ŠLady TX/Midnite Design 2001
Welcome to the Wooden Uncle Sam tutorial. This tutorial was written using Paint Shop Pro 7. The background was created using a tutorial written by a member of the FlyByNightGraphics group of which I am a member. It makes a great and easy country background. You can find the tutorial at this url: http://www.theplace.hispeed.com/easy_country_background.html. Thanks Suzanne.
You won't need any extra filters for this tutorial. I used a tube for the flag if you would like to use it or you can make your own. I have selections for all of Uncle Sam's parts or if you are friendly with your selection tool or vectors you can create his parts all on your own. All of the selections can be moved around where you want them after you flood fill the selection. You can get the zip with the flag and Uncle Sam's parts here. I hope you have fun with this tutorial... ;o)
Here is the color code for Uncle Sam.
1. Open a new transparent image 400 X 400. Add new layer. Load the arm selection and flood fill with the cream color. With the arm still selected, hold down the ctrl key and make a rectangle selection starting at the top of the arm and going down to where you want the sleeve of his shirt to start and then let go of the ctrl key.
2. Fill this new selection with white, this is his shirt sleeve. Then apply a drop shadow with these settings:
V = -1, H = 0, Opa = 21, Blur = 4.9
3. With the white still selected repeat the above step by holding down the ctrl key and drawing a rectangle from the top of the arm to where you want the coat sleeve to start.
4. Fill this new selection with the blue and apply the same drop shadow.
5. Now select none, then select all and float image. Apply an inner bevel with these settings.
6. Select none. Duplicate the layer and image/flip. This is his other arm. Move it over to the right. You will be placing it in position later.
7. Select none. Add new layer and load the hat selection. Flood fill the hat with blue and apply the inner bevel with the same settings. Select none.
8. Make the background white and go to the preset shapes and make your star on the hat. Convert to raster layer. Apply the inner bevel with the same settings.
You should have something like this now.
9. Add new layer and load the face selection. Flood fill with the cream color.
10. Add new layer and apply a cutout with the settings below.
11. Add new layer and apply a cutout with the same settings except the vertical and horizontal should be -2.
12. Turn off visibility for all layers except the face layer and the two layers with cutouts and merge all visible layers. Rename the merged layer "face" if it helps you keep things organized.
13. Move this layer under the hat layer. Select none.
14. At this point you can paint in his face, mustache, beard, and hair. I have left this part up to you to make him look like whatever you want.
15. Add new layer and load the bowtie selection. Flood fill with the red color and apply the same inner bevel. Select none.
16. Move this layer under the face layer.
17. Go to your layer palette and highlight the layer under the bowtie. Add new layer naming it shirt. Load the shirt selection and flood fill with white. Apply the same inner bevel. Select none.
18. Go to your layer palette and highlight the layer under the bowtie and add new layer naming it vest. Load the vest selection and flood fill with red. Apply the same inner bevel. Apply a drop shadow with the following settings. Select none.
You should be here now.
19. Go to your layer palette and highlight the layer under the bowtie layer and add new layer naming it left suitcoat. Load the lft suitcoat selection and flood fill with blue. Apply the same inner bevel. Apply the drop shadow. Select none.
20. Go to your layer palette and highlight the layer under the bowtie and add new layer naming it right suitcoat. Load the rgt suitcoat selection and flood fill with blue. Apply the same innter bevel. Apply the drop shadow. Select none.
21. Go to your layer palette and highlight the layer under the vest layer. Add new layer and name it pants. Duplicate this layer and apply the cutout as before. Duplicate this layer and apply the cutout as before changing the vertical and horizontal.
22. Add a new layer on top of your duplicated layer naming it leg divider and using your draw tool, draw a brown line (point-to-point, width 1, no vector) down the middle of his pants to separate his legs. Go to effects/blur/average/filter aperture = 3.
23. Add a new layer on top of your leg divider layer and name it stripes. Using your draw tool and the red color draw stripes on his pants. Go to effects/blur/average and apply the blur.
24. Add a new layer and name it shoes. Load the shoe selection and flood fill with black. Apply an inner bevel with these settings.
25. Apply another inner bevel with these settings.
Select none.
26. Make a new layer under all of your Uncle Sam naming it arm holder. Load the arm holder selection and flood fill with blue. Move your arm holder and the two arms into a position that you like.
27. I had to merge visible layers at this point and move my Uncle Sam down in order to make room for the flag.
28. Make a new layer under the left arm and put in the tube of the flag. Move it into position.
29. Give him some buttons on his shirt and his vest.
That's it folks. Hope you had fun. ;o) ... Lady TX
