Standard Mode vs Basic Mode

PhotoImpact 10 has two work modes, Basic and Standard. Basic Mode features a simplified workspace with larger buttons and the most common functions whereas the Standard Mode displays all of the functions. We will be using the Standard Mode in this tutorial.

To check your mode, click Workspace on the Menu Bar. If the Standard Mode is greyed out, that means you are already in the Standard Mode. If not, click Standard Mode now.

Warning: If you switch from Standard to Basic Mode, and you have custom settings, you will lose all your custom settings.

Let's Get Started!

Click on File / New / New Image and ensure that your new image is going to be a white, RGB one with a user defined size of 400 x 400. This is a minimum size, but you're welcome to work on something a little larger if you prefer because you will be needing a lot of room to create your fishing rod.

The basic fishing rod.

Click on the Line & Arrow Tool and in the attributes bar ensure that the shape being used is a straight line, the colour is brown and the mode 3D Round.

In the path panel box click on the outline tab and ensure that the width is set at 3 with the style and arrow both showing a straight line.

Draw a diagonal line not quite the reaching the bottom left or the top right of your canvas.

With your line still selected, Right Click / Edit Path. Left click in the center of path line (it will turn red in colour).

In the attribute bar, click on the curved icon of Convert Line to make your line bend.

Note: If at this point your line is bent downward rather than upward, then you'll need to do this extra step before continuing....Click on the toggle button in the attributes bar, then click on Edit / Rotate & Flip / Rotate 180º.

Activate the transform tool and in the attributes bar ensure that the transform method selected is the distort one.

Click and hold down your left mouse button on the top right transform handle and pull the top right point towards the left to slightly lessen the curve.

Press down on the enter key on your keyboard to deselect your curved fishing rod.

The fishing rod handle.

Activate the Path Drawing tool and in the attributes bar ensure that the shape being used is a rounded rectangle, the colour is black and the mode is 3D Round.

Draw a suitably sized handle to go at the base of your fishing rod.

Press down on the enter key on your keyboard to deselect the handle of your fishing rod.

The fishing reel.

Activate the path drawing tool again and change the settings in the attributes bar to a circle shape and change the mode to 3D Custom. The colour will be changed in the next step.

Open the easy palette and in the gallery section, click on Material Attribute Gallery / Metallic / Steel 3.

In the path panel box click on the 3D tab. Ensure that the border setting is 8, with a depth of 30.

Draw a circle and place it just a little above your fishing rod handle. This will represent the fishing reel.

Press down on the enter key on your keyboard to deselect the your fishing reel.

The reel handle.

Activate the Path Drawing tool and in the attributes bar ensure that the colour being used is black and the mode 3D Round. Click on the shape icon and then on custom shape.

At this point the shape library panel will open, ensure that the tab group is symbol and then find and double click on the shape named S38 .

Draw a small S38 shape and using the pick tool move this piece into place on the fishing reel as shown in the diagram on the left.

Press down on the enter key on your keyboard to deselect the reel handle.

The rod eyes.

Activate the Outline Drawing tool and in the attributes bar change the shape to an ellipse, the colour will already be set as Steel 3 as selected earlier through the easy palette but you will need to change the mode to 3D Round.

In the path panel box click on the 3D tab. Ensure that the border setting is 1, with a depth of 30.

Draw one very small ellipse shape.

Activate the Transform Tool and using the rotate freely method, rotate the ellipse shape, otherwise known as an eye for the sake of this tutorial in a clockwise direction just a little so that it's pointing downward.

Right click to duplicate the ellipse. Do this 4 times in all.

Using the Pick tool Move each of the ellipse shapes into place along the body of your fishing rod as shown in the image on the left here.

Press down on the enter key on your keyboard to deselect everything.

It's looking good so far and very much like a fishing rod, but those eyes are going to fall off if we don't quickly whip them into place, so on we go!

Whipping the eyes into place.

Activate the Line & Arrow tool and in the attributes bar ensure that the shape being used is a straight line, the colour is any of your own choosing and the mode is 2D Object.

***Use the zoom tool to zoom in on one of the eyes of your fishing rod and then draw 3 or 4 straight lines across the rod thereby whipping your rod eyes into place.***

Repeat from *** to *** to whip into place each eye up the whole length of your fishing rod and when finished, press the enter key on your keyboard to ensure that everything is deselected.

The fishing line.

Activate the Line & Arrow tool and in the attributes bar ensure that the shape being used is the spline, the colour grey and the mode is 3D Round.

In the path panel box click on the outline tab and ensure that the width is set at 1, with the style and arrow both showing a straight line.

The line & arrow spline takes a little patience, so be sure to do this part very carefully.

Click once at the top right of your fishing reel, then once inside each rod eye. When you get to the top of the rod do 2 clicks in the top rod eye, but not a fast double click. Pull the line right down until you're approximately in line with the fishing reel and then double click to finish.

If your fishing line doesn't look right when you've finished, click on Edit/Undo and try again.

When you're satisfied with your line, right click and click on Convert Object Type / From Text/Path to Image. You need to do this to be able to use the eraser in the next step.

With your fishing line still selected, zoom in on your fishing rod to be able to see the eyes and fishing line a little clearer.

Activate the Eraser and in the attributes bar ensure that the shape being used is a circle with zero transparency and zero soft edge.

Erase the bit of fishing line that is going over the top edge of each fishing rod eye. By doing that, it will look as though the line is going through the eyes as it should. Be careful not to erase too much of the line so as to look like a break in it.

Press down on the enter key on your keyboard to deselect everything.

You've now got a great looking rod and the line is ready but what about the tackle? You'll need some good tackle if you're going to catch anything decent....

The tackle - Float, beads and weight.

Activate the path drawing tool and in the attributes bar ensure that the colour being used is black and the mode 3D Round. Click on the shape icon and then on custom shape.

At this point the shape library panel will open, ensure that the Tab group is symbol and then find and double click on the shape named S48.

Draw an S48 shape that's just large enough to represent a float, then click on Edit / Rotate & Flip / Flip Vertically. Your float is now up the right way.

Right click and click on Convert Object Type / From Text/Path to Image. You need to do this to be able to paint a part of it in the next step.

With the float still selected, activate the Paintbrush tool and in the attributes bar ensure that the shape being used is a 45 pixel circle with a bright colour of your own choosing, zero transparency and zero soft edge.

Paint only the top section of your float.

Press down on the enter key on your keyboard to deselect your float.

Activate the path drawing tool and ensure that attributes bar settings are a circle shape, a colour of your own choosing and the mode should be 3D Round.

Draw 2 tiny circles to represent beads and a third circle that needs to be a little bit larger to represent the weight. We're going to change the colour of the weight in the next step, but before that, use the pick tool to move each circle shape into place, one small bead on top of the float and one below with the weight at the lowest position.

With the weight still selected, open the easy palette and in the Gallery section, click on Material Attribute Gallery / Metallic / Steel 3.

Your weight, otherwise known as a sinker, will now have a nice lead look about it.

Select each piece that goes to make up your float, beads and weight by holding down the Ctrl key on your keyboard whilst clicking on each of them. Right Click / Group.

With your grouped bit of tackle still selected, activate the transform tool and click on the rotate freely icon in the attributes bar.

Rotate your tackle just enough so that it goes over your fishing line.

Press down on the enter key on your keyboard to deselect everything.

More tackle - The hook.

Finally you need to create a hook for your fishing rod.

Activate the Line & Arrow tool and in the attributes bar ensure that the shape being used is the freehand, the colour black and the mode is 3D Round.

Click on the shape tab and ensure that the accuracy level is set at 10.

Very carefully draw a hook shape similar to this one...

Draw a tiny outline circle shape and using the pick tool place it into position on top of the hook.

Hold down on the Ctrl key on your keyboard to select both the hook and the outline circle then Right Click / Merge as a Single Object.

Use the pick tool to place your finished hook on the end of your fishing line.

Right Click / Select All.

Right Click / Merge as a Single Object.

You're ready to go fishing!

I hope you've enjoyed this tutorial. You've created a fabulous fishing rod,so what are you waiting for? Get fishing and see what you can catch!!!