coordinates at the bottom left corner of the 
     page.

5.  In the Layer Pallette, right-click on the vector layer, click on Convert to raster 
     layer.

6.  Click on selection tool from left margin.  Set for rectangle selection.  Select the 
     top tip of the pipe (see figure below) and click delete (the scissors or the delete 
     button on your keyboard).

7.  At top menu bar, click Edit--copy.  Then click Edit--paste as new layer.  Click 
     Image--rotate.  Check left and 90 degrees.  This will make the second pipe 
     horizontal.  Move this horizontal pole up to the top leaving some space above it 
     and below it.  If needed, move the vertical pipe down lower. 

8.  In Layer Pallette, click on layer with the horizontal pipe to make it active.  Use 
     the selection tool to snip off the unlevel end (rigt side) of the horizontal pipe. 
     (like you did in Step 6)

9.  Click on Layers--Add new raster layer.

10.  Set the foreground color to Gradient--Metallic (same as in Step 1) and the 
     background color box to null.

11.  Choose the preset Shape tool, and change its settings to these:  ellipse tool, 
     check antialias, check create as a vector, line width=5, and solid line style.

12.  Place the cursor above the horizontal bar somewhere near the center of the file. 
     Draw out an ellipse ring.  There will be squares (called handles) that are around 
     the ring.  Left-click and hold the handle in the middle of the ring to drag/move 
     the ellipse to center it.  Left-click and hold the center left handle or the center 
     right handle to squeeze in and out the ring to make it a size correctly 
     proportionate to the horizontal bar. (Phew!  this was the hard step.  *S*)

13.  Right-click on this vector layer in the Layer Pallette and click convert to raster 
     layer.

14.  Click Effects--3D Effects--Inner Bevel.  Apply these settings:  pie-shape, 
     width =14, smoothness =15, depth =12, ambience =0, shininess = 50, 
     light = white, angle = 315, intensity =50, elevation =30

15.  Click on Layers--Add new Raster Layer.  (save file as psp)

16.  Choose the Tube tool from the left menu bar.  Select the Gold Chain tube that 
     comes with PSP 7, set scale=10, and step=1.

17.  Draw a chain from the left end of the horizontal pipe to the left end of the 
     ring.  Draw a chain from the right end of the horizontal pipe to the right end of 
     the ring.  Draw 2 chains from the center bottom of the ring to the center of the 
     horizontal pipe.  (see figure below).

18.  Right-click on the layer that contains the vertical pipe.  (Should be Layer 2) and click on duplicate.  Repeat this duplicate step until there are 4 copies of Layer 2, making 5 vertical pipes in all.
 

19.  Click on the last duplicate layer in the Layer Pallette to make it active.  Choose the mover tool from the left menu bar, and move the vertical pipe to the right and up.

20.  Click on the 3rd duplicate layer to make it active, and with the mover tool, 
     move this vertical pipe to the right and up, but a little lower than the last pipe, 
     and with some space between.

21.  Continue until all 5 vertical pipes are staggered and spread apart equally.

22.  Click on the top most layer in the Layer Pallette to make it active.  Click on 
     Layers--Add new Raster Layer.  Save file.

23.  Click on the tube tool from the left menu bar.  Set to gold chain again with the 
     same settings.  Draw a chain from each vertical pipe to the horizontal pipe.

24.  Click on Layers--Add new Raster Layer.  Save file.

25.  Click on the tube tool and pick your favorite tube.  Decorate your windchimes 
     with this tube.
 
 

©  Dragon's Breath (aka The Dragon Lord), 2003, December 27, 2002.  This tutorial and the windchime  graphics are copyright 
      to The Dragon Lord, 2002.  Please do not remove this tutorial from my site.  Share my url.