Organizing
"Extras" in PSP
Once you start
doing tutorials with Paint Shop Pro, you will find that
your downloaded "extras" (such as Filters,
Masks, Tubes etc) will grow at a surprising speed. Although
you can place all these things straight into the relevant
Subfolders in PSP in the Program Files, you might prefer
to save all these files into "My Documents".
The more you add to PSP in the Program Files, the "heavier"
the program itself becomes and slows down more and more.
Keeping all these extras well organized in "My
Documents" has added benefits. The folder is easy
to burn to CD. In case of a reformat or getting a new
computer, it is very easy then to transfer all these
files. The risk of losing something is much smaller.
I also feel a lot more confident moving around in "My
Documents" than I do in the Program Files.
How have I organized mine? Please don't think that you need to do it this way. But hopefully it will give you suggestions on how you might want to set up yours. The instructions are for Windows XP. It should be possible to adjust them to your needs.
1) Start > My
Documents
2) Make a new Folder
3) Name this new folder "PSP Extras" (or a
name of your choice)
4) Open your "PSP Extras" folder
5) Create new folders within the "PSP Extras"
folder
I have the following folders:
Brushes
Bumpmaps
Corners
DesignElements
Filters
Gradients
Masks
Patterns&Fills
Presets
Script
Selections
Textures
Tubes
The
Folder "DesignElements" could be part of the
Tubes folder. But I find it easier this way.
6)
For various folders I then have subfolders
Design Elements
I have subfolders for the different
creators. Like this it is easy to give credit to the
creator if I use one of the elements
Filters
Each filter/plugin is in its own folder. Before installing
a new filter, I simply make a new folder with that name
and then install it into that (usually unzip a winzip
file first).
Exception
here are the .exe filters like Eye Candy, Ulead and
Galaxy. The .exe file needs to be run and the filter
installed into the Corel (PSP X) or Jasc (PSP 9 and
previous) Program Files.
Most
filters are made for the Photoshop Program. To be able
to use them in Paint Shop Pro, you need to install 4
extra dll files into the Windows files. Download
the winzip file, unzip the files and save them into
Systems 32 for Windows XP
Start > My Computer > Local Disk (C:) > Windows
> SYSTEM32
or
into Windows > System directory if you do not run
XP on your computer.
Please be careful while you do this. I would recommend
to set a new Restore Point before attempting it:
Start
> All Programs > Accessories > System Tools
> System Restore > Create a restore point.
Masks
I have subfolders in the Mask folder for "full
graphic", "top border" and "side
border" masks.
Patterns
I have subfolders for "Goldfills", "Silverfills",
"Christmas glitters" and "Patterns".
Tubes
I started with having subfolders like "Animals",
"Flowers", "Christmas" etc. But
I find it increasingly unhelpful when trying to give
credit to the tube creator. My new subfolders are titled
with the link to the creator. Groupshares with no creator
information go into a Subfolder "Groupshares".
Do I need to do something in PSP?
Once you have set up all these folders and start to
collect files, you need to tell PSP to look for them
in their new location.
With PSP open, go to
File > Preferences > File Locations
Then
choose the File Type you want to arrange, go to "Add",
browse for the folder you have created in "My Documents",
click ok.
e.g. for the gradient, look for the gradient folder
you created.
I
have not set it for my tube collection, I prefer to
browse the folder instead. I have also only set it to
show my "full graphic" masks. I don't use
others often and it's then easier to browse and find
something.
If
you have any questions, please email
me.
With
grateful thanks to Heather, who helped me with those
first steps in setting up PSP and creating.
Another "Thank you" goes to Hooty
for letting me use his winzip file for the 4 dlls needed.
last
revised December 2005
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