PSP Tutorials

Axialis like Sphere

I got a request to try to recreate the spheres that Axialis uses in it's sample screen savers and this is what I came up with. It's not exact but it's pretty darn close!

This is what we'll be creating

This is what you'll need
Jasc Paint Shop Pro 8
(may also work in other versions with some minor adjustments)

Start by creating a blank canvas 150x150 transparent background

Select the preset shapes tool with the following settings

Shape ellipse
Create as vector unchecked
Anti-alias checked

Change your colors as follows:
foreground = #1272ED background = #042567
Change foreground properties to null and background properties to gradient with the following settings

Right click on the center of your image (75,75) and drag out a symetrical cirle about 140x140

Add a new layer and with the preset shapes tool still selected change your foreground to white and background to gradient Fading Foreground, settings the same as before but invert checked, keep your foreground properties null and Create as vector checked.

Draw out a smaller ellipse at the top like this....

Select the pen tool and move the bottom node up till it's straight

Convert this layer to raster and lower the opacity to 75

Now duplicate it and flip and use the move tool to bring it up just a little, bring the opacity on this one back up to 80

Make layer 1 active and select it either by using the magic wand tool or Selections - Select all, Selections - Float, Selections - Defloat

Go back to the flipped layer and add a Gausian blur of 6, KEEP SELECTED!

Make layer 1 active again and add a new layer. Invert your selection and apply a drop shadow with the following settings
Vertical = 8
Horizontal = 4
Opacity = 80
Blur = 20

Repeat drop shadow but change Horizontal to -4

Deselect and you're done!

This is what you should have when your finished

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial! If you have any questions, comments or suggestions please feel free to e-mail me.