you are not seeing the mockingbird sitting on a tree branch

Mockingbird PSP7-8

You will be using the alpha channel selections saved in my canvas file. You will modify some selections with the Lighten and Darken tools. PSP7 USERS: Check for the lighten and darken options under the Retouch tool.

The mockingbird is the State bird of Texas, as well as several other states. It can mimic many other birds and will always defend its territory from all predators. It is quite willing to defend other bird species in its territories as well.

--

Sources

You will need my canvas image and color file, available here.

Many thanks to Di for inspiring me with her bird tutorial.

Why you won't see any specific Lighten/darken settings.

The more you repeatedly go over an area with either brush, the darker it gets with darkening and lighter it gets with lightening. If we pretend I give you the exact settings I used, you still won't get the exact same results I got *that* particular time. I get very different results with the same settings on the same day. I suspect those of you uncomfortable with this tool and other similar tools do not trust your own eyes. You will need to trust your own artistic judgement. Once I learned to do that myself, my own retouch tool group work improved to my own eyes. I will give you rough settings: hardness and density less than 50.

--

Please open your MWmockbirdcanvas file in PSP. Save AS under a different name and close original canvas file. Open the MWmockcolors.psp file in PSP. Remember to SAVE OFTEN! This is a HUGE file.

  1. Make Sure you are on layer 01 lower body and Selections->Load Selection->From alpha channel. Choose the 01 selection from the list. Flood the selection with the first color on the second line(gray 1 from now on). Using the Lighten and darken tools (settings are up to you), darken the edges and lighten the middle area. Selections->Select none.

    you are not seeing the feet added

  2. On layer 02 legs, load the matching selection and flood with the gray on row3 (gray 4). Use the same lighten and darken steps. Select none.
  3. On layer 03 thigh, load the matching selection and flood with gray 1. Use the same lighten and darken steps. Select none.
  4. On layer 04 tail, load the matching selection and flood with gray 4. Use the same lighten and darken steps. Select none.

    you are not seeing the tail and upper body added

  5. On layer 05 white tail, load the matching selection and flood with white. Select none.
  6. On layer 06 upper body, load the matching selection and flood with the gray on row 3, far right (gray 3). Use the same lighten and darken steps. Select none.
  7. On layer 07 wing gray4, load the matching selection and flood with gray 4. Use the same lighten and darken steps. Select none.

    you are not seeing the wings added

  8. On layer 08 wing gray 3, load the matching selection and flood with gray 3. Use the same lighten and darken steps. Select none.
  9. On layer 09 wing white, load the matching selection and flood with white. Use the same darken step only on the larger white wing area. Select none.
  10. On layer 10 wing gray 2, load the matching selection and flood with the gray on second row, position 2 (gray 2). Use the same lighten and darken steps only on the larger areas. Select none.
  11. On layer 11 wing black, load the matching selection and flood with black. Select none.
  12. On layer 12 beak, load the matching selection and flood with gray 4. Use the same lighten and darken steps. Select none.

    you are not seeing the completed bird

  13. On layer 13 eye stripe, load the matching selection and flood with gray 4. Select none.
  14. On layer 14 eye stripe gray 2, load the matching selection and flood with gray 2. Select none.
  15. Click on the eye layer and unhide it.
  16. You can merge visible the layers.
  17. Please remember to resize your final image before sending to groups!
--

Valid CSS!   Valid HTML 4.01!