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Designing Scrollsaw Patterns
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In this tutorial we will be discussing and recording an automated script.
Scripts are a series of commands that you record and play back. This can be a great time-saver, because instead of having to make the changes to each image, you simply have to play back the script. The commands you recorded in the script are performed on the image.
You can find most scripting commands both in a menu and on the Script toolbar. You’ll find it much easier and faster working with scripts using the Script toolbar. So in preparation, let's go ahead and launch the "Script Toolbar".
Go to View>Toolbars>Script
The Script Toolbar
The following table describes the buttons on the Script toolbar.
The script that we will be recording is another conversion formula. This is the formula that I use for most of the patterns that I make.
There are a few preparation steps that need to be preformed before recording the script.
First we will need to open an image in the workspace. Let's use the Buddy Holly image for this task. (bhp.jpg)
Now click the Gaussian Blur icon 
on the PA Bar. In the Gaussian Blur dialog window set the Radius value to "0.0", then click the "Save Preset" icon (looks like a floppy disk) at the top right of the window. This will open another window where you can name the preset, name it "PA" then click "OK". Now click "Cancel" in the Gaussian Blur dialog window.
We will repeat the above with Brightness and Contrast. On the PA Bar click the Brightness/Contrast icon 
. In the dialog window set the "Brightness" slider to "0" and the "Contrast" slider to "99". Click the "Save Preset" icon and name the preset "PA". Click "OK" then click "Cancel" in the Brightness/Contrast window.
Now we are ready to record the script. The script is outlined below bracketed by "Start Recording" and "Save Recording". It would be best to go through the steps a few times before doing the actual recording.
"Start Recording"
- Click on the "Start Script Recording" icon.
- On the PA Bar first click the "Greyscale" icon
- Then the "Duplicate Layer" icon
- And next the "Negative Image" icon
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In the layer palette, change the Blend Mode from "Normal" to "Dodge". Click on the arrow as indicated by the graphic to the left, then in the drop down menu select "Dodge". 
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Click the "Gaussiam Blur" icon on the PA Bar.In the "Gaussian Blur" dialog window:
- select "PA" from the "Presets" drop down list.
- set the view options to match the settings in the graphic to the right.
- Click on the Title bar of the Dialog window and drag the window to the upper right hand corner of your screen as shown in the screenshot below, making sure that the adjustment slider is still visible on the screen.
- Click "OK" to close the "Gaussiam Blur" dialog.
- Select the "Brightness/Contrast" icon on the PA Bar.
In the "Brightness/Contrast" dialog window, select "PA" from the "Presets" menu and arrange the view and the placement of the dialog window just as you did before with the Gaussiam Blur dialog, again making sure that both the Brightness and the Contrast adjustment sliders are accessible. Your screen should look something like the graphic below. If so, click "OK".
- Return to the Layers Palette and change the Blend Mode from "Dodge" back to "Normal"
- On the PA Bar click the "Negative Image" icon
"Save Recording"
Click the blue square for instructions for saving the script using PSP8/9
- On the "Script Toolbar" click the "Save Script Recording" icon
- In the "Save As" dialog window, name the script, (use the "Scripts - Restricted" folder) then make sure that the boxes at the bottom of the window are checked, then click "OK".
- To make our new script easily accessible from the PA Bar we will bind the script command to a clickable icon. Go to View>Customize then click the "Scripts" tab.
- In the drop down menu locate and select your script, then click on an icon from the selection to bind to the script. I selected the blue camera.
- Now click on "Bind" and the icon will be listed in the "Bound Scripts" list. Click on the icon and drag it on to the PA Bar, just as we did when building the PA Bar.
- The Conversion formula is now ready to use at anytime by simply clicking the icon on the PA Bar.
"Testing the Script"
Next we will test the script and then discuss the usage of the formula.
Close the Buddy Holly image without saving, then reopen the same image.
Click the scripts icon on the PA Bar. The script will automatically advance through - Duplicate, Greyscale, Change of Blend Mode and Negative Image, then wait for your input at the "Gaussian Blur" dialog. After selecting "OK" to the Gaussian Blur, the script advances to the Brightness/Contrast dialog where it again waits for your input. Click "Ok" to the B/C settings and the script advances to the end the script/formula.
You can see that the final results is dependent upon the settings we select in "Gaussian Blur" and in "Brightness and Contrast". The Gaussian Blur is generally left at "0.0" as we discussed in Part 5, but the Brightness/Contrast will be different with each photo attempted.
After running the test go to Edit>Undo Script or simply click the "Undo" button on the PA Bar.
And that is the beauty of the Auto Script. You can quickly run the script, select your settings, observe the results then "Undo" all in seconds. Just as with using the Threshold Adjustment technique, this is a process of trial and error until the desired results are found. The object being to locate the best conversion settings for the particular photo that you are working with.
But the real power becomes obvious when the script is combined with layering as we discussed in the previous lessons. This is why the presentation for automated script was reserved until after we had investigated layers.
Also, the other tools such as lighten/darken, dodge and burn are used with this formula the same way as with Threshold adjustment. Modify the photo or portion of the photo with the tools then run the script to check the results until you arrive at a good base to work with.
As mentioned before the Buddy Holly picture will not convert to a really good pattern but it is a good photo for illustration purposes. Let's look at and analyze some different settings using the new script. We will not be concerned with the background of the photo for now. Run the script using several different settings. You will probably want to leave the Gaussian Blur at "0" and Contrast will always stay at "99" so actually the only thing to manipulate in this photo will be "Brightness".
 Brightness = -25 |
 Brightness = -50 |
 Brightness = -75 |
 Brightness = -100 |
Many designers do not use this technique because the results are similar in many cases to the results obtained using the Threshold adjustment. However, the more you work with this script the more you will understand its value, because, although the differences are subtle, they become more evident with practice, especially with the more complex photos.
Regardless of the method you prefer to use, you now have all the tools that you will need to create portrait patterns. I have one more techinque that will be introduced in the Advanced study which will be PSPX specific. That is, the earlier versions do not have the filter required for this procedure. After reviewing the lesson "The High Pass Filter" you may decide that you would like to upgrade to PSPX if you are currently using an earlier version of PSP.
I hope that you have found this study beneficial and that you will continue your study with the tutorials in Pattern Academy Advanced. PA Advanced is a "work in progress" with new tutorials being added as time allows.
Thanks
Arpop