Welcome to this introductory series of lessons designed to get you started using your graphics program to create images suitable for your egg artistry designs. Each lesson will show you how to use a particular tool and the type of effects you can achieve.   I will also show you how it relates to designs in egg artistry.

For more information on installing PSP and getting started visit Mardi's web page.  You will find lots of very useful tutorials there.

I will be working on these lessons and including techniques I have found useful when working with my designs. If you have a technique or procedure you would like to see included in these lesson pages please email me and let me know.

It is not intended that these lessons must be followed in strict number order. If you are having problems with a particular lesson or in grasping a concept, move onto another lesson and come back to the one you are having problems with. Don't forget if you have any queries with a lesson, check the FAQ page to see if the answer is there. If not, send an email to the group for an answer.

For these lessons I suggest you create a new folder called PSP Lessons (or something similar) with a sub-folder for each lesson.

Also check in Files, Preferences, General Program Preferences, Rulers & Units that the Units is set to pixels for these lessons. The finished image will be resized to 350 pixels on the longest side before saving in jpeg format.

Introduction - Getting to Know the Workspace and the Tools
Version 7                   Version 8 & 9   New

Lesson 1 - Cropping an Image.
This procedure is used to remove the excess area around the desired portion of an image. It can be used to cut away unwanted wording from a scanned image of a card or wrapping paper or just to resize an image to fit inside a diorama.

Lesson 2 - Adding a Border. 
In this lesson we will be using the Eye Dropper to select a colour from an image. You will find selecting a specific colour from an image a very useful technique for colouring images. 

Lesson  3 - Colouring a Line Art  
This is a useful technique to colour black and white clip art.

Lesson  4 - Removing Colour. 
This lesson works with the Lasso Tool and introduces working with layers.

Lesson  5 - Cleaning an Image
This is an essential technique to master to be able to remove the background from scanned images and wrapping paper. Also includes Hints for Scanning an Image.

Lesson  6 - Making a Single Cell Tube 
A properly cleaned image is an integral part of making a tube. Create a "rubber stamp" of your favourite images for repeated use.

Lesson  7 - Feathered Edges
Soften the edges of an image to blend into a background.

Lesson  8 - Blended Backgrounds
Learn how to create your own unique background images for a diorama or other egg design.

Lesson 9 - Using the Clone Tool
Copy parts of an image to change the appearance of the original image with this useful tool.

[ Lesson Home Page ] [ PSP Tools & Workspace ] [ Workspace & Tools-V9 ] [ Lesson 1 ] [ Lesson 2 ] [ Lesson 3 ] [ Lesson 4 ] [ Lesson 5 ] [ Lesson 6 ] [ Lesson 7 ] [ Lesson 8 ] [ Lesson 9 ]