Paint Shop Pro 6 Visual Insight Book

From the beginning of Paint Shop Pro 6 Visual Insight, the authors tell us to "dive right in, push every button". This hands-on approach works particularly well in the unimposing interface of Paint Shop Pro, an alternative to more complex, and more expensive, paint applications like Photoshop.Overview explanations of important concepts, like "The Basics of Masking", alternate with step-by-step walk-throughs of essential tasks, like "Creating a Layered Image" or "Using Vector Text". The book ushers readers through all the features and techniques, starting with basic tools, many of which are similar to counterparts in other paint programs. Next, readers work with selections, colours, layers, masks, filters and effects.The book contains an introduction to Web graphics and animated GIFs using an animation wizard within the software as well as a primer vector graphics, a new capability in version 6. The book also acquaints readers with the picture frame wizard, the process of creating custom frames, and Paint Shop Pro's Picture Tubes--tools which allow users to paint with images.The second half of the book contains projects that put the previous lessons to work, from creating a jigsaw puzzle out of an image to compositing graphics, creating text effects, and making an animated banner ad. The layout of the book is clear, with many illustrations, screen shots, and a full colour section. With a straightforward writing style, and a patient flow of information and instruction, Paint Shop Pro 6 Visual Insight will enable non-professional desktop publishers and Web site authors to create some flashier graphics without stumbling up the steep learning curve experienced with other software. --Angelynn Grant, amazon.com Topics covered: Basic instruction in Paint Shop Pro 6 including how to use tools, menus and palettes, work with selections, colour, layers, masks, filters and effects; how to create Web graphics and animations, work with vector graphics, create picture frames and picture tubes. Projects cover working with layers, photo restoration, text effects, popular types of web animations and embedding a digital watermark.Read More