Designing Scrollsaw Patterns
with Paint Shop ProX

Part 7a


More Tools

In this tutorial we will be working with the "kirkdouglaswp.jpg" image which is included in the image downloads.

After opening the image in Paint Shop Pro, some prep work will need to be preformed before converting the photo.

  1. Crop the image to appropriate proportions
  2. Resize to approximately 7 X 9 inches print size @ 300 pixels per inch
  3. Remove background. The subject’s right ear in this photo is barely visible, so I defined it a bit by outlining that ear with my paint brush in a light shade of gray. (see image below)
  4. Increase Color Depth to 16bit or 16 million colors
  5. Duplicate the Background image
  6. "Save as..." a pspimage file
Here is a screenshot of the image after being prepped and read for the next steps:

We will be converting this photo using "Threshold" adjustments as in a previous tutorial but we will also be using some additional tools to enhance or modify the original for clearer details.

These tools, as well as a few more that will be used later on, are located as in the graphic to the right. All these tools are under one icon in PSPX but are listed under two different icons in PSP8/9.
  • Burn - Use this tool to darken areas of a photo by clicking, or to lighten areas by right-clicking. Its functionality is the opposite of the Dodge tool.
  • Dodge - Use this tool to lighten areas of a photo by clicking, or to darken areas by right-clicking. Its functionality is the opposite of the Burn tool.
  • Lighten/Darken - Use this tool to lighten areas as you drag, or to darken areas as you drag with the right mouse button. This effect is stronger than the effects produced by the Dodge and Burn tools.
  • Sharpen - Use this tool to sharpen pixels as you drag, or to soften pixels as you drag with the right mouse button.
  • Soften - Use this tool to soften pixels as you drag, or to sharpen pixels as you drag with the right mouse button.
The most useful of these tools for our purpose is the Lighten/Darken tool. You will be using this tool often so let's experiment with it a little and see the affect it has on our image.

But first, let's sharpen the entire image a little to bring out details. On the PA bar click the down arrow next to "Sharpen" and then click "Sharpen More" on the drop down menu. Repeat and click "Sharpen More" again. Click "Save". Note that the Sharpen tool listed above only affects a defined area. The Sharpen command from the PA Bar affects the entire image. There are similar dual commands for "Soften" also.

Click the "Threshold" icon on the PA Bar and then select the "Default" settings. This is not necessarily the settings we would choose if making a pattern, but we will use this selection for our experiment with the Lighten/Darken tool.

Study the image and mentally note the areas that are too light or too dark, then click "Cancel" to return to the original image. The image to the right is my threshold conversion at the default setting of "128". I have indicated here two areas that we will work on.

Pick up the "Lighten/Darken" tool and choose the "Default" brush. Set the brush size to about "100" then while holding down the right mouse button, drag the brush along the right side of the face from the hairline to the top of the shirt. Now click "Threshold" again and select "Default" settings. The results of the darkening action will be apparent. Click "cancel" to return to the original then click "Undo" to remove the Darken action. Repeat using the Darken tool with various size brushes and various "Hardness" settings, then check the results by doing another "Threshold" adjustment at "Default" settings. Do not click "OK" to exit "Threshold" adjustment window - use the "Cancel" button.

Now continue the experiment by using the "Lighten" tool in the same manner. The only difference is, to use the "Lighten" tool hold the left mouse button and drag.

For finer control, rather than dragging the mouse, hold the brush over the area to be changed then just click the mouse button. Each click makes the lighten or darken action increasingly acute.

The shot to the right is after the Lighten and Darken actions were executed. Notice how these actions affected the areas in comparison to the top picture.

Using the same procedures extend your practice with the "Dodge" and the "Burn" tools. Although the effects are not as intense when these tools are used they do prove to be valuable when working around small areas such as the mouth and eyes.

The "Sharpen" and the "Soften" tools are used only occasionally but are useful for special effects.

This has been a short discussion but the skills that you acquire using the above tools are detrimental in the quality of patterns that you will be able to produce. So please don't hurry this section or this exercise.

After applying multiple actions to an image, each action may be undone by using the "Undo" button on the PA Bar. However, PSP includes a powerful tool which allows you to "Undo" or "Redo" multiple actions with one click. This tool is the "Command History", located on the PA Bar at this icon: or

As the exact procedure for using the Command History is different for each version of PSP, I would suggest that you consult your programs Help file for full instructions.

When you have completed the above exercises close the image without saving, as we will be working with this same image in the next tutorial, part 7b.

Because the above tools are so important in our design work, I have opt to limit the content of this part of the tutorial to allow adequate time for experimenting. Your mastery of these tools will greatly enhance the quality of the resulting patterns, so take your time and develop the necessary skills.

Practice Project: Download several different types of photos for the web and practice using these tools. Only through a lot of practice will you develop the "touch" required to make these tools work for optimum results.

Pattern Academy©2007