PSP: Adding Icons to Images

Paint Shop Pro Image Tutorials | Submited Feb 29, 2008

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Someone asked this question on the forums "
HOw do you do that thingy on the bottom with pic inside that box. its under the name"
and this is how you do it.

1. Click on the Selection tool.

2. On the tools selection type, click on the arrow to open up the drop down box, and choose ROUNDED RECTANGLE and make sure the feather settings are set to Zero (O).


3. On your main image draw around the section you want to make into a smaller image. You will see a rectangle shape appear around the selected section. Example:


4. Now take a copy (Ctrl C or Edit > Copy)

5. Now paste as new selection (Ctrl E or Edit > Paste as new selection) this image back onto the main image, but in a new location. Example:


Your layers section should now look like this.


So that we can add both a border and a 3D drop shadow to the same selected section, we need to add a new RASTER LAYER.

6. To do this right click on the layer headed FLOATING SELECTION > New Raster Layer . A pop up menu will appear - just click OK.

7. The layers section now looks like this
(If you find it easier you can rename the layers, but I will keep the default names)

NOTE: If adding both borders and shadows to the same rectangle, you must always add the shadow first. If you add the border first, the middle and top layers will automatically merge and you will then be unable to add the shadow to the outside of the rectangle.


Adding the 3D Drop Shadow

We are now going to add the shadow, so click on the layers section and set the layers as follows :-

- leave the bottom layer (BACKGROUND) so that it is visible,

- make the middle layer (FLOATING SELECTION) inactive by clicking on visibility toolge (the eye). You will see either a red cross, or a red circle with a line through it.

- now activate the top layer (RASTER 1) by clicking on it (you will know that it is active because it will appear light grey and slightly indented).

Example:

8A. Go - Effects > 3d effects > drop shadow.


8b. Choose your settings and click OK - I've gone with these.


Your image should look like this.


Adding the Border

We are now going to add the border, so click on the layers section and set the layers as follows :-

- leave the bottom layer (BACKGROUND) so that it is visible,

- make the top layer (RASTER 1) inactive by clicking on visibility toolge (the eye). You will see either a red cross, or a red circle with a line through it.

- now activate the middle layer (FLOATING SELECTION) by clicking on it (you will know that it is active because it will appear light grey and slightly indented) and then click on the eye to remove the red cross/red circle.

Example:

9a. Set your materials palette to the color you want your border - so I'm going to go with a green border .

9b. To make the border do the following - Selections > Modify > Select Selections Borders.


9c. Choose your settings and then click OK.

Your image should now look like this with double moving lines. Example:

10. Click on the flood fill tool, and then right (or left) click to fill the border with your chosen color.

Your image should now look like this.


and your layers section will now look like this You will see that instead of the three layers, you now only have 2, that is because the middle and top layers merged at the time of adding the border - see NOTE above).

11. Make the top layer visible by clicking on the eye and removing the red cross/red circle. If you look at your image now you will see both the border and the shadow.


12. We are now going to merge the 2 layers together, so on the layers section right click on the bottom (BACKGROUND) layer > Merge > Merge (all flatten)


13. Remove the floating lines - Ctrl D.

And here is your finished image.


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Try messing around with the rotation of the image. After point 5, before moving onto adding the borders and the shadow, add the rotation by going - Image > Free Rotate > and then choose your desired settings > OK. Placing images at angles is sometimes more effective. Example: