Script | Creation Cassel

New script – Twisted Text

May 30, 2014May 30, 2014 by Cassel

Although we often like to have regularly placed and perfectly aligned text, on some occasions we really want something funky and irregular. Do you know how to place each letter individually to create a funky text?

One method will require you to type one letter at the time, and rotate it and move it. Then repeat for the second letter, and the third. It is not hard, but it is definitely time consuming especially if you have more than just a handful of letters.

The other method is to type your text, normally, and then go with Objects > Convert Text to Curves > As Character Shapes. This will separate individual characters and convert them to shapes. Although they would remain as vector objects, they lose their Text properties: you can no longer change the font.

Finally, the third method is using this PSP script. In fact, the script will use the first method for you but much much faster. You can choose any text (any length), any font, any color (or even a gradient or a pattern), you choose how much rotation and displacement you want, and if you want to have the colors (in case you picked more than one) to appear in sequence (like in the alphabet in the preview) or in random order (like in the “Suzanne” of the preview).

Each letter is left, at the end, as individual vector objects, and still as text so you can, if you want, change the font for one or some letters/characters. You can also change the colors if you want or rearrange the letters. In fact, you can just use the randomly rotated letters and place them all around your layout if you prefer; no need to keep them in line either!

Grab this time saving script and have fun with Twisted Text.

If you want to learn how to create that kind of effect, manually (hopefully for only a handful of letters) and other fun text tricks, check out the Texting Again Master Class in the Scrapbook Campus.

New script – Worn overlay

January 19, 2021May 16, 2014 by Cassel

I have looked through my stash of overlays and although i have a pretty good number of them, i always feel like i don’t have the one i want. I have lots of standard size and shape ones, but they are a bit awkward to use on a different shape element, especially if the edges are worn too.

So this script for Paintshop Pro was created. It will use any shape you have, any size. This means that you can have a photo in an odd format, you can have a frame, you can even have individual letters for an alpha and the script will create something exactly for that shape.

And with the random feature, every run will give you something different, even for the same starting element. Isn’t that fun? That means that if the script gives you a particular overlay and you don’t like it, simply undo it, and run it again, and you will get something else. Repeat until you have something you like. It is so fast, that you can run the script 10 times in the time it would take you to create a single overlay, manually.

Grab this script in my store: Worn Overlay script.

See a couple of examples of other results, one with a photo and one with a simple arrow to be use in a project.

Let’s have a closer look at what this script can create. I started with a simple tag shape, in grey. I left it in vector format as the script knows what to do with it (meaning, if it is a vector, it converts it to a raster to continue). I ran the script 4 times on the same image. Since the image was less than 1000x1000 pixels, it worked on a resized version of the image (because the effect, done on a smaller image is not as good). However, the script is smart enough to resize the overlay once it is created so it will match the starting element.

On 3 runs, i asked to have an obviously worn border, so you can see the white edge. On the last run, i chose not to have an obvious border. It still adds a faint edge in some spots, but it is definitely not as obvious as the other three!

All four overlays AND the base tags are included in the zip file, so you can use the tag shape as a template and just layer the overlay. Then, it is up to you how you want to “merge” them. Depending on the color or pattern of the tag, you can darken the overlays and make them black, or you can use a blend mode. Also, since they all fit on the same shape, you can even layer more than one overlay for an even more tattered look!

You need to be logged in to download this sample. You can either login, or register on the top of this page.

(if the link is not active, just login or register on the top of the page).

The download link will only be available for a limited time.

New script – Wrapped Frame–Round

May 3, 2014May 2, 2014 by Cassel

A few years ago, i wrote a tutorial on how to create a wrapped frame effect with Paintshop Pro. It is a fairly simple tutorial, but it is a long process, and requires precision.

Although you can surely do that yourself, using a tutorial in the Creative Scrap Course, you might also want the convenience and speed of using a script instead.

This is what i came up, when i was looking at that tutorial. You can use ANY ribbon you have, whether it is wide or thin, opaque or translucent, plain or patterned, or even if you are using a directional design on it (like that measuring tape in the preview).

But you are not limited to only one-size-fits-all type of frame. You can choose a frame from 400 pixels in diameter for a tiny photo to a 3000 pixels frame for a whole page. Furthermore, you can have a thin frame or a thick one. But you think that is all? Think again. You can also have the ribbons overlapping, to wrap the frame almost completely, or leave some obvious space between the ribbons for a totally different effect. Do you want the ribbons to look like they are around a thick base? Add a bevel. The script will also add a drop shadow to all the pieces if you want. Most of the time, that will be your choice, but in case you want to manipulate the end result more, maybe have some flipped ends, or something like that, you can skip the shadow step and add them yourself afterward.

