To create your own picture tubes, create a grid of cells and then fill each cell with an image. The cells can be any size, but picture tubes with larger cells require more memory to use.
Important: This tool works only on raster layers in greyscale and 16 million color images. To convert a vector layer to a raster layer, choose Layers > Convert to Raster Layer. To increase the color depth of an image, see Increasing the Color Depth of an Image.
To create a picture tube:
Choose View > Change Grid, Guide, and Snap Properties, click the Grid tab, set the current horizontal and vertical grids, then click OK. The grid positions are the value in pixels that the width and height of cells will be. Images can be no larger than this cell size.
Choose File > New to open the New Image dialog.
Set the following options:
Image Dimensions Choose a width and height (in pixels) that are multiples of the horizontal and vertical grid spacing. The width and height of the image determine the total number of cells in the image. For example, if the grid spacing is 100 pixels, create an image of 400 pixels wide by 300 pixels high to have 12 cells (four across and three down).
Image Characteristics Choose Raster Background as the layer type and mark the Transparent check box.
Click OK.
If the grid is not visible, choose View > Grid.
Create one image in each grid square. These squares are the picture tube cells.
Note: To change the size of cells, change the grid size and then use the Canvas Size command to change the canvas size.
Choose File > Export > Picture Tube to open the Export Picture Tube dialog.
Set the following options:
Cell arrangement Enter the number of cells across and down.
Placement options Choose the default options for this picture tube. You can change these options when you apply the picture tube.
Tube name Enter the file name of the tube. The extension .PspTube is automatically added to the file name.
Note: By default, picture tube files are stored in the Picture Tubes folder of the Paint Shop Pro program folder. For information on changing this location, see Setting File Locations.
Click OK. The picture tube is saved.
Close the image file. To edit it later, save it as a .PspImage or other format file.
Painting with the Paint Brush or Airbrush
Setting Brush and Paint Options