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!

If you haven't downloaded the "additional file" selected for this tutorial already, then click on this link A photograph of a daisy will open in a new browser window. Right click on the photograph and select to Save Picture As to a folder on your hard drive. Of course you're welcome to use your own photograph instead if you prefer.

In PhotoImpact, click on File/Open. Browse to where you saved the photo you wish to use for this tutorial and double click on it.

Click on the Selection tool and ensure that Mode is selected in the attributes bar along with the following settings. Shape = Circle; Fixed size = 150 x 150 pixels; Soft edge = 0.

Hold down your left mouse button whilst you position your circle selection. Let go of the button when you're happy with it's placement.

Click on Effect/Distort/Crystal and Glass.

Before doing anything here, click on the Still button and then ensuring that you have the Sphere Effect selected, enter the following settings:

Width = 100
Height = 100 (If the keep aspect ratio is checked, the height will adjust automatically.)
Radius = 80
Distortion = 3
Transparency = 0

Click on OK.

Click on Photo/Sharpen/Sharpen.

If you see a different window to the one shown on the left here, click on the Options button. Adjust the level to 30 and then click on OK.

Click on Edit/Trace Edges/Selection Marquee. Accept the default values by clicking on OK and then change the Mode in the attributes bar from Horizontal Deform to 3D Round.

At this point, you will have a coloured path shape circle covering the selected area of your photograph, but we'll fix that now.

Open the Easy Palette and with the gallery section selected, click on Material Attribute Gallery/Glass/G23. The selected area of your photo will now have a nice glassy look over it.

Open the Layer Manager and click on the middle layer (the circle with the picture on it). By doing this you will be changing what's selected on your photograph.

Click on Edit/Trace Edges/Selection Marquee. Accept the default values by clicking on OK and then change the Mode in the attributes bar from Horizontal Deform to 3D Pipe.

In the Path Panel box ensure that the border is set at 4, and the depth 30.

The colour of the 3D pipe going around your selected area of the photograph is glass, but we need to remove that before changing the colour of it, so open the gallery section of the Easy Pallete again and this time click on Material Attributes Gallery/Glass/Remove Material.

By doing that last step, you will now have a nice neat 3D pipe going around the selected area of your photo with a line running through the middle of it. This will fomulate the ring of your magnifying glass.

You now need to create a handle for your magnifying glass, so activate the Path Drawing tool and ensure that the attributes bar shows the following settings: Shape = Rounded Rectangle; Color = Black; Mode = 3D Round.

Draw a longish rounded rectangle shape that will represent the handle of your magnifying glass and then click on the Transform tool and rotate it to an angle of your choosing.

Move the handle into place, and then in the Layer Manager, drag it to the lowest position.

Back on your image, Right Click/Merge All.

That's all there is to it! I hope you've enjoyed this tutorial and that you'll go on to get close up and personal with many more photographs.