Introduction In
this tutorial, I provide the shortcut keys and menu selector key
combinations. The convention is:
Ctrl-Alt-U = This means
all keys are pressed at the same time. First press Ctrl, then add Alt,
then add U.
Alt>I>T = This is
a menu selector combo (they always start with Alt). You can press Alt and
release it, press I and release it, then press T and release it. They
need not all be pressed at the same time, but must be pressed in the order
shown. The > symbol is the indicator that it's a key
sequence.
The lessons will be presented as a series
of operations using the keyboard, with the effect name to the side. There
are other means to the same end, but this will help familiarize you with the
keyboard operations. Setup will be presented in the first part, and all
operations will use a 256 x 256 image unless otherwise noted. All effects
will use defaults, except where indicated.
NOTE - Ctrl-Z is the standard
Windows 'Undo'. sTile is capable of several levels of Undo,
and it can be executed with the Ctrl-Z shortcut or thru the Edit menu.
Undo can also be done via the toolbox undo button.
Lesson
1
A Marble texture will be created in this step, and will be used in
subsequent lessons. It's straightforward, and provides a good color for
texture mapping operations.
Gradient: Default (VertCenter, Navy/Aqua)
Alt>G>P |
Paste Gradient to Image (or double-click on the
gradient) |
Ctl-Alt-S |
Seamless Rotate |
Ctl-D |
SineWave U/D |
Ctl-X |
SineWave Both |
Ctl-F3 |
Marble |
Ctl-C |
Copy to Clipboard |
---- |
---- Additional variation: |
Ctl-N |
Negative |
Ctl-O |
(repeat twice) Color Rotate (Value of 8) |
Ctl-C |
Copy to Clipboard |
You should have an image similar to this
Lesson 2
Texture #1 - This lesson shows the basics of image manipulation
to create a good 'texture' base. It assumes that you have an
image in the clipboard suitable for texture mapping. See lesson
1.
Gradient: Default
Alt>G>P |
Paste gradient to image |
Ctl-Alt-X |
Rotate 90 |
Ctl-E |
SineWave L/R |
Ctl-E |
SineWave L/R |
Ctl-D |
SineWave U/D |
Ctl-E |
SineWave L/R |
Alt>B>C |
Copy Image to Buffer |
Ctl-V |
Paste Clipboard to Image |
Ctl-F2 |
Map Texture (Use buffer, then OK) |
Alt>I>T |
Test image as wallpaper |
Your work space should now resemble this
Texture #2 - Another texture base, but a bit more
complicated. This gets into more of the controls, and demonstrates the
User Input area. It also demonstrates how to use undo as a shortcut to
expose User Input controls without using the treeview.
Gradient: Default
Alt>G>P |
Paste gradient to image |
Ctl-Alt-S |
Rotate Seamless |
Ctl-L |
Mirror L/R |
Alt>I>S>F |
4way flip (image doubles in size) |
Ctl-R |
Smooth Resize (to 256 by 256) |
Ctl-X |
SineWave Both |
Ctl-Z |
Undo SineWave Both (user input area now shows the controls for
sinewave both) |
Edit |
Change the Peaks U/D to 2, and change the Peaks U/D Height to
90 |
Click |
The 'Execute' button for SineWave Both |
Ctl-D |
Sinewave U/D |
Alt>B>C |
Copy to Buffer |
Ctl-V |
Paste Clipboard to image |
Ctl-F2 |
Map Texture (Use buffer, then OK) |
Alt>I>T |
Test wallpaper |
If I got the directions right, you should have something like this
Texture #3 - This texture uses a different gradient
style. Design the gradient (Alt>G>D):
Gradient: Radial2
Default colors, Angle 0
Alt>G>P |
Paste gradient to image |
Ctl-Alt-S |
Rotate Seamless |
Ctl-E |
SineWave L/R (Peaks 2, Height 64) |
Ctl-D |
SineWave U/D (Peaks 2, Height 90) |
Ctl-X |
SineWave Both (2,64,2,90) |
Alt>B>C |
Copy to Buffer |
Ctl-V |
Paste Clipboard to image (this is still
the marble from lesson 1) |
Ctrl-F2 |
Map Texture (Use buffer, then OK) |
Alt>I>T |
Test Wallpaper |
This should result in an image much like this
one
Texture #4 - Yet another variation on the same theme,
uses the Radial2 gradient again:
Gradient: Radial2
Default Colors, Angle 0
Alt>G>P |
Paste gradient to image |
Ctl-Alt-S |
Rotate Seamless |
Ctl-X |
Sinewave both |
Ctl-Z |
Undo sinewave both. (user input area now shows the
controls for sinewave both) |
Edit |
Change the Peaks U/D to 2, and change the Peaks U/D
Height to 90 |
Click |
The 'Execute' button for sinewave both |
Ctl-D |
Sinewave U/D |
Ctl-Alt-X |
Rotate 90 |
Ctl-L |
Mirror L/R |
Ctl-D |
Sinewave U/D |
Alt>B>C |
Copy to Buffer |
---- |
---- Variation |
Ctl-X |
Sinewave Both |
Ctl-E |
Sinewave L/R |
Alt>B>C |
Copy to buffer |
Ctl-V |
Paste Clipboard to image |
Ctl-F2 |
Map texture (Use buffer, then OK) |
This should create an image like this,
or if you continued on to the variation it should look like this.
