Tutorial #4 : a "sky dome" background

This "sky dome" can be used behind any pixel image so I will tell you how to create the dome and let you use any image you like.

Step 1 : Open a new image in Paint Shop Pro of a size suitable to make a background for your image : this example uses 150 x 100 pixels, but you must choose your own size.

Zoom in to a magnification that allows you to see the image clearly - I usually need to use 500%!

Step 2 : Open a new layer - if the layer palette isn't already open, go to "View / palettes / layers" and select. On this new layer draw an oval shape : select the ellipse tool, antialias off (unchecked) in a shade of pale blue - I used #dcf1fe for this example. Both sample boxes (background and foreground) on the colour palette need to be the same colour.

Step 3 : Using the Magic Wand tool click once anywhere inside the blue oval you have drawn - it will be bordered by a moving dotted line to show that it is selected. Leaving it selected, open a new layer above the layer with the oval and select it by clicking on it in the layer palette.

Step 4 : Go to "Effects / 3D effects/ Cutout" and set offset to zero, both vertical and horizontal, shadow colour to #000066, blur to 30 and opacity to 50. Close the background layer by clicking on the "eye" next to the background layer on the Layers palette. Click on one of the other layers then select "Layers / Merge / Merge Visible."

You can use the sky dome as it is or you can add clouds :

Step 5: Open a new layer above the globe layer already created (now named Merged on the layers palette.)

Step 6 : Select the Freehand Selection Tool and set feather to 5, antialias and smoothing both off. Draw a "cloud" shape on the new transparent layer. When you release the drawing tool, the dotted outline will expand - don't worry! Flood-fill the shape with white - your cloud will be smaller, with fuzzy edges. Draw as many clouds as you want, putting each one on a new layer. You can then move them around as you choose. Different size clouds will give the best effect.

Using tubes or your own pixel images, build your scene by adding foreground etc. in front of the sky dome.