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Shadows


Putting a drop shadow on an element or tube gives your tag a 3-D effect.
Different tags look better with different shadows, for instance a pretty light
coloured tag looks better with a light more diffused shadow and a dark gothic type tag
looks better with heavy dark shadow.
I always suggest a shadow to use on my tutorials but they are easy to use and you can play around and get your own favourite.

To put a shadow on an element go to Effects - 3-D effects - drop shadow.



Using Masks


There are two types of masks, a jpeg image mask
and a png image mask (often referred to as a clipping mask).
I usually prefer to use the png image mask where possible as it
gives a much sharper image.


First we will look at the jpeg mask and how to use it.
This mask is usually white on a black background and is used on a paper or coloured layer
so first you have to fill your canvas with the paper or colour.
To use a paper, make a new layer, go to Selections - Select all, open the paper and copy it, right click on your canvas on the blank layer you have and choose "Paste into selection" then go to Selections - deselect.  If you are using a colour, just make a new layer and fill it with your chosen colour.

Now open the mask in Paint shop and minimise it, go back to your canvas and go to Layers - New Mask Layer - From image.  Scroll down until you can see the minimised mask in the menu that opens, open it and click ok.  This will apply the mask to the paper or colour.

As said above, this type of mask is usually white on a black background
but occasionally you may come across a black mask on a white background.
You would use this mask in exactly the same way but when you get apply the mask layer you must check the box "Invert mask data" to reverse it.


The png mask or clipping mask is black and its on a transparent background.
To use this mask, you need to paste it directly on your canvas and resize it.
Now go to "Selections - Select All - back to Selections - Select Float - back again to Selections - Selection - Defloat.
This will form a selection around the mask.
Now open the paper you want to use and copy it,
go back to your canvas, right click and choose "Paste into Selection".
Now the paper will paste into the mask shape.
If you are using a colour, just fill the selection with the colour on the new layer.
Back to Selections - deselect.
Delete the original black mask as you are done with that.





File Management


Listary is a fantastic programme to organize your files.
Just enter the path for the folders you want to access quickly,
I have all my paint shop files listed,
then double left mouse click to bring up the list and go straight to the folder.
Listary is free for personal use.
It also has a search facility that is much better than the regular Windows search.


http://www.listary.com/






Using additional fonts in Paint Shop


It is never a good idea to install additional fonts in your Windows fonts folder as this will seriously slow down your computer and can cause real issues;
instead you should use a font viewer.

There are several font viewers, my favourite is
Font Base.
Font Base is free, although there is a pay to use version which
is really for designers, for our purposes the free version is fine.
When you get the occasional nag screen asking for $3 just click on the x to get rid.


Keep all those fonts you collect in folders somewhere safe,
open Font Base and intially your Windows installed fonts will show,
just drag the folders where you  have your saved fonts into Font Base.
Font Base is lightening fast because it doesn't actually load the fonts, it just previews them.
You can easily change the size of the font with the slider at the top
and the text at the bottom.
When you have decided on your font, just check the circle to the left of it
and it will then show in Paint Shop ready to use.





Saving your tag on a transparent background (png


When you have finished your tag, close off any background layer you have used
(in my tutorials I always say to make a white background layer).

Next go to File - Export - Png Optimizer

Under the "Colors" tab use these settings




Kntbe "Transparency" tab use these settings


Ignore the rest of the tabs, leave them on the default settings, just click on OK and save your tag.





Downloading from 4Shared

I know some people have problems downloading from 4Shared and 
end up installing their Installer which you don't want!
These are the buttons to press for a straight download.



Click the download button


Click off the pop up if you get it





Click on the free download 



Now sign in with one of your media accounts or
make an account with 4Shared.







Thumbnail images of tubes and Paint Shop images.

There are two programmes you need installed to view thumbnails and Paint Shop Images.
Mystic Thumbs will work quietly in the background allowing you to 
see thumbnails of many image types not supported by Windows.
This is now a pay for programme but you can 
get the last freebie version 
here.

Thumbnail Handler is a free programme that allows you to 
see thumbnails of Paint Shop images by
Bot Productions.

Finally, there is the Color Changer Tool.

To use this tool, you first need select the original colour using your eye dropper tool
and set it as your background colour.

Now set your foreground colour to the new colour.

Open the Color Replacement tool and click on the area of colour you want to
change and it will be replaced with the new colour.
You may need to play around with the tolerance to get the best effect.