Texture #5 - This texture is a little different.
We start with a non-seamless gradient:
Gradient: Vertical
Default colors
Alt>G>P |
Paste gradient to image |
Alt>I>S>M>8 |
Seamless edge merge by 1/8 |
Ctl-Alt-T |
Lighten |
Ctl-B |
Brighten |
Ctl-Y |
Soften Less |
Ctl-D |
Sinewave U/D |
Ctl-Z |
Undo sinewave U/D. (user input area now shows the
controls for sinewave u/d) |
Edit |
Change the Peaks to 4, and change the Height to
50 |
Click |
The 'Execute' button for sinewave U/D |
Edit |
Change the Peaks to 2, and change the Height to 100 |
Click |
the 'Execute' button for sinewave U/D |
Ctl-Y (twice) |
Soften Less |
Ctl-B |
Brighten |
Alt>B>C |
Copy to Buffer |
Ctl-V |
Paste from clipboard |
Ctl-F2 |
Map Texture |
If you're still using the original marble from lesson 1, your workspace
should look similar to this
Lesson 3
Buffer Merge - This demonstrates how to use the
buffer in a merge operation. It also demonstrates the fact that Sinewave
L/R and Sinewave U/D are Reversible: they can be 'undone', and maintain
pixel integrity. More on this later.....
Gradient: Default
Alt>G>P |
Paste gradient to image |
Ctl-Alt-S |
Rotate Seamless |
Alt>B>C |
Copy image to buffer |
Ctl-D |
Sinewave U/D |
Ctl-Z |
Undo sinewave U/D. (user input area now shows the
controls for sinewave u/d) |
Edit |
Change the Peaks to 2, and change the Height to
90 |
Click |
The 'Execute' button for sinewave U/D |
Ctl-E |
SineWave L/R |
Ctl-L |
Mirror L/R |
Ctl-O |
Color rotate (makes it 'reddish') |
Alt>B>M |
Merge Buffer with image |
Ctl-E |
Sinewave L/R |
Ctl-D |
SineWave U/D |
Alt>I>T |
Test wallpaper |
This is a much different look than the previous exercises produced.
Should be nice & smooth like this
Gradient Merge - Similar to the Buffer merge
example.
Gradient: Default
Alt>G>P |
Paste gradient to image |
Ctl-D |
SineWave U/D (3 peaks, height 50) |
Ctl-D |
SineWave U/D (same, 3 x 50) |
Alt>G>M |
Merge gradient with image |
Ctl-M |
Mirror U/D |
Ctl-D |
SineWave U/D (same) |
---- |
---- Variation |
Alt>G>P |
Paste gradient to image |
Ctl-D |
Sinewave U/D (2 peaks, height 90) |
Ctl-D |
SineWave U/D (same) |
Alt>G>M |
Merge gradient with image |
Ctl-L |
Mirror L/R |
Ctl-D |
Sinewave U/D (2 peaks, height 70) |
Results, or if you tried the Variation
Multi-Color Gradient - Requires a little more
work, but can produce interesting results. * Note - there is a multi-color
gradient available from the right-click menu, but this method is much
more flexible.
