oma

well I'm glad you finally realized I'd jump on you if you didn't have a screen shot and at least a brief explination of the why's and hows of the plugin. good job. although I most likely won't download, my plugins are getting out of hand, and I can manage to do this manually, but nice work. thanks for the plugin. ciao Oma

not a tut but perhaps under the picture in your gallery you can have a short list of steps. ie; wood texture from this tut and a link I used this plug in at these settings. the band was done by modifying this tut. check your PM' for a private note from me. ciao

three cheers for David! for the record I don't usually whine but if something like this came about well wawwwww! @adondai tell me do you use this program for drawing? photo manipulation? or some other form of art work? A few months working like that and you'd get real peaved at that UI. and be whinning for Rick to change it back. ciao OMA

here is one of those textures I did on my way to something else and didn't write down the steps. have been trying for the last week to redo this

open your picture make a duplicate layer. cut out the jeep using the tut viewtopic.php?f=15&t=4841 put that jeep on its own separate layer. use brightness and contrast and lighten it a bit use color balance under adjustments move the top slider just a touch towards the red side. duplicate the layer and set layer blend mode to multiply and then dial back the opacity a bit. depending on the shade of red you want. and then flatten image. you have some reading to do in the tut sections. all this information was there. ciao EDIT: another tip ..... think about when the car goes in the spray booth for a paintjob. the body man usually masks out the windows and they remove or cover the chrome portions. you don't want red tinted windows and red chrome :wink:

oh wow! same mind set I had when I first started out. add that to learning how to use a computor at an advanced age well overwhelmed doesn't even begin to cover it. so you need some advise 1) I fully agree with LFC4ever watch that flash tut, it will walk you thru all the basics. I truly wish this was avail when I first started out. Its 100% pure gold to beginners. 2) try the tuts...even if you don't really want to make a ..... what ever they show in the tut, try it. You will learn maybe a new method or version of doing something. You might pick up a little tip. After you finish a tut, don't rush to do another right away, its not a race. Stop think about that tut you just completed, what did you learn? and what else could you make using the same principals, and ideas. Then try to make that, don't be discouraged if its not perfect, you did what the tut wanted you to do. You learned to apply. 3) Think about what interests you outside of computors, those will be the things you are familiar with already, try to draw something from there. 4) you are allowed a single section within the pictorium for your own gallery. post your work even if its not perfect. 5) if someone gives a suggestion to you about something you might try in your picture. At least give it a shot. Its not that they are knocking your work but rather that they care to take atime to look and try to help you along. most of all have fun, this is not a place where you should be competing with others over who has the best picture, but a place where you try to better your skills. welcome to the forum ciao OMA

:?: not sure what you mean? an example link maybe will get you an answer a bit quicker ciao

BoltBait did the update of his plug in the same time as Rick changed something in the program. BoltBait has since corrected that I'd suggest just re download the updated pkg by BoltBait. the issue was fixed. first thing always to check when you have a plugin issue on one that worked prev. is to recheck you are using the most up to date version of Paint.Net and the most up to date plug in version. also for future note when you have a problem with a specific plugin standard practise is to post the problem under the plugin itself. The plugin writer has a better chance of seeing the problem and advising you. ciao

LFC wonderful extension of this tut. I'll have to remember that crystalize that has such a nice texture addition. Nice composition by the way on that picture. lovely.

hope that's not a hint :!: :wink: think of the shapes pineapple = oval pineapple skin= a lot of little ovals within the main one, color = yellowish brown (hint I always try to use 4 shades within the same color family. ) you have to have lots of texture what gives nubby? rough? use releif ? ahh, when you made those leaves I see you missed the little note to deselect before moving the leaves around on the next layer, that is most likely why the tips look like they are moved over a bit from the original. not sure what you did on the stem. just go back an try it withouth the leaves. draw line, wand outside line, control +i, add a layer, bevel selection. I can't tell for sure but you may have done the wand part wrong. @ncfan51 you did? well that indeed is a complement. simple techniques and a bit of patience pays off. wow! thanks ciao all I'm off to the daughters for birthday cake and icecream!

