My Cat Tutorial

My Cat Tutorial Tutorial & Graphics ŠP & M Computing written by IvyRoses Nov 20, 2000. We hope you enjoy this tutorial. Please do not "mirror", place in a collection, or sell this tutorial. Please e-mail me before adding this tutorial to "group/ club" lists. Thank You. This tutorial was made for psp7 users with basic knowledge.
Step 1: Open a new image 300 x 300 transparent.
Step 2: Create a new layer. Select your preset shapes. Scroll down to tan button 027. (You will be using this button to make all 4 paws the body and the head.) We are going to make the paws first on layer 2. You want a nice rounded medium sized circle. Once you have one that you like go to the layer palette and right click on layer 2. Select duplicate. You need to do this 3 times. Now you have all 4 paws created. You need to position 2 paws around the middle of the graphic. You need to place the other 2 paws close to the bottom. Make sure to leave some room for the tail.
Step 3: Time to create the body. Make a new layer. You want to make an oval using the same shape we used for the paws. You also want the oval to be long enough to reach both sets of paws. You can get away with having the body being just a little short or long. (You will just need to move the paws layers.) In the layers palette you want to turn off the drop shadow on the body. Now you need to move the body layer behind the paws layers.
Step 4: Lets make the head. Make a new layer and make a round circle. This circle needs to be a little bit larger than the circles used for the paws. You need to move this layer behind the paws layer as well.
Step 5: We are going to create the ears. These will all be done by freehand. Make a new layer. Take your eyedropper and select the light brown shade from the middle of our cat body. Now click on the paintbrush. You want your outline to be about 3 pixels. Using the paintbrush make a curved v shape around the top of the head. Now increase the size of the paintbrush by 2 more pixels and paint the inside. This will be your ear. Go to the layer palette and duplicate. Go to image and select mirror. Now just drag your ear into place.
Step 6: The tail is also made by freehand. Make a new layer and select the paintbrush. You want your brush size to be 8 to 10 pixels. My tail is somewhat u shaped. When you have the shape you are happy with fill it in. Then go to effects 3d and select outer bevel. You want the width=12, depth=20, intensity=50, elevation=30 and the angle at 315. This will give your tail a nice puffy look.
Step 7: Creating the fur. Make a new layer. This new layer needs to be at the top of the list in the layer palette. Use the eyedropper and select the light shade from your tail. We will use this to highlight the cat. Using the airbrush tool, at about 8 pixels, spray the lighter tone on the layer using your cat parts as a pattern. For a more blended look select the retouch tool. Have it set to soften and run it over the entire layer keeping your strokes within the cat body. Now you need to go to effects and select texture fur. Settings: Blur: 16, density: 76, length: 11, and transparency: 85.
Step 8: Finishing your cat face. Go to your preset shapes. Select button 035. Using this button we are going to make the cheeks and eyes. Make a new layer. Using the shape tool make a small circle. Duplicate the layer. Move one layer so it overlaps the other slightly. Go to layers and merge. Now select your paintbrush. On your color chart select and lock down the color you want for the eyes. You want your brush to be set at about 3 pixels. Then you need to make your 2 drops. Now your eyes are done. Now for the cheeks: Make a new layer. Using your shape tool make a circle just a little bit bigger than the eyes. Duplicate the layer and move the new layer so it slightly overlaps the other layer. With your eyedropper tool select a light color from your cat. Lightly paint the color on the cheek layers. For a more blended look select the retouch tool. Have it set to soften and run it over the entire layer keeping your strokes within the cat body. Now you need to go to effects and select texture fur. Settings: Blur: 16, density: 76, length: 11, and transparency: 85.
Step 9: Merge your layers. Using your paintbrush on 3 paint in your whiskers, and paw prints. Now you cat is complete and ready to be saved.