Blown-Glass Christmas Ornament

Software: Ulead PhotoImpact 6

Title: Blown Glass Christmas Ornament

Author: Virginia

Skill Level: Beginner

Please read: Terms of Use

Featured Tools:

Path Drawing Tool

Outline Drawing Tool

Material Gallery

My friend Cindy has written a companion tutorial for PSP users: CanyonRoad Glass Ornaments. Thanks, Cindy!

raindrop and bubble4

Open a new image -- single color. I like room to work, I used 500x500.

Using the Path Drawing Tool, draw a raindrop (in PI6, it's way down there beyond all the flowery stuff, be patient, you'll find it!), color black, 2D, about 225x350 (watch the numbers on the bottom left of your PI screen).
On the menus on the top of your screen, choose Object/ convert object type/from path to image.

Eraser Tool, shape square, trans 0, soft edge 0. Erase just the top tip of the raindrop.

Draw a loop using the Outline Drawing Tool, Bubble 4, color black, 2D, width 3, Height 42.

With the Transform Tool, grab the middle left handle and move it toward the center a bit until the loop is more round.

Trace Image

Place the loop over the top of the raindrop, lining it up until it looks like one piece.

Right-click, merge all.

Go to Edit -->Trace -->Image. Accept defaults, click OK.

On the Attributes Bar, which magically appears above your workspace after the last step, change the Mode from Horizontal Deform to 3D Round.

Click on the Material Button, click on the Border/Depth tab and check the Smooth Spine box. Set the border at 99—you may have to adjust the Maximum Border Width box. Click the Gallery box, then Tab Group Glass. Choose one that appeals to you, double-click it, click OK.

Move your new ornament away from the black piece and admire it :)

Here are some examples. Note that glass with less opacity, such as the pink one, gives an entirely different look than glass that is more opaque, as the orange one. The blue one is not glass at all but a satiny preset. Experiment with different glass presets and other presets as well.
If you use shadows, remember that the more transparent your ornament, the less shadow it will cast.
Also try different shapes and see what works.

Have fun!