thanks I think its the use of textures that makes it look real. Those push this button tuts are very valuable to learn what happens when I use this, they teach you the different functions of each control within a plug in. This just makes you apply the use of a plugin to something specific. I'll be watching for your picture. thanks Drill you are welcome .... thanks for asking for a tut, I need the experience writing them. modify to suit your picture.

well I broke down and wrote an actual full fledged tut viewtopic.php?f=15&t=26626 It is supposed to be a Palm Tree Leaf. As I don't actually have one growing in my frosty northern backyard ... I've taken some artistic license. The tut is designed to be easy and easily converted to other shaped leaves. anyways hope you like it ( I like how the shadows make it look raised off the paper. that wee small gap between the leaf tip and the shadow ---- drop shadow on duplicate layer uncheck retain image and then motion blur :idea: . ) If any of you or your mother or sister is into digital scrap booking, this is just the sort of background paper that would be great. and the leaf as a png. element would make them a lovely Christmas gift. hint hint hint you boys could earn some brownie points and less steam for the amount of time on the computor . LOL!

thank you HitmanX and 007 Nab. Nab the one I worked on for the tut I used as the title. it was 25% reduced. So I just made another quick one following the tut directions no add ins other than a shadow and a background. I've posted on my DA http://omagrandmother.deviantart.com/art/leaf-98350845 ciao

thanks , I expect to see your leaf real soon posted here or in your gallery. :wink:

