RE-CONSTRUCTION PART I

( CLONE BRUSH TOOL )


So... you found the image you're looking for but not quite on the condition you want. Some parts of it are missing and probably the only thing that's left was the one that's keeping you from sending it into the can. Oh, ok... it's probably not that bad so go ahead and use it... OR read thru this tutorial and see if you can do something about it.

REQUIREMENTS: PSP6 or 7, some drawing skill, imagination, and (for the purpose of this tutorial) the cute "Anima" image used here. Click here to download the transparent PNG image

1. Open the "Anima1.png" image. On VIEW menu, click on RULER. On the TOOL pallet, click on MOVER tool > press the "O" key > set ZOOM to 2:1.
2. On the TOOL pallet, click on CLONE BRUSH TOOL and follow the settings shown on the left.

3. Right click on the area shown on the picture ONCE > Left click on it's adjacent side and drag the cursor up and down over the blank area. The method COPIES the existing part of the image onto the blank area starting from the first RIGHT CLICK. If you drag the cursor far enough, you might also copy part of the head, in which case you need to avoid.
4. On TOOL pallet, click on MAGIC WAND TOOL and follow these settings:

TOLERANCE=10,
FEATHER=1,
MATCH MODE=RGB

Click on Top Left (TRANSPARENT area) of the image.

5. Repeat steps 2 and 3 following the example shown on the left. Use your RULER as a guide for alignment.

NOTE: Because you're COPYING small, existing area on the right side of the image, you might need to RIGHT Click on this area several times until the transparent area on the left is entirely filled. My suggestion is to RIGHT click on the same spot where you did the first one and work on the TRANSPARENT area starting from left going to the right.
Now let see... At this point you should now have an image similar to the left. If not, go over the steps and check which part you missed. If you're doing OK so far, let's start workin' on the head. On to the next step...
6. On the TOOL pallet, click on FREEHAND TOOL and follow these settings:

TYPE=Point-to-point, FEATHER=1, ANTIALIAS=checked

Select the area shown on the image (dashed lines). Press "CTRL" + "C" to copy the selection > press "CTRL" + "L" to paste it as a new layer.

7. Press "CTRL"+"M" to mirror the layer (or flip it sideways). On LAYER MENU, click LAYER Properties > set BLEND MODE=Normal, OPACITY=30%. This is going to be your "hair reflection".

8. Press "CTRL"+"L" again then Press "CTRL"+"M". You should now have two "movable hair" layers....
9. On the TOOL pallet, click on MOVER TOOL. Move the two layers one at a time to the position shown on the left (like a jigsaw puzzle).

NOTE: My suggestion when positioning layers is to aim for symmetry rather than filling the gap. Make sure the head outline runs continously with the existing part of the image. You should be able to tell just by looking at it. Don't worry about the gap... we'll work on that on the next step.
10. On LAYER menu, click "ADD NEW RASTER LAYER". On the TOOL pallet, click FREEHAND TOOL (leave the setting as is) and try to close the "head gap" by following the outline similar to the image on the left. Click on INK DROPPER and hover the mouse over to the PINK-colored area of the hair and click it. Click on FLOOD FILL TOOL and click on the selected area (Marching ants area).

11. Click on INK DROPPER again and hover it over the area shown on the left > click that area. On the tool pallet, click on PAINT BRUSH TOOL and follow the settings on the left. Use the PAINT BRUSH on the selected area. Make sure there's a bit of the pink color exposed to outline the head.
12. For the reflection, hit "CTRL"+"C" > hit "CTRL"+"L". Click on DEFORMATION TOOL and drag the layer to the "gap" area. Expand the image to the size of gap by dragging the corners of DEFORMATION TOOL.

13. Click LAYER menu > Properties. Set BLEND MODE=Normal, OPACITY=30. Click LAYER menu again > Arrange > Move down.
14. And to finish it off, go to LAYER menu > "ADD NEW RASTER LAYER". On the tool pallet, click FREEHAND TOOL > select area similar to the image on the left. Click on INK DROPPER and hover to the area shown on the left > click on that area. Click on PAINT BRUSH TOOL and follow the settings on the left. Use the PAINT BRUSH on the selected area.

We're almost done...

COMPLETED HEAD
15. Now check your image and see if everything looks right. To finalize it, go to LAYER menu > "MERGE LAYERS (visible)". And you're done!
NOTE: This technique is relatively easy once you get used to it. The capability of such tools like CLONE BRUSH and FREEHAND SELECTOR will be even more appreciated in re-creating much complicated images and textures that can't be done by paintbrush or any other tools nor by cracking down the exact effects and plug-ins used on such images. Not saying it's better over the others though. All features of PSP and plug-ins have their own specific use and unique advantage over the other. It's up to you to find them out and put them in good use. It's all a matter of practice and patience.

I hope you learned something from this tutorial. GOOD LUCK! :)

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