| This tutorial was written using PSP 7, but can be done in PSP 8 or 9. There are many ways to tube, either by using the magic wand, eraser or my personal favorite the Lasso Tool. The lasso tool is the only tool I know of that gives the cleanest edge to your tube (hence no jaggies or jagged edges) I have attached the witch hat graphic for you to use...it is large (which makes the tubing process much easier) so I have included it in zip format...you can get it by clicking HERE.
Open your graphic in PSP. On your layer palette right click on the Witch hat layer and duplicate it...then delete the original graphic layer. Click on your lasso tool, then your tool options, set you lasso tool to these settings.
The Antialias is what is going to give our graphic the smooth edge...just like it does when we create a text. I also use precise cursors....I don't like the lasso thingy being out to the side of my graphic because it block my view (the choice however is yours :o) ) Zoom in a bit on your graphic if you need to and find a good starting point.
Left click on your starting point... then move a little bit and left click again to the next point...working your way around the graphic..
I do my tubing in sections...this makes it easier for me. The rule is where you start is where you end.... so I worked my way around the hat a bit....then with my lasso tool I click back around to where I started as shown below. This way I am able to cut away sections as I go, just in case I mess up along the way, I don't have to start all over again :o) Once you have clicked your back to the your starting point... Right click with your mouse.... you should now see the marching ants. I hit Control X to cut away the unwanted portion of the graphic (the scissors or cut tool will work as well) I then hit Control D to get rid of the marching ants or selections none.
At this point I add two new raster layers and drag them under my original graphic... these are going to be my check layers... by check layers I mean I want to be able to check and be sure that my tube will look good on both a light and dark background.
My Light Check layer I flood with a milky light color...I used color #C0AF81. Then on my Dark Color layer I used color #000080. These are the colors that work best for me.... my advice is DON'T use Black or white as a color to check your tubes.
I then X out my Dark Color Check layer and work my way around the rest of my tube using the Light color (simply because my graphic shows better) Now click on your graphic layer and again find a good starting point.... Lasso your way (left clicking) around another section of your graphic... Right click once you get back to your starting point... cut away the excess...
Continue doing this until you have worked your way around the entire graphic..
Take your time around the corners...try not to get in a hurry... we want the brim of the hat to look smooth and circular... Once you are done and all the excess area is gone....take a look at your tube.... I noticed on my hat there was an area that looked kind of pointy... instead of smooth...so again I went back with my lasso tool and trimmed it up a bit...
Attention to detail is what makes a great tube :o) Now that I am assured that my tube looks good on a light back ground...I un-X my dark background and check it again..... I noticed an area where I left some of the white background.... so I went back and cut it away...
Much Better :o)
At this point I reduce my tube.... reducing the tube takes away the graininess of the graphic and make it appear smoother. This graphic I reduced by 70%. All layers UN-checked. If you are working on a smaller graphic...you don't have to reduce it by as much...but I would reduce it at least by 90%.... it helps to make the tube :o)
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