Gradient: Default
Alt>G>P |
Paste gradient to image |
Ctl-R |
Smooth resize: W=256 H=128 |
Ctl-C |
Copy to clipboard |
Alt>G>P |
Paste gradient to image |
Ctl-K |
Erase to Black |
Alt>E>P>S |
Paste as selection. Move mouse over selection and click
to place (don't drag) |
Ctl-M |
Mirror U/D |
Alt>B>C |
Copy to Buffer |
Alt>G>D |
Design gradient, change from color to dark purple, to color to
light purple. Change Height to 128. |
Alt>G>P |
Paste to image. |
Ctl-C |
Copy to clipboard |
Alt>B>P |
Paste buffer to image |
Alt>E>P>S |
Paste as selection, move mouse over selection and click to set
in place |
Ctl-H |
HarmSwizzle |
Alt-B-C |
Copy to Buffer |
Ctl-E |
SineWave L/R |
Ctl-H |
HarmSwizzle |
Ctl-Alt-X |
Rotate90 |
---- |
---- Variation - more manipulation |
Ctl-F2 |
Map Texture (Use Buffer, then OK) |
Ctl-H |
HarmSwizzle |
Ctl-Alt-X |
Rotate90 |
Results, or if you tried the Variation
Lesson 4
Paste Transparent #1 - Illustrates the use of the
clipboard and the paste transparent function.
Gradient: Default
Pen and Brush Colors both Black. Pen size 1.
Select the Rectangle drawing tool (Fill Shape should be checked)
Al>G>P |
Paste Gradient to image |
Draw a square |
Watch X and Y indicators, draw the square from 20,20 to 236,236
(about) |
Ctl-C |
Copy to clipboard |
Alt>G>P |
Paste Gradient to Image |
Ctl-Alt-X |
Rotate 90 |
Alt>E>P>T |
Paste transparent (Use pen color for transparency) |
Draw a Square |
Smaller this time, from 40,40 to 216,216 |
Ctl-C |
Copy to Clipboard |
Alt>G>P |
Paste gradient to image |
Ctl-N |
Negative |
Ctl-W |
Circular |
Alt>E>P>T |
Paste transparent (Use Pen color for... |
---- |
---- Variation (continue this theme) |
Ctl-Alt-S |
Seamless Rotate |
Alt>E>P>T |
Paste Transparent (Use Pen color... |
Ctl-Alt-S |
Seamless Rotate |
Alt>E>P>T |
Paste Transparent (Use Pen Color... |
et cetera |
|
This produces an image like this,
or the Variation
Paste Transparent #2 - Simialr to previous example,
but simpler. Uses a Circle instead of a square...
Gradient: Default
Pen/Brush both black. Pen Size 1. Fill Shape Checked.
Select the Ellipse drawing tool.
Alt>G>P |
Paste the gradient |
Draw a circle |
From 0,0 to 256,256 |
Ctl-C |
Copy to clipboard |
Alt>G>P |
Paste the gradient |
Ctl-Alt-X |
Rotate 90 |
Alt>E>P>T |
Paste Transparent (Use Pen color for transparency) |
Alt>I>T |
Test Wallpaper |
You should see this result
Lesson 5
XOR Pen - This lesson demontrates the XOR Pen mode,
how it affects the image, and how to apply it smoothly.
Gradient: Default
Pen Color Yellow.
Select the XOR Pen from the Pen menu.
Make the Pen size 300.
Select the Line Tool.
Alt>G>P Paste gradient to image
Position the mouse at the left edge of the image, about half way down.
You can use the X and Y position indicators to get close to 0, 128.
Click and drag (it's a huge line, 300 pixels wide) to the right side, until
the entire image is covered, then release the mouse. The image becomes a
yellow/pink gradient.
Repeat the previous step. The gradient returns to its original colors.
Now, select the freehand drawing tool (the paintbrush). Try drawing a
quick circle on the image.
Depending on the speed of your drawing, the Pen draws over itself and flip-flops
the colors repeatedly, leaving a kind of jagged stain glass effect
in its wake. Part of the image is the original blue colored
gradient, while part is the 'XOR' yellow/pink gradient. Note
that the image is no longer seamless at this point. To regain
seamlessness, you would have to use one of the two options for that
purpose under the Image menu.
My result is here, yours may
be slightly different.