And yes, since all the layers are left unmerged, you still have a lot of options to manipulate and tweak them to create something really custom.

The base frame is even left in there also for you to possibly use it as a template to create something else.

See what i did with the same frame:

What else could be done? Your imagination can go wild with this!

Grab this fun time saving script: the Wrapped Frame – Round script.

Did you ever wrap a frame with a ribbon like this? Tell me in this thread in the Happy Place for a chance to win it. I’ll be back next week with the name of a winner.

This week, i wanted to give you a little challenge.

In the newsletter, i will include this layered ribbon wrapped frame, in grey scale. It will be up to you to turn this “ordinary” looking frame into a piece of art.

It is fairly big (2000 pixels wide) so you will have plenty of room to do something cool. I saved it in PSD format, so all the non-PSP users can also get into the fun of it.

What can you do with it? Here are some ideas:

- colorize the layers (all or some)

- remove some layers to make room for something else

- use the base template to create a prettier base

- add decorative elements to the whole project, like a cluster

- resize copies of the frame to layer them

What else will you do? Make sure you check the newsletter tomorrow morning so you can work on this challenge and show us your result. You can post it on our Facebook page, in a comment below, or just send it to me by email and i can post it either in the store or the newsletter.

Time to have fun!

New script – Engraved Rocks

April 17, 2021April 18, 2014 by Cassel

Whether you want to add a date, a name, an event or simply an inspirational quote, this script will help you create these elements in just a few seconds.

You can start with any single word, phrase, number or even a design and the script will create a rock based on the size of that text (or design). You can use any size you want and the end result will be about one an a half time the width of the text. Beware that very large image will be slower to create.

Since the script will create a DIFFERENT rock every time, maybe you have some preferences for lighter rocks or darker ones, or specific shapes might look better. Ask the script to create more than one (you can ask for as many as 20) and you can pick and choose which one you want to keep.

As a bonus, for each engraved rock the script creates, it will also generate a blank version of it. This will allow you to possibly “paint” something else on the rock or just have a blank one for another project.

Grab this inspirational script of Engraved Rocks in the store.

Do you want a chance to win this script? Head over to the Happy Place and tell me of one word you would like to see in a rock that you would use. Next week, i will draw for a winner, but not only that, EVERYONE who will post with their one word, will get an inspirational rock made with that word. So, you don’t even have to be a Paintshop Pro user to get a rock!

This week, i thought i could do something traditional, yet a little different. I created a series of 3 rocks with some common words “Live”, “Love” and “Laugh”, but i thought of adding a little twist by also creating a “Scrap” rock!

Each rock is around 500-600 pixels wide.

What do you think? This set of rocks will be sent out in the newsletter this weekend. Are you subscribed yet?

If not, subscribe now.

New script – Folded Edge

April 5, 2014April 4, 2014 by Cassel

Creating a folded edge on papers, photos or mats can add a definite 3D effect, but it is not always easy to do.

If you are using templates, with each folded piece on a separate layer, you can probably get away with using a plain type of paper, however, as soon as you want to use a patterned paper, or something directional, the templates will not give a realistic result.

Creating the folds manually is one way to get the correct angles on the patterns, but it is quite tedious to match the angles whether you are using the Pick tool or the Rotate function. But, yes, it can be done.

However, using this script will make the whole process much faster and more accurate.

You can use a single paper, and have it fold on itself with both sides being identical or you can pretend you have a two-sided paper, by using two different papers layered on top of each other before you run the script.

The folds will also be custom made. You will choose how many folds you will have, where they will be and how deep they will be because you will place the dots where you want, and the script will execute the commands based on those dots. You can have as many dots as you want, anywhere you want, for a custom look.

You can get this Folded Edge script in the store.

See how this script works:

Do you want a chance to win this script? Check out this thread. Tell me how you would create a folded edge if you didn’t have the script. I’ll be back next week with the name of a winner.

See what can be done with a photo and a slightly patterned paper as the “backing”:

What i did was open a large photo, and added a greyish paper on the layer below. I ran the script on one edge (the top one) first. Then, because it made for a lot of layers and because i was fairly happy with the default shadowing, i hid the photo and paper layers and merged the visible layers. That gave me one layer for all the top folds.

Then, i moved the photo and paper layers on top of the layer palette and ran the script for the right edge. Again, i merged all the little pieces for the right edge making sure i didn’t merge the ones from the top. This allowed me to erase the little bit that extended beyond the right edge (the script didn’t know i had run it on another edge before).

Then, i repeated the same thing for the other two edges. Finally, i just moved the photo below all the folded edge layers.

What do you think?

