Crabby Graphics
Author: Marlene LaVarta
Title: Fantasy Flower
Skill Level: Intermediate
Additional Files: Type Effects.zip,   Simple filters
PI Version:  any
Terms of Service: TOS

Lacy Flower

In memory of Deb DeHaven, who gave so much to the PI community.  This tutorial is dedicated to her.

 

Version:  PI 10, but you should be able to use earlier versions
Level:  Intermediate
Tools used: path shapes, transform, Type Effects, paintbrush, path edit
Additional files needed:  Type Effect Fills    Simple filters

 

Download the Type Effect Fills above and extract them to a new folder.  (Remember where you put them!)   Download and install the simple filters, if you don't already have them.  
Open a new file, in your favorite style, with a medium gray background.  Make a 2D shape similar to this one using the path edit tool.  The basic idea is to make a single petal.
Set the color of the petal to white.  Duplicate the shape (shift-D).  Set the Mode to 3D-Pipe, width 2 depth 30, max width 30.

Select the solid 2D petal.  In the Easy Palette, find the Type Gallery, Hole effect.  In PI 10, it is under Text/Path Effects, Type Gallery, Hole.  Right click on one of the thumbnails and select modify properties and apply.  Click on the shape picture, and select one of the files you saved from the zip above.  I think I usec clipboard09.jpg.  Change the size slider until you like the results.   If the lines are black, check the invert box.  I recommend you add this to your easy palette.

Select the petal and using the paintbrush with a light gray, make two lines like folds in the petal.  Your petal should look something like this.

Group the two objects together.  Set the transparency to 50.  Select the transform tool, rotate.  Grab the little center of rotation tool and position it just below the bottom center of the petal shape.

Set rotate by degrees to 60.  (you can play with this setting to find one that is pleasing for your shape.  Click on the copy rotate button until you have filled out the flower shape.

I set the transparency to 0 and added a pearl stamp in the center of the flower.  You may want to use different transparency settings, depending on the look you want.

Select all the shapes, Group, and rotate by 15 degrees, so it looks like the picture shown.  (You can play with this rotation.  The rotation makes a difference when we apply the simple filters.

Press ctrl-R to crop the image to the flower.  Fill in the background with your choice.  SAVE!

Duplicate your file twice.  On on of the duplicates, merge all objects and apply effect, simple, center tile.  On the second duplicate, merge all objects and apply effect, simple, quick tile.