Lesson 6
Text #1 - Now we'll look at some text operations.
This example produces raised Gold lettering.
Gradient: None (not used, doesn't matter)
Select the Text tool.
Ctl-K |
Erase to Black |
Click |
Anywhere on Image, to invoke the text designer. |
Select: |
Tahoma Font, size 28, Color Yellow. |
Click |
OK |
Place |
the text in the center of the image (doesn't have to be exact
for this example) |
Ctl-N |
Negative (Blue text on a white background) |
Ctl-Y |
Soften Less |
Ctl-Alt-F |
Find Edges (Turns black/yellow again) |
Alt>B>C |
Copy to Buffer |
Ctl-Z |
Undo (the Find Edges) |
Ctl-P |
Laplace filter (black with text outline in yellow) |
Alt>B>M |
Merge Buffer with Image |
Ctl-Y |
Soften Less |
Ctl-B (twice) |
Brighten |
You should get something similar to this
Text #2 - This will achieve a similar result, but by a
totally different means. It will give the text an embossed look, with a
fuzzy shadow.
Gradient: None, not used.
Select the Text Tool
Ctl-K |
Erase to Black |
Click |
Anywhere on the image to invoke the text designer |
Select |
Tahoma font, 28 point, White |
Click |
OK |
Place |
the text near the center of the image |
Ctl-Alt-H |
Blur (repeat 10 times) |
Ctl-Alt-T |
Lighten (repeat 3 times) |
Alt>B>C |
Copy to Buffer |
Click |
On image to design more text |
Select |
Same font, just change to Black |
Click |
OK |
Place |
the text in the same spot as before |
Ctl-Y |
Soften Less |
Ctl-Alt-D |
Edge Emboss Less |
Ctl-Y |
Soften Less |
Ctl-N |
Negative |
Ctl-F2 |
Map Texture (Use buffer), then click OK |
Ctl-N |
Negative |
---- |
---- Variation, add some color |
Ctl-Alt-U |
Tint - Choose a light color, like yellow |
Ctl-F2 |
Map Texture |
My Results, and the Variation
Text #3 - This demonstrates a soft shadow - very
simple, but often used effect in web banners.
Gradient: None, not used.
Select Text Tool.
Ctl-K |
Erase to Black |
Ctl-N |
Negative |
Click |
on image to invoke text designer. |
Select |
any font, fairly large, dark gray |
Place |
at any location that fits, note the x,y position for
later. I used 35, 100 |
Ctl-Alt-Y |
(repeat 4 times) Soften More |
Click |
on image to invoke text designer. |
Select |
same text, just change color to black or navy blue |
Place |
Up and left of original text by 3 pixels. In my case, it
was 32, 97 |
Ctl-Y |
Soften Less (removes the 'jaggies') |
See my Soft Shadow here
Lesson 7
Just some miscellaneous information here.
Sinewave U/D and SineWave L/R can be reversed, without losing pixel
resolution. To try this, use the default gradient. Then:
Ctl-D
Ctl-D
Ctl-E
Ctl-D
You now have a pretty distorted image. To go back to the original, you
must first mirror the image, then do the operations in reverse order:
Ctl-M
Ctl-D
Ctl-E
Ctl-D
Ctl-D
Back to square 1. This can be handy, or interesting when used with the
merge operations. The Sinewave Both can't be reversed, although one or
the other of the directions can be reversed for an interesting twist. To
see this:
Default gradient.
Ctl-H (harmswizzle)
Ctl-X
Ctl-D (this reverses the U/D direction only)
Another interesting effect can be achieved by making use of the pixel
stretching done by Smooth Resize. Start with a black image:
Ctl-K
Ctl-Alt-P Add some noise
Ctl-N
Ctl-O (Rotate 4 bits)
Use the selection tool to crop out a tiny little image, about 8 - 10 pixels
wide and 3 - 4 pixels high. You can pick any section of the image for
this.
Alt>I>S>F (4way flip, still a very small image)
Ctl-R Resize smooth, to 256 x 256
This should produce a multicolor set of gradient lines or blobs - it may
take a little practice to get this effect.
End of tutorials, for now. If you have done all these excercises,
you should be familiar with most of the keyboard shortcuts, and how
I use them myself.
Thanks for your interest in my program, I hope you enjoy it!
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