This tutorial is available as a PDF. Click here to view or download it Beginners tut moderate skill levels. It seems very long as I've put in many pictures of even basic steps. Very Very strongly suggest if you are absolute begginer you read and watch this first viewtopic.php?f=15&t=21605 I will say this you must already know how to add plugins and how to add layers, merge layers, and use the move pixels tools. Selecting and deselecting items using the wand and control + i. you will also use a gradiant so if you need to brush up on that F1 while you are in the paint.net program should direct you to the appropriate section for a quick review. ======================= these would be added plugins required for this little tut along with the link on how to add plugins. here is the topic dealing with adding plugins ] viewtopic.php?f=16&t=2023 read thru the whole topic page 1 to the end (all of the pages!.) and all questions re adding plugins will be answered. then go to these to download the plugins. viewtopic.php?f=16&t=22701&hilit=powerstretch viewtopic.php?f=16&t=22819&hilit=bevel viewtopic.php?f=16&t=21706 ======================= this is all pretty basic, with a few moderately advanced steps. I made a palm leaf here but the same basics apply to making almost any leaf. for a roundish leaf when you draw the triangle use the nubs along the each side and adjust width of leaf etc. so lets get you started start with a 800 x 600 transparent canvas (lost already? your screen opened with a white canvas! just add a layer, the button looks like this :AddNewLayer: and then highlight the white layer and hit the little x button . you should now have that checkerboard background. OR on the very first screen the white one Edit>select all and delete , you should now have that checkerboard background. OR for those who are the shortcut type on the very first white layer its control + A and delete. you should now have that checkerboard background. you have now your first tip...... in Paint.Net there is always more than one method. draw a triangle. do the short bit last so you can pull up the centre section a bit. Just looks better after you join the stems later in the tut. make sure that triangle is solid all around -- no gaps. . then wand outside the triangle anywhere and control + i add a layer I used these two colors primary 138227 and 71BC6D as secondary. make a linear gradiant from bottom edge of leaf up to the stem area. add another transparent layer still leave selection active (marching ants) set primary color to 1DC138 secondary color 8EEA88 under effects>render>gradiant bars. leave all the defaults except the angle. depending on how you drew your triangle this will change but you want the lines running down the leaf ....look at mine in the picture .. . see how they go from one end to the other that's what you want. set the layer 3 blend mode to color burn now under image>flatten you should still have an active selection around that leaf ! if you by mistake have deselected it now would be a good time to wand outside the leaf anywhere and control + i make a duplicate layer of this leaf on the bottom layer now effects>releif if you have done this correctly you won't see any change. WHAT YOU WILL SEE IF YOU DIDN'T DO IT CORRECTLY IS A GREEN LEAF ON A BLACK BACKGROUND. don't panic just hit the back button make sure its your leaf as the active selection . REMEMBER wand outside the leaf and control + i now go to the top layer your duplicated merged leaf and set the layer properties again to color burn. the color of the leaf should get darker. Image>flatten ============================================== now you need to draw the centre vein of the leaf add a new layer set your primary color to a medium shade of green I used 387727 here draw you centre vein of the leaf and use the nubs to give it a bit of a curve I ended up using a size 3 brush width for the line .. you will have to judge for yourself depending on how big you made that original leaf wand anywhere on the outside of the centre leaf vein and control + i add a transparent layer Effects>Selection>Bevel change th depth to 2 and use highlight color a light shade of green (I used R 139 G 206 B 130) and shadow darker green (I used R 26 G 112 B 42) again flatten the image. Image>flatten this should now be releifed again. same as last time now. duplicate the layer make sure the leaf is selected on the bottom layer not the whole layer. (hint wand outside leaf control + i) under effects>Stylize>releif this time set the top layer properties to multiply and change the opacity down to 180 Image>flatten ======================================================= Setting up the individual leafs along the centre stem now you decide how many leaves will be on your stem. Palm leafs are attached one each side of the centre stem so say you decide there are 5 leaves down each side you need to make 5 duplicate layers and one for the point. you will be making another set after you resize the leafs. did you push that duplicate layer button note my layers I numbered them 1 on the bottom going up 2, 3, 4, 5, and then end point. this would be a great time to expand your canvas size. Image> canvas size click the by percentage button and type in 200% anchor middle this part seems long but beleive me once you get used to the moving pixels you breeze thru it. It took me longer to type out this line than to do the actual steps. so layer 1 leave this alone layer 2 lets make this leaf a bit smaller so use the move tool click anywhere on the screen and just grab the top left nub hold your shift key down at same time and pull in a little bit continue on each layer going up just making the size of the leaf a tiny bit smaller as you go along. some of them I used the right mouse key and rotated. NOTE a hint before you do each layer hit the deselect button and then the move button. that way you don't accidentally cut off a portion of a leaf now you have to make duplicates of all the layers except the point one. you will be using Layer>flip horizontal on all of the duplicate layers then the move tool to get them lined up. NOTE you are probably asking why I do it this way and not just use a brush system think about it. there isn't a twisting action in the brush system yet, you'd still have to manually twist them around to position. by adjusting the leave positions and bends and twists on individual layers you get to pick out where you want them shaded and highligted. ( I usually do some other steps for shading at this point, holes in leaves etc. but I'm keeping it simple for you. Also when I add the joining portion of the centre leaf vein to the stem a tiny bit of dark shading at some spots only, agin I left that out on this basic tut. I also find by having individual leaves on each layer they can be twisted and bent with more precision, overlaped better etc. So there you have it that's why I don't use a brush! . ========================================================== so lets bend a few of them leaves ...not too many just about 3 to 4 max. I'm doing 2 just to show you two different ways. I chose leaf number duplicate of 4 to do first here is one method next lets do one on the other side I chose to just do the tip of number 2 here is another method to distort and bend there are other methods using other plugins but those two are real good basics . ============================================================ time to make the stem. add another trasparent layer I made my primary color 006800 brush size 20 (this varies by the amount of space you left when you arranged the leaves) make sure you leave a bit of space for the joiner stems now use the line tool. give it a bend. change the brush size down I used #9 and drew lines in from the leaf to join the stem. try to match these lines up with the veins running down the centre of the leaf . on the tip point leaf you need to draw in a "V" shap using a few lines to simulate the stem coming to a point to join the point leaf. do you not think that stem looks a bit flat, aren't they usually rounded. wand anywhere outside the stem and control + i add another transparent layer Effects.>Selection> Bevel Selection I did default depending on size of brush you used for stem adjust depth up or down. you need it to look like there is a ridge now merge down this bevel layer to the stem layer. did you forget how to merge? this is the button :MergeDown: remember it merges down so you should be on the bevel layer merging down to the main stem layer.! the next step is to get those two merged layers all the way down to the bottom under all the leaves. highlight your layer (the merged one) and use the blue arrow, until it is down at the bottom. refer to the picture. you need to end up with that merged layer under all the leaves. Now you can Image>flatten Last step Image > resize> by percentage 25% EDIT So I was asked by 007Nab (post below) to add a full size picture. I had flattened and resized at this point the original (used it for the title on this tut, up top those two leaves with shadow) So I just went ahead followed the tut, didn't do any of my other extra tweeks, other than doing a few more leaves, and adding a shadow and a background. If you wish to look at that one it is on my DA gallery here is the link http://omagrandmother.deviantart.com/art/leaf-98350845 I'll also be putting a copy of the big version in my gallery here at Paint.Net (after I have my morning coffee )++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

yes I do that now at times but it is really quite redundant to redo some pattern that is already there just to make it larger. Oh well maybe some day Rick can work more patterns and a size option in. would make explaining something to newbies a bit easier. ciao

yes you have my permission to use this one of time if you right clik the picture and save as .png you should be able to paste in a transparent layer. but I really think you should learn this its real easy. and will stand you in good stead for future projects. I won't be home much of today, but will work on a real quicky mini tut for you and post it in my gallery probably some time late tomorrow. you only have to make one leave and one stem then cut and paste and use the move button to resize etc. real quicky. keep in mind if you start turning or twisting and pasting this one set of leaves I posted in different angles your shading /shadows will be wonky another reason to learn how to do this. ciao

no problem. Welcome.

its actually a built in function in your tool bar after you clik it you will see the options just to the right. hover your mouse over them and you will see what each one is. edit sorry forgot to tell you to look for the :AllColorChannels: clik that and change to :AlphaChannel: thats the transparent gradiant he refers to. for future note these type of questions about a particular tutorial should be posted with the tut. That way anyone else having the same problem will find the answer along with the tut. but for now keep on drawing and hope to see what you complete in your own personal picture gallery some time soon. ciao OMA welcome to the forum.

thanks nab tends to remind me of my being swallowed by Moby Dick picture. same sort of color scheme. but done in a totally different manner. The use of strong linear hard looking gray and soft aqua curve combination works gives a good artistic tension. and a sad feel. I'm extremely pleased with this one. I'd been struggling with the flyaway building portion until I read the request for ideas on how to make sheared edges. That was the clicker on how to complete this picture using gravity, seismograph (spelled wrong I'm sure) and loads of bevels and releifs.

not sure if this is possible but is there any way that the size of the fill style can be made adjustable? similar to the drop down box for text perhaps? even just a large, medium, small version of the fills. or does anyone have workaround other than stretching canvas etc.

open your picture add a transparent layer draw your rounded rectangle on the transparent layer. clik inside that rectangle now move down to your picture layer control i hit the sissors button. now move back up to the layer where you drew the rounded rectangle and hit the x box on your layers box. (get rid of it) if you have checkerboard pattern outside your picture in rectangular shape that's what you want. save as a .png image then that squared portion around your picture is transparent. ciao

this is a lovely gallery :!: excellent work so far can not wait to see more fine art from you. although its a bit dark on the left side and the first letter seems to fade away (hard to make out) into the background... its still my fave. I like the concept of wood on wood, and the coloration of that wood is very rich looking. very well done indeed. ciao

sorry for double post but as its a new day here I thought new post was just fine. (whats up with the time of my posts ? its really early morning on the 17th and my previous post was late last night on the 16th? ) here is something I've been working on. 100% Paint.Net I've never experienced going thru a hurricane, but the pictures on the news have touched me deeply. I tried to capture what I thought the feel of powerful wind forcing water inland would look like. The breaking glass from the high rise buildings, pieces of the walls blowing away. Just general chaos of nature gone mad.. My gut impression tells me my fear would be so very overwhelming in this situation, I hope I managed to capture those thoughts in this abstract.

I can't recall any plug in that does this. personally I'd make that in a couple of layers. your background picture bottom then add layer . select just the top portion bucket fill the dark color, leaving the bottom transparent so your original picture shows. on the top layer just lasso and delete out thin strips along the bottom edge of the dark color. ciao OMA