Let's Make A Poinsettia

©Doodles by LadyFox 12/03/01

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This tutorial and all images belong to ©Doodles by LadyFox. You may make a copy or print this tutorial out for your own personal use ONLY. If you would like to share it with others, please, just provide a TEXT LINK. .

. This tutorial was done with PSP6 but can be done with other versions.

	YOU WILL NEED
	poinsetta.zip - containing a poinsettia picture I scanned from some wrapping paper and my pearl tube dsb flux filter from a basic knowledge of vectors and layers
	STEPS .
1.	LET'S BEGIN
	.Open pattern.psp Shift + D to open a new copy of it. Close original Save as poinsettia.psp Promote to layer Rename layer=pattern . Save Often . Select foreground and background colors I used #800000 and #C00000 . Preset Shape Tool: Type: ellipse Style: stroked and filled Line Width: 1 Antialias and Create as Vector both checked..
2.	Draw Petals
	Draw a skinny ellipse. Then use the handles to rotate and move the ellipse until it lines up with one of the back petals. I make all my ellipses for that layer before doing my node editing.
3.	Shape Petals
	First select the Vector Object Selection Tool Click on any ellipse to activate its vector controls. Right click and select node edit. . You will now see just an outline with nodes. Use the nodes and handles to shape your petal. . To add more nodes hold down the ctrl key while moving the mouse over the line until you see "ADD" then click the mouse to set the node. . Then while still holding down the ctrl key hit the "x key" this [ctrl + x] sets nodes to Cusp. Cusp lets you move each handle independently. . Once petal is like you want it right click then click on quit node editing. . When you get one petal the way you want it, SAVE then repeat on another petal. Once you have all the petals done on one layer convert the layer to raster. . [Note] I convert each layer to raster once I am happy with it, BUT I do not merge layers until the end] Continue adding layers and petals until I have the flower..
4.	Leaves
	Now do the same for the leaves. I used colors #55503B and #696A44.
5.	Leaf Detail
	Add a new layer Grab your Draw Tool : Shape Type: freehand line Style: stroked Line width :2 Antialias and Vector both checked . Draw some lines down the middle of the leaves using color #3F402E. . When the lines are the way you want them convert layer to raster. Then apply a blur image/blur/gaussian blur radius 1.00. . Merge leaf layer and line layer. You can now delete the pattern layer.
6.	The Berries
	Add a new layer Picture Tube: cdr_pearls1 scaled to 30 and place a few berries . Add a new layer- scale 25 few more berries. Add one more layer - scale 20 more berries .
	NOTE: You are now going to do two steps to each layer, so keep each selection through steps 7 & 8.
7.	Add Depth
	Looks pretty good just like this but lets add some depth. With the Magic Wand Tool click on an empty area Go to selections/invert click to float the selection. . Go to image/effects/cutout/ and apply the settings below Shadow Color #3F402E - for leaves Shadow Color #800000 - for petals Shadow Color #black - for berries Opacity:88 Blur:28.1 Offsets 0/0 - for leaf and petals Change settings to: Opacity:54 Blur:9 Offsets 0/0 - for the berries . Keep Selected .
8.	Add Texture
	Go to image/plug-in filters/dsb flux/Bright Noise - intensity:31 direction: mix . [Unlike PSP this filter does not stay on the settings until you change them, you have to set the intensity every layer] .
9.	Add Some Shadows
	Merge the berry layers. . You should now have this something like this: Almost done. . Apply drop shadow to each layer Shadow Color: black Opacity:100 Blur:31.8 Offsets:0/0 I love the way each layer seems to pop up as the drop shadow is applied. .
10.	Tube That Sucker
	Turn off the leaf layers and merge the petal and berry layers and tube them without leaves. . Then merge all layers and Tube with leaves.
11.	Final Touches
	You can stop here but I thought the flower seemed to have lost some of the velvety look I was after. . So hit the undo until you are back with two layers and apply the dsb flux to the flower layer 1 more time.