I just got Paint Shop Pro and Now what do I do?

PAGE TWO

File locations are automatically set to find the PSP items that come with the program. As you start using PSP you will start collecting lots of additional items. Since we all have limited computer resources you may want to start now by sorting things now.

When you installed PSP the system set up files on your computer for storing/linking items used by PSP. The more items that are put into these folders the longer psp will take to load them and this can really slow down your work time. So learn now to Set up more folders and link and unlink folders that you are using. The files created include:
  1. TUBES - you definitely will collect lots of these. Tubes are wonderful items. With just a click the colored object is added to your image, and you can adjust their sizes.

    I have about 2000 and have them sorted into groups. You can make your own directory for tubes and this page will show you how to set the link. I have folders for Christmas, Valentines, Easter, and other holidays. Also folders for globe tubes, flowers, furniture, everyday items, seaside items (I love lighthouses).

  2. BRUSHES- Brushes are one color (determined by user) outline images. You will probably start collecting lots of these.

    I have about 100 brushes, from flowers and shapes to victorian settings. You will love these.
    3. Filters or plugins developed to work with Photoshop or PhotoImpact will work in PSP. The most popular ones are Bladepro and Eye Candy. I probably have around 75 filters and plugins.
  3. FRAMES - You can easily add a frame to your images in PSP.
  4. Shapes - There are lots of these that come with PSP.

  5. Gradients - Different variations of color fills
  6. Textures - a variety of small black/white images used to texturize an image
  7. Patterns - small patterned images used with color fills to give texture to images
  8. Presets - Preset settings for apply PSP effects to your images
  9. Styled Lines - PSP preset line styles - you can also create your own.
  10. Undo/Temp Files - folder for holding temp files. Check this file at least weekly and delete anything there that you do not need.
  11. MASKS - These are used to mask out areas of an image.
  12. Cache - file space used by PSP and reserved for loading items as you select them in PSP.
  13. Web Browsers - The file locations of your personal web browsers.
Now I will show you how to link things in PSP. Go to File in your top menu. Move down to PREFERENCES and then select FILE LOCATIONS

Every tab listed appears in similar fashion.


Here I illustrate how my tubes files are set up.

Right now I have everyday tubes, globes tubes and fairies set up.

If I wanted to work on florals I would determine which tubes to unlink (I selected fairies)

and then click on the browse button next to that item.









A window similar to the one at the left will open.

It will be the folder where the last link was.

Since I have all my tubes in subfolders within my psptubes file,
I can easily locate my florals file and just click on it and then hit okay.



If you need to browse more you can click on the little folder at the top of your screen (see my arrow) and browse your entire computer system.

Organize now and save time and frustration later.




To the left you see my changed tube file locations. You must click okay for the setting changes to take place. If you mess up really bad you can click cancel.

Another tip from my personal experience. DO NOT TRY AND CHANGE FILE LOCATIONS WHILE WORKING ON AN IMAGE. I have lost lots of work that way. PSP can lock up if the cache gets overfilled and you will loose everything. So save the file (psp files will save all your layers - best way to save if you want to continue working on an image). Then change the file locations and reopen the image.




New PSP 7 User tutorials
Intro and Preferences   file locations   Toolbars   color pallette   preset shapes



Email Me  Page Updated December 1, 2002.

Web Design by: Pysmatic Services