New script – Ribbon Tag Corners

January 19, 2021March 28, 2014 by Cassel

In traditional paper scrapbooking, what would you do with small bits and pieces of ribbons? I am sure you can think of many things you could do. In fact, i saw someone create fun little corners with ribbons and i figured it would be interesting to have a script to randomly select ribbons, cut pieces and a arrange them more or less like a corner and add a fastener.

I know, it is easy to cut two pieces of ribbons, and layer them together. But it is so much more fun to have the option to have 10 of them created in one run, all different and simply pick our favorite.

With this script, you can choose to have as many starting ribbons as you want, and you can create up to 10 corners at once. You also have 3 fastener options: brads, eyelets or staples. For the brads and eyelets, you can choose the color or pattern you want so it is easy to have something that matches the actual ribbons you are using, or you can have a metallic pattern for them too. If you choose staples, there are some staples that come from Rachael’s Scraps, included in the script. Or you can also choose to have no fastener added by the script so you can add your own, like a button, a gem, stitching, or any other element you have in your stash.

You can grab this fun Ribbon Tag Corners script in my store.

You have a chance to win this script for free by adding your name to this thread in the forum. I’ll be back next week with the name of a winner.

As a sample of what you can do with this script, i have this one. I started with 3 ribbons from Rachael’s and generated 5 corners. I only picked one to work with.

First, i chose the eyelet as a fastener and used a gold pattern instead of a solid color. I think it turned out pretty good.

I added shadows on separate layers for the ribbons and using the Warp Brush, i tweaked the shadows on the ends of the ribbons to give the impression that they were lifted.

For the eyelet, i thought it would be cool to imagine that the ribbons were thick and the eyelet was very tight so i selected a circle almost as large as the eyelet itself, inverted the selection and then, on the top ribbon, i added a wide inner bevel. That is what gives that impression that the ribbon is “indented” by the eyelet. Isn’t that a cool effect?

You need to be logged in to download this sample. You can either login, or register on the top of this page.

New script – Stitched Edges 2

January 19, 2021February 28, 2014 by Cassel

If you love the look of stitching around the edge of elements, letters and shapes, you will LOVE this script. It is using a simple tube to create the stitching, and another tube for the holes.

Using any vector shape, you will just run a free script (that you’ll have to download separately) and follow the steps. The script integrates various options, like the width of the edge, the puffiness, the texture of the element and even the color of the stitching as it will colorize it for you. However, in the end, you will have unmerged layers, so you can tweak the color further, or add other details to the element, like shading, stains, or other printing.

Use preset shapes or draw your own. It is also great to create alpha in a (almost) single operation.

The zip file includes the thread and hole tubes that you can also use separately, in other projects.

You can grab this Stitched Edges 2 script in my store.

If you want a chance to win this script, check out this thread in the Happy Place and tell me what element you can think would really use some stitching around. I’ll be back next week with the name of a winner.

For this week, i decided to play with the idea of creating a whole alpha in one run with this script. I started with the digits (as there were fewer elements in the end). On a large image, i typed in the digits in white. I had to adjust the kerning to make sure the letters would not touch each other when the edge was added. Then, i ran the script. Everything went smoothly from there. I added the texture that came with the Clothes Label script to give a more “fabric” texture to those puffy digits.

Once the whole set of 10 digits was done, sewn and puffed, i just used the Alpha Sheet Separator script to cut out, and save all the individual files. That took less than one minute!

You need to be logged in to download this sample. You can either login, or register on the top of this page.

With the speed and ease of doing this set of digits, i could not help myself than repeat the process with the full alpha! And you can get it in the newsletter. If you have not yet subscribed, fill out the form on the left.

News from the Campus

This month, the live presentation will be about directional tubes. Do you know about those? Do you know what they are? Did you ever use them? Although you might know that Picture tubes are unique to Paintshop Pro, you will love to learn that the directional tubes are so much more powerful!

Join us this Sunday, March 2nd, at 5pm Eastern Time.

New script – Custom Playing Cards

January 19, 2021February 21, 2014 by Cassel

You can be an Ace, or a King or a Queen all you want with this fun script. Although you could, conceivably have a separate template for all 52 cards of a deck, this script will just do the cards you want without the need to search for the correct template.

You can have four of a kind, or a full house, or a royal flush in hand.

Just pick the value and the suit for the card and the script will create it. Then, open the photo you want to display and the script will take care of resizing it, and will create a mask for you so you can actually SEE what it looks like as you can move, resize or rotate your image in that “space”. If the image is higher than the card, the script will resize it. If your image is in a landscape format, you will get the option to either keep the full height of the image or to use two halves of the central space.

You can get this fun script and create your own Custom Playing Cards in the store.

For a chance to win this script, check outthis thread in the DST forum and add your name to the thread. Also, remember to give me an idea on how you could use this script for something OTHER than a game theme project.

