How To CG

Learn how to make CGs quickly and easy with some useful tips.

First of all, I'll be using Paint Shop Pro 9. Any other version is PSP look pretty much the same so you won't have any trouble following.
Paint Shop Pro isn't the only program you use to make computer graphics. Adobe Photoshop is a pretty good one too.

Step 1: Open up your program. Select File ť New to create an image. You can put in any size. I always prefer working on a bigger image like 400x400 px with a transparent background, that way, I'm sure I won't run out of space when drawing and I will be able to put a nice background afterwards. Be sure to think on something you would like to make. On this tutorial, I'll be making a smiling bear head.

Step 2: Click on the pen tool

to draw. You can also use the shape tool

which is good for beginners but it doesn't always look good.

Step 3: Now it's time to choose the colours.

A: It's the colour of the outline.
B: It's the inline colour. It doesn't need to be a lighter colour then the outline but in my opinion, it looks better like that.
C: By clicking on it, there are more functions.

The first one(top) is for the colour.
The second one(middle) is to have gradient instead (example; white to red).
The third one(bottom)to have a pattern.
D: It's to add a texture to the colour.
E: Makes the colour transparent instead.

Step 4: After choosing the colour(s) you want to use, it's time to draw. But first, you need to choose a mode.

a: It's the edit mode
b: It's the knife mode; to cut pieces
c: This is to draw perfect straight lines
d: This is to make curves. Very useful to makes leaves when drawing flowers, etc.
e: This is to be able to draw freehand. It lets you draw any shapes.
I'll be using the Freehand mode (e)
In this step, I'll be drawing the head of the bear.

Step 5: My head came out like this:

It isn't that much pretty but here's a tip:
When I draw, there's always one side that is prettier then the other. What I do is that I copy the side where it's better with the selection tool

. After that, I paste it on the image then I use the mirror fonction (Image ť Mirror) so that it'll be the other side. After that, I move it till it looks fine. This is my result:

What I need to do now is to erase the part that isn't the head with the eraser tool

. Don't forget to play around with the eraser size, opacity and hardness!
When finishing erasing, this is my result:

Step 6: Now we need to add the ears, eyes and mouth to the bear.
Make a new layer (Layers ť New Raster Layer...). Use the pen tool to draw and play around.
Here are some tips when drawing the...
Ears: Use the shape tool with a round shape to make the ears. It'll be faster and easier. But you can also use the pen tool as well.
Eyes: You can use the shape tool or the airbrush

to make round eyes.
Mouth & anything else: The pen tool is your friend ;)

This is what my bear looks like with the eyes, mouth and ears:

Step 7: When you are satisfied enough with your drawing, you'll have to save it. Since my image is 400x400 px, it's kinda big so I took the selection tool and selected the part where I want to save.

Step 8: Paste your selected image as a new image. (Edit ť Paste ť Paste As New Image). Now you save your image! You can save it as a .png or .gif.

If you want to have a border on your CG, click here.
If you want your CG to be transparent, click here.

This is my way/style of CGing. There are tons of other way, some that can be more easy. You might not get the perfect result the first time. Just keep on practicing and finding your own style.

I hope this tutorial was helpful for you! You can always contact me if you have any questions and/or suggestions. :)

Copying and stealing anything from here is not allowed.