Tutorial: AKVIS Chameleon

Creative design in Paint Shop pro

Consult the article "Blend mode" to get the same result with the new version. In the older versions (before v.5.0) this mode was called Snapshot and applied automatically right after you launch the plugin from the menu Filter.

This example has been created by Michael Foutty in photo editor Paint Shop Pro 9 with help of AKVIS Chameleon plug-in.

In this tutorial we explore the use of AKVIS Chameleon and expand its applications through Alpha Masking and transparent png exports. The outlined technique opens a door of opportunity for new and exciting uses of AKVIS Chameleon from within any software that imports transparent pngs.

To begin:
Open Paint Shop Pro 9 and create a New Image [800x600].

Activate the ruler: View -> Rulers Ctrl+Alt+R.

Access the Material Properties dialog box by double-clicking on the Background color in the Material palette.
Activate the Gradient tab and select the 'Rainbow' linear gradient fill from the fall-out menu.
Set angle to 45.

Click on the Preset Shapes tool.
Access the Shapes List.
Select Arrow 12.

Using the ruler as a guide drag out the shape [ 450x450 pixels].

Next, go to Objects -> Align -> Center in Canvas and click to center the shape.

Before going further we must access the AKVIS Chameleon Plugin and take a snapshot of our vector shape.

To do this:

• Go to the Layers -> Merge -> Merge All Flatten.
• Now, simply access the plugin Effects -> Plugins -> Akvis -> Chameleon (Take Snapshot) and take a snapshot.

Now we have a foundation prepared for AKVIS Chameleon to work upon. Let's take it a step further by creating an Alpha Channel that will be used in the final stages of the tutorial.

This is accomplished by:

• Selecting the Magic Wand Tool
.
• Clicking on the white area of the background
.

Go to:
Selections -> Load/Save Selection -> Save Selection to Alpha Channel and click Save.

With the selection now saved to Alpha, go back to Selections heading and Select None [Ctrl+D].

Now the fun begins.

Once you have mastered the steps outlined you will then be able to use the techniques and create your own shapes and apply any image or multiple images to it. Practice is the key here..... so take it slowly until you gain confidence and expertise.

Open the “Trees” image that you have downloaded for use with this tutorial.

Our goal now is to duplicate the “Trees” and place them in all four quadrants of our design.

Copy the image to the clipboard: Edit -> Copy [Ctrl+C].

You can now minimize or close the 'Trees” file.

Returning to the design go to Edit -> Paste as New Selection [Ctrl+E].
Drag and position the selection as shown below.

Before we paste again let's reverse the “Trees” image. Since it is still selected this can easily be done by clicking Image -> Mirror [Ctrl+M].

Let's add the upper right quadrant by pasting: Edit -> Paste as New Selection [Ctrl+E] once again.

Simply drag it into position. If your initial vector shape was sized correctly [450x450 pixels] it will become hidden behind the pasted images.

Continue with the process by pasting Edit -> Paste as New Selection [Ctrl+E] until the remaining images are placed as seen below. Remember to mirror the lower left image to retain conformity.

We are almost ready to activate the AKVIS Chameleon plugin on our design but first we must enclose all four of the pasted images as one single selection.
To do this: Activate the Magic Wand Tool and select the white background. Now invert the selection by going to Selections -> Invert [Ctrl+Shift+I].

With all four images now combined as a single selection we can now utilize AKVIS Chameleon.
Access the plugin from Effects -> PlugIns -> AKVIS -> Chameleon [Use Snapshot].

Below we see the results. In certain applications this would be just the effect we were looking for.

Yet we now desire a transparent image with crisp and clean outlines for our shape. So let's take it a step further.

Remember in the beginning of the tutorial we saved the original shape to the alpha channel? Well, it's time to put it to use.

First de-select the selections [Ctrl+D].

Next go to Selections -> Load/Save Selection -> Load Selection from Alpha to open the alpha dialog.

You will see the original shape. Now load it.

Notice the marquee [marching ants] surrounding the shape? The represent the image areas that will become transparent after the next two steps:

• Go to the Promote Background Layer.
• To complete the process just hit the Delete key.

The results: The shape now has a sharp outline with a transparent background. Just what we were after!

To make our design available for future use within this [PSP9] and other programs let's save it as an transparent png.

Clear the selections [Ctrl+D] and use the Crop Tool to include just the shape.

Go to File -> Export -> PNG Optimizer and Save the image. Be certain to set the export for alpha channel transparency.

Transparent 'png' files afford us the luxury of using the designs is a multitude of ways and in a wide range of applications. They can be imported into NLE's [video editing software] and used as scalable video overlays or into vector/bitmap graphics programs to be utilized as design components.

Hopefully this tutorial will challenge you to explore the possibilities for yourself and demonstrates some of the advanced techniques and applications of the AKVIS Chameleon plugin.