Layered Painting Effects in Paint Shop Pro

The "Brush Strokes" effect in Paint Shop Pro can make a photograph look like a painting.   Here is a way of using layers to enhance this effect and create even more artistic, hand-painted results.

1. Open an image that you want to serve as the basis of your painting (for example: GrapesPhoto in Artistic Effects). 

2. Adjust the size, contrast and brightness (Colors =>Adjust =>Brightness/Contrast) and color saturation Colors =>Adjust =>Hue/Saturation/Brighness) of the image as desired.  A good size is at least full-screen or larger; use Image =>Resize to change the size. Sometimes exaggerating the color saturation and contrast of an image will give interesting painting results.  

3. Select Edit =>Copy.   

4. Select Edit =>"Paste as New Layer". This creates a two-layer image with the same image in both layers.  

5. Select Effects =>Art Media Effects =>Brush Strokes, select a coarse, broad stroke brush, such as the "Watercolor" preset (Length=15; Density=26; Bristles=256; Width=6; Opacity=0; Softness=20) and click OK.   Wait for the processing to be completed (may take 10 seconds or more).

6. Switch to the background layer (Layers =>Layer 1: Background). Select Effects =>Artistic effects =>Brush Strokes and define a smaller, detailed brush stroke for this layer (such as Length=5; Density=13; Bristles=120; Width=2; Opacity=25; Softness=5) and click OK. Wait for the processing to be completed. (This will have no visible effect, because this layer is temporarily obscured by the upper lever).

7. Select File =>Save As and select Paint Shop Pro Image (.psp) from the "Save as type..." pop-up menu.  

8. Switch back to the top layer (Layers =>Layer 2).

9. Select the pencil eraser tool  and open the Tool Options box.  (If  the Tool Options box  is not visible, right-click anywhere on the tool bar and select Tool Options). Adjust the size of the eraser tool as desired.  

10. Now use the eraser tool to "paint" over those bits of the image that you want to have more detail, especially the highlights and edges of the main subject matter. Zoom in and out (left- or right-click with the  tool) so that you can work more precisely.  If you erase too much, you can "un-erase" by painting with the right mouse button. If you like, you can open the original photo along side your painting to serve as a guide.

11. If you want to send the image via email or put it on a Web page, save it in JPEG format (.jpg).  This format does not preserve the separate layers. To preserve the layrers, save as a Paint Shop Pro Image (.psp).

Note: If you get confused about which layer you are on, pull down the Layers menu.  This lists all the layers in the picture and shows the currently active layer with a check mark.  To make any layer active, select it from this list. 

As an alternative to the above technique, try experimenting with a solid color top layer:  

1. After completing steps 1 and 2, select Layers =>New Raster Layer and click OK.  
2. Select the Flood Fill tool , select a background color (such as black, white, or any color you like) from the color palette on the right of the screen, and click anywhere on the image.
3. Open the Layer Palette and use the slider to set the Layer 1 opacity to about 80%.  (If  the Tool Options box  is not visible, right-click anywhere on the tool bar and select Tool Options.) 
4. Skip steps 3 - 5 and continue with step 6. Try experimenting with different eraser sizes and brush styles: in the Eraser Tool Options box, pull down the paintbrush menu in the upper right and select some of those preset brush styles, such as Crayon.  To see the final effect, open the Layer Palette and set the Layer 1 opacity to 100%. 
                                                       (c) Tom O'Haver (toh@umd.edu), November 2001