How to Make Bubble Letters in PSP

Bubble letters are simple to make in Paint Shop Pro (PSP). Since Paint Shop Pro is capable of creating vector images, you can create preset shapes and alter them to look like bubble letters instead of drawing the letters by hand. When the bubble letters are finished, you will be able to use them as many times as you like. You can also create the letters on a transparent background so you can use them over many different backgrounds.

Instructions

1. In the "File" menu, select "New..." Set the "Units" to "Pixels" in the drop-down menu. Make the width and height of your new image at least 500 pixels. Under "Image Characteristics," select "Raster Background." Select the check mark beside "Transparent" to give the image a transparent background.

2. Press "F8" to open the Layers Palette. Select the "Preset Shapes" tool from the Paint Shop Pro toolbar. Select "Ellipse" from the Tool Options Palette at the top of the screen. Ensure that "Color" is selected in the Materials Palette in both the foreground and the background. Also ensure that "Retain Style," "Create as Vector" and "Anti-alias" are checked. Set the "Width" to 3 pixels. Select black as the color.

3. Draw an ellipse on the new image. Select the "Pen" tool from the toolbar. Select "Edit Mode" in the Tool Options Palette. Select the node at the bottom of the ellipse. Move it upward until the ellipse takes on a crescent shape.

4. Right-click the node on the left. Under "Node Type," select "Symmetric." Repeat this with the node on the right. Select the circle on the end of the arrow intersecting the nodes. Move them clockwise and outward until the ends of the crescent shape become rounded and bubble-like.

5. Select the nodes on the left and right of the shape and drag them downward and inward. Under "Selections," choose "Select None." Select the "Preset Shapes" tool. Draw a small circle at the top center of the shape to create the hole in the letter "A."

6. Select the "Fill" tool from the Paint Shop Pro toolbar. Select the desired color from the Materials Palette and click inside the letter shape. Click "OK" when Paint Shop Pro prompts you to convert the layer to a raster layer. Fill in the bubble letter. Save your file with a new file name with the .pspimage file extension.

7. Repeat Steps 1 through 6 to create letters B through Z. For each letter, adjust the nodes of the ellipse to create the shape of the letter, and place circles where the holes of that particular letter belong. Press the "Ctrl" button and right-click the mouse to add nodes to the ellipse shape. Right-click nodes and select "Delete" from the "Edit" menu to remove them.

Tips & Warnings

• If you experience problems making bubble letters with Paint Shop Pro or want more creative ideas, talk with other users in the Paint Shop Pro Users Group forum (see Resources).

Resources

• Paint Shop Pro Users Group