For this week, i decided to give you a template for 4 aces. I am sure you can enjoy havnig 4 aces up your sleeve, right?

Each card is full size, meaning 900 x 1300 pixels and has a separate layer for the center image. Since it is saved in a PSD format, you don’t have to have Paintshop Pro to use it.

What will you display with those cards? Four loves of your life? Four places you have visited? Four children or siblings? Maybe four seasons of the same location? Or four funny faces you have of yourself (or someone else)?

You can use one card or all four too.

You need to be logged in to download this sample. You can either login, or register on the top of this page.

New script – Custom Directional Tube

January 19, 2021February 14, 2014 by Cassel

Do you know about directional tubes in Paintshop Pro? They are such convenient tools that can work for you in creating unique elements. Unlike “ordinary” tubes, the directional ones will allow you to place a simple tube either following the cursor move, like a line of footsteps, arrows, etc., or in a regular sequence where each individual image would be selected and placed one after the other in the same exact order, to make a repeatable pattern or picked randomly among the numerous images created.

Although it is easy to create your own directional tube, it can be time consuming, especially when you create over 100 images.

This script will do all the tedious work for you, while allowing you much flexibility in the creation of your tube. You can have a series of as few as 9 individual images or as many as 400.

Start with any small image (it would take a lot of resources if you are using a large image to start with, especially if you want a lot of rotated images), answer a few prompts and watch it. You can add an overall bevel or shadow to all the images after they are rotated so it would be all consistent when applied.

You can get this time saving script in my store: Custom Directional Tube.

Do you want to create your own tubes too? Check out the Happy Place thread where you can add your name for a chance to win this script.

As a sampler, i created some simple journaling cards. I simply used the little footsteps directional tube that i created for the preview above and drew a straight line with it. I could have made a curved line that would have shown the rotated steps, but i really felt it was taking too much space on the cards.

You can use those cards for baby milestones, but also for any new step you might be taking in your life, for documenting personal journeys, places you visited, and more.

Each card is 3x4 inch so they would fit in regular pocket page projects if you want.

They are also large enough for you to cut them into tags if you prefer.

You get 5 basic colors.

You need to be logged in to download this sample. You can either login, or register on the top of this page.

New Script – Worn & Glow

January 19, 2021January 17, 2014 by Cassel

Everyone likes a little distressed look on some project once in a while. The proof is that there are lots of filters one can purchase to create that look. With this script in Paintshop Pro, you can create a distressed look on any line drawing with just a few clicks. You get to choose if you want a little bit of distress, or a lot or something in-between. In addition, since there is a random feature integrated inside the code, you will get a slightly different distressed pattern for every run.

Many years ago, i bought a kind of a gel pen (probably among the first kinds) and the ink seemed to include some “oil” that would seep out of the ink giving a colored glow around where i would draw. Kind of a neat effect that i added to this script, as an option.

So you can get the distressed look with or without a colored glow around and if you want the glow, you also pick the color.

Although the script works best with line drawing, you can definitely apply it to a photo or another element like a drawn embellishment.

Don’t waste your time trying to use the eraser tool all over your design, grab this time saving Worn & Glow script.

Do you want a chance to win this script? I am sure you do! Simply answer the simple question in the Happy Place thread HERE and one winner will be picked next week.

What would you want to get this week, as a sampler? I thought you might be tired of alphas (although that was my first idea when i was thinking of a sample), so i created some labels. Whether you are doing a project 365 or not, sometimes, you might want to add the days of the week to your layout. That is why i created those day tags. I just used the distressed part of the script and didn’t add any glow. I am also including a blank tag so you can add a date or something else (even unrelated to the days of the week).

Each tag is about 750 pixels wide so they are large enough to be used in full size layout, but they are also easy to size down if you want them more discrete on your project.

You can use them on chore charts, calendar, to-do lists, etc.

You need to be logged in to download this sample. You can either login, or register on the top of this page.

Did you grab the set of digits as a free sampler last week? You can still go get it in the post right below this one. And there is the matching LOWERCASE alpha that was available in the newsletter last week. Did you get it? This week, the matching UPPERCASE alpha will be linked, FREE, in the newsletter.

Subscribe to the store newsletter HERE to get it (and you can always go back one issue to grab the matching lowercase alpha too… shhh).

How about a coupon for the store? Are you interested? Give me your suggestions for future products in the store (scripts, fonts, tubes, etc.) in THIS BLOGPOST. I got several emails with suggestions, but if you post them in the comments of that blog post, those suggestions will count as entries for the random draw. That means, the more suggestions you give, the more entries you get. Who doesn’t like a coupon for a free product?

And while you are there, click on the FB Like button so you can share with your friends. They might have good ideas too. And remember, if they add suggestions, it means there will be more coupons drawn, which will increase your chance to win too!