Welcome to the Corel PaintShop Pro tutorial on creating transparent cutouts
using shapes and text. Creating transparencies in an image editing
program means having the ability to set up part of your image to be invisible
and see-through. Then you can add another image or background behind your cutout
so it shows through. Most, if not all, image editing applications require a
lengthy multi-step process to create cut outs. PaintShop Pro on the other hand,
has special tools to vastly shorten the process. Let me show you how. As usual, go
to the tutorial page and download the written tutorial and sample images if
you'd like to follow along. First let me show you the usual way this is done in
PaintShop Pro. Open up an image into the Edit tab. I'll start with this one. Select
the preset shape tool and go find the heart shape. Use this to draw out a heart
on top of the baby bear. Resize and reposition the heart so that it covers
both the child and the stuffed bear. Easy so far, right? Now we need to make this
vector shape a selection. Make sure your shape is still selected and go to
Selections > From Vector Object. Next we need to add your newly created selection
to the background layer. Over in the Layers palette right-click on the
background layer and select Promote Selection to Layer. Now hide or delete
all the layers except for the one you want and you're done. Not a super long
process but there is an easier way. First though, let's check our results.
Go to File > Export > PNG optimizer.
If you want to maintain transparency the PNG format is the way to go.
To learn more about using the PNG optimizer check out the links
on the tutorial page for related tutorials on transparency. In the colors
tab and, depending on the file size you're
looking to achieve, select Palette-based or 16.7 million colors. Go to the
Transparency tab, select Single Color Transparency and Existing Image or Layer
Transparency. This will maintain the transparency you created. Click OK and
save it to your desktop. Open up an empty tab in your browser (preferably Chrome)
drag and drop your PNG image right into the tab. This is what you should see:
proof that it all worked. Alright let's try the more efficient way using the
Shape Cutter tool. Return to PaintShop Pro, close the currently open image
without saving it and reopen it. Draw out the same heart shape and again
resize it so it covers the child and the stuffed bear. In the horizontal tools
palette at the top of your screen, click the Cutter Preview icon. Its
semi-transparent mode is activated and lets you preview the cutout. You can now
adjust the position, size or rotation of the proposed cutout using the
adjustment handles. Once you're satisfied with the size and position, click the
Shape Cutter tool icon to the left of the Cutter Preview icon to lock it in. In
a couple of seconds your image is complete - no more messing with selections
or layers. We can also create the same effect with text as a
cutout. Let's try that. Open up a favorite photo, maybe from your travels. Here I
have one from my travels in Bryce Canyon Utah. Select the Text tool and type one
word that's big and blocky enough to fill much of your photo. You may need to
experiment with the font and font size to get what you desire. Arial Black works
well. Using either the Text tool or the Pick tool you can also resize it
using the handles including stretching
it vertically. With the Text tool selected,
use the same tools in the toolbar starting with the Cutter Preview to view
and make any adjustments. Again, you can move the text around while still seeing
the entire photo underneath. Once you're satisfied, click the Text Cutter tool and
wait a few seconds. Selections are made, new layers created, merged together
and a new image is created. Once that is finalized you can continue
using the PNG optimizer to use this on a webpage
or use the flood field tool to fill in the background with color and save it as
a JPEG. No messing with selections or layers. If you're watching this video
on YouTube you'll find a link in the description below that will take you to
our tutorial page on the Discovery Center. Here you can download a written
copy of this tutorial and sample images to follow along and find other helpful
tutorials for working with transparencies in PaintShop Pro.