The Putty filter is part of the DreamSuite 1 Set. It allows you to reshape images as if they were made of putty. Bezier paths and brush based control give you exacting control over the process.

A. Twirl Brush
This brush will rotate the image underneath its cursor in either a clockwise or counter clockwise direction. Brush normally to twirl in a clockwise direction, or hold down the ALT key for counter clockwise.

B. Enlarge / Reduce Brush
This brush makes the image underneath its cursor larger or smaller. Brush normally to enlarge the area under the brush, or hold the ALT key to reduce the area under the brush.

C. Push / Pull Brush
This brush allows you to push or pull the image around underneath the cursor. Brush normally to pull, or hold down the ALT key to push.

D. Iron Brush
This brush tool will remove any brush on Putty effects that you have allied with Twirl, Enlarge/Reduce or Push/Pull brushes. As you brush, the image reverts back to its former self.

E. Brush Opacity
Click on this small vertical slider to access the brush size control. As you adjust the feather control, you will be shown the brush attributes window. This window displays the actual size, opacity and feather settings of the brush as they will be applied.

F. Brush Size
Click on this small horizontal slider to access the brush size control. As you adjust the size, you will see a brush settings windows with the actual size, opacity and feather settings of the brush as they will be applied.

G. Brush Feather
Click on this small vertical slider to access the brush feather control. As you adjust the size, you will see a brush settings windows with the actual size, opacity and feather settings of the brush as they will be applied.

H. Delete Tool
Is used to delete effects, paths and ellipses. Select this tool, and then click over the item you want to delete. When this tool is active, you are shown all effects