This is a very simple tutorial on how to make an etched Easter egg. I discovered this when I was learning how to make a bubble and found that by using an ellipse it looked like an egg! I've since also discovered that you can use this method on lots of other shapes, give it a try! :) I've given you my settings, but yours may vary. Experiment till you find what looks good to you. Have fun!

---

1. Start with a 400x400 canvas with a Transparent background. Flood fill with white so you can see better what you are doing. Then add a layer. 2. Use the selection tool (not shapes tool) set to ellipse and antialias, make a good sized oval or egg shape. 3. Now fill the egg with a gradient or whatever you want. I selected a bright linear gradient. Do not deselect.

4. Go to Selections and Promote to layer. This is what makes nice smooth edges when you make your tube. Do not delselect. 5. Add a layer and go to Images/effects/cutout and apply the settings for the black cutout (image below). You will not be able to see your egg in the view window as you are applying this cutout to a new layer. 6. Add a layer and apply the settings for the white cutout (image below) just as you did for the black. Do not deselect. The egg image below shows what the egg looks like after the cutouts are applied.

7. To make the highlight, add a layer and click on the paintbrush and use the settings in the image below. Make a slightly curved shape in the upper left area of the egg. You can also use a vector ellipse shape to make the highlight, too. Just make the ellipse and then node edit and make the selection more curved. Then convert to raster and go to gaussian blur. 8. Go to Images/ Blur/ Gaussian Blur and set the radius to 8.0 and click ok. If you feel the highlight is to bright you can use gaussian blur twice.

9. Now deselect and go to your layer palette and delete the background layer. Go to Layers/ merge visible and then crop your image. Export as a tube and you will be able to use it every Easter! :)

Adding a dingbat to create the etched look can be really cute. I suggest you tube the plain eggs and then add a dingbat as you need them. Here's how I did it. 1. Place your egg (tube) on a transparent background and add a layer. Choose your dingbat and color (I use white cause it reminded me of the white crayons we used on eggs before we dyed them when we were younger :)). 2. When the ding is where you want it lower the opacity, mine is around 50%. 3. Now merge visible layers, and you can copy and pasted where you want on your picture. **Alternately you could do this before you tube the original and then export as a tube. That's up to you.** Have fun with this and try lots of different fills, textures and colors. Also try using a different colored shadow instead of black and white. :)

Email me if you have any problems. Tutorials Homepage   Main Homepage Tutorial, graphics and screenshots © by Jan Lewis Purrcat Designs 2001