Welcome! This tutorial is to learn how to make a metal paper clip using Corel Paintshop Pro (PSP).  I am using version XI, but you should be able to adapt to other versions.  This is my first tutorial, so I hope this helps you :0)  I want to thank Nora and Susie from my Yahoo group for trying out this tutorial and letting me know their thoughts and results!

Step 1: Download the Paperclip font at http://www.searchfreefonts.com/fonts/p5.htm  It will be in the middle of the page.  Unzip it, then double click on it to open it.  Then you can minimize it (don't close it).  You might already have a paperclip font in your collection, just make sure the letter i looks like a real paperclip shape.

Step 2: Download this ZIP FILE  Unzip it and you will have all my screen shots, in case you need to see larger sized pictures.

Step 3: Open your Paint Shop Pro

Step 4:  Open a NEW image.

Step 5:  You're going to make up what size you want.  I made mine 2 inches by 2 inches at 300 ppi.  You want a nice sized one for your layouts.  You can always make it smaller if needed without ruining your quality.  But if you have a smaller one and want to make it bigger, you will lose some quality.

Step 6:  Here is your new "layer".  Just like in regular scrapbooking, you will have layers :0)

Step 7:  Click on your text tool.  Mine is on the left side of my screen, but depending how you have yours set up, yours might be in a different spot.  It will have the letter "A".

Step 8:  Now you will want to choose your font - "Paperclip".  A quick way to get to the "P's" is to click on your font dialog box and type in "P" or "PA" this will take you right there, rather than scrolling around.  Some people have hundreds of fonts downloaded, so this is a quick way to get to the one you want. You will want to make your size at 150 if you did the 2 inches by 2 inches image.

Step 9:  You want to change the color of your BACKGROUND to a nice gray.  To do this go to your MATERIALS palette and click on the BOTTOM RIGHT color box.  This is your Background, the Top Left one is your Foreground.  If you don't see the Materials palette, then you can go to the very top Toolbar towards the left side and click on VIEW - PALETTES - MATERIALS. I chose the one right above white.

Step 10:  Now your curser should have a cross and an A.  Click in the middle of your new image and type a small case letter i. It's ok if it's not centered, we'll fix that :0)

Step 11:  There's a couple ways to move your object (paperclip).  We're going to go to your "move" tool.  It's on the same toolbar as your font tool was.  Mine is the second one from the top. Once you click on this your curser will change to the cross with arrows on the ends to match.  Put your curser on top of your paperclip and move it so it all shows.

Step 12:  We need to make this a RASTER layer, right now it's a VECTOR layer.  To do this, right click on the layer that has your paper clip on it (top layer).  and choose CONVERT TO RASTER LAYER.

Step 13:  Go to the very top toolbar and choose EFFECTS then 3D EFFECTS then INNER BEVEL. I'm using the following presets, but you can always play on your own! Bevel is the round one Width is 8 Smoothness is 50 Depth is 50 Ambience is 100 Shininess is 0 Angle is 320 Intensity is 50 Elevation is 30 Color  - this is where the fun begins!  Whatever color you want your paperclip, choose a color from your pallette or just play around.  If you want a regular silver one, then choose a medium gray (R = 192, B = 192, G = 192 or your html code is #c0c0c0).  Again the fun thing is to play with choosing different colors!  Red, blue, green, teal, pink whatever your imagination brings :0) Now if you like your preset, it's always a good idea to save it, so you don't have to write anything down or try to remember it. To do this, look at where my curser is on the above picture. The button looks like a disk. Click on it and it will give you a box to name it. I always put an @ sign so my favorites are always on the top of the list.  When you want to use one of your presets, you just click on the down arrow next to the text.  Again, look at the above picture.  The arrow is to the right of the box that says @paperclip.  When you click on this arrow, it will give you the list of all your presets!

Step 14:  We're just about done!  Before we save our new creation, we want to get rid of all that extra space around our paperclip.  To do this we're going to go up to the very top toolbar and choose EDIT then COPY.  Then go back to EDIT and choose PASTE AS NEW IMAGE.  Much better! This not only makes your file size smaller, but will be nicer when you go to use it. Now on the original image (the one with the empty space) click on the top right corner X.  When it asks if you want to save it, say no.  We want to save the new one without all that empty space.

Step 15:  Now to save your work.  Go to the very top toolbar and choose FILE - EXPORT - PNG OPTIMIZER These are the settings I use: Under the COLORS tab check 16.7 MILLION. Under the TRANSPARENCY tab check ALPHA CHANNEL TRANSPARENCY and EXISTING IMAGE OR LAYER TRANSPARENCY. Under the FORMAT tab, check the NON INTERLACED. I don't mess with the other tabs :0) It will automatically save as a PNG file, you just have to name it and tell it where you want it saved.

You just made a paperclip!  Remember to have fun and play around with settings.  If you don't like something there's always that wonderful UNDO button!  I hope you found this tutorial helpful.  I'm thinking part 2 should be to erase a part of your paperclip when you add it to your layout :0)

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Thanks and have fun!