Script from Template Part 1

TUTORIAL WRITTEN BY WY OF DESIGNSBYLK ON NOV 20, 2012.

TUTORIAL WRITTEN USING PSPX2 WITH THE ASSUMPTION OF SOME KNOWLEDGE OF PSP.

This tutorial will teach you steps on how you can create Paint Shop Pro Scripts from an existing template.

For the purpose of this tutorial only, you need to download my template HERE.

My template is only for use as a teaching tool, DO NOT USE MY TEMPLATE FOR ANY COMMERCIAL USE.

we will also use this website by Suz's Place, its a wealth of knowledge.

click HERE and look for section 109 - PROMPTING USERS FOR MATERIALS IN A SCRIPT.

for this tutorial only, we will be using only selections.

you may write another script later, using picture tubes/textures/patterns/etc.

you will need different codes for using those materials.

all my notes will be GREYED.

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now let's get started.

open my template and delete my copyright info layer.

the first thing we need to do is create a folder to place your script and selections.

create a new folder on your desktop called LKD_ScriptTutorial.

inside the new folder, create another folder called Selections.

take note of the dimensions of your template, this is crucial as the selections will work

correct in that size canvas.

my template is 1100px by 600px.

the next step we need to do is creating selections.

back in PSP, select the TEXT layer.

duplicate the layer and select all/float/defloat.

go up to selections > load/save selection > save selection to disk.

when the window pops up, save the selection as LKD_ScriptTutorial_1.

now select none and delete the duplicate layer.

repeat the steps for each layer and name them as the following:

STRIPES - LKD_ScriptTutorial_2

DOTS - LKD_ScriptTutorial_3

RING - LKD_ScriptTutorial_4

TOPPER - LKD_ScriptTutorial_5

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you might ask why I do the select all/float/defloat rather than use the magic wand tool.

its simply because your get exact selection instead of a ragged edge on your layers.

that doesnt look too professional, I learned that along the way.

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now time to record the script.

it's important to remember not to undo too many actions as it might close down your program.

its happened to me before and your hard work will be all for naught.

go to FILE > SCRIPT > START RECORDING

now go to FILE > NEW IMAGE

use the following settings (CLICK IMAGE FOR LARGER PREVIEW):

now add a new raster layer, name it TEXT.

flood fill the layer with this color - #79e1ef.

now go to SELECTIONS > LOAD/SAVE SELECTION > LOAD SELECTION FROM DISK.

click the script preview button in the upper left corner, that will bring up your selections folder.

locate the LKD_ScriptTutorial_1 selection and click OK.

now your back to the LOAD SELECTION window.

use the following settings (CLICK IMAGE FOR LARGER PREVIEW):

now click Load.

hit delete on the TEXT flood fill layer and select none.

repeat the steps for each selection we have.

you may choose any color you choose.

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I found out that the colors with a high number for saturation AND light do not work well.

try to stick to colors in the middle, not too light and not too dark.

also if you are creating scripts to sell, you can't anticipate the colors they will use so you have to ball park it in case they do choose colors that are too bright or dark. it's really a personal choice.

I try to keep it in the middle.

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so once you are done with all the layers, select the TEXT layer.

I like to work my way from the bottom up so any shading we do on the lower layer, we can do it all at once.

on the TEXT layer, duplicate it and select all/float/defloat.

delete the duplicate layer.

now go to SELECTIONS > MODIFY > FEATHER.

feather the selection by 40.

now invert the selection.

now go to ADJUST > BRIGHTNESS AND CONTRAST > BRIGHTNESS/CONTRAST.

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now for the BRIGHTNESS settings, anything above 0 will make your shading brighter of course

and the opposite for anything lower than 0.

for the CONTRAST setting, the higher you go will get lighter in the hue your color layer is.

like for the color we are using, it will get bright blue as you go high in the contrast - try it.

if you use a red tone color, it will get a brighter red color.

BUT DO NOT CLICK OK JUST YET. WE ARE ONLY MESSING WITH THIS FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS TUTORIAL.

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now use the following settings:

BRIGHTNESS -100

CONTRAST 20

now select none.

now select the STRIPES layer, duplicate the layer and select all/float/defloat.

delete the duplicate layer.

on the STRIPES layer, SELECTIONS > MODIFY > FEATHER.

change the feather selection to 20 and invert the selection.

now apply the BRIGHTNESS/CONTRAST with brightness at -120 and contrast at 30.

select none.

now to add a light shading to the STRIPES.

duplicate the STRIPES layer and select all/float/defloat and contract your selection by 20.

delete the duplicate layer.

now feather the selection by 20.

still on the STRIPES layer, apply the following in BRIGHTNESS/CONTRAST (B/C):

brightness 20

contrast 20

now moving on the DOTS layer.

duplicate the layer and select all/float/defloat.

delete the duplicate layer.

feather the selection by 15.

on the layer palette, click on the TEXT layer.

add B/C with brightness at -80 and contrast at 10.

invert the selection and click on the DOTS layer.

apply B/C at -100 and 50.

select none.

now duplicate the DOTS layer and select all/float/defloat.

contract your selection by 20 and than feather it by 15.

add B/C at 45 and 25.

select none.

now click on the RING layer.

apply a INNER BEVEL of your choice.

now click on the TOPPER layer.

now we're going to use the freehand selection tool with the following settings:

use the point to point to make the following selection:

now feather your selection by 20.

apply B/C at -50 and 20.

select none.

still change the selection type to freehand and make the following selection:

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be careful with this selection type. it can be tricky and you can easily overshoot your intended area.

its okay if your selection is alittle crooked, we are going to feather the selection.

if you are looking for a more exact selection, its best to make the selection before hand and

load it like we did for the colored layer.

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now feather the selection by 25 and apply B/C at 30 and 20.

select none.

now duplicate the TOPPER layer and select all/float/defloat.

delete the duplicate layer and feather the selection by 15.

click on the TEXT layer and apply B/C at -100 and 10,

select none.

still on the TEXT layer, go back to the POINT TO POINT selection tool with the same settings.

make the following selection:

now feather the selection by 30.

apply B/C at 40 and 50.

select none.

now you're done and time to save the script.

go up to FILE > SCRIPT > SAVE RECORDING

this window should pop up:

make sure SAVE MATERIALS and REMOVE UNDO COMMANDS are selected.

click the DESCRIPTION button and you can put in your information there.

save this script as LKD_ScriptTutorial_script.

now you are halfway done. :) we have to do coding now.

one last thing, I used different tools just so you can get a feel for them.

always, always experiment with a template or shading before writing the actual script.

that way you're not trying out different things DURING the recording because it will record everything.

you can use your paintbrush, change layer blend modes, create and edit vector shapes in a script.

anything you can think of to create in PSP can be recorded into scripts, its just a matter of

finding the code when it comes time to change manual saturation or adding noise or other stuff like that.

I am by no means an expert at writing scripts and I've had tons of help from different more

experienced designers. I owe a tremendous amount of gratitude for their willingness to help me.

and a thank you to you too for trusting me in teaching you what I know about this particular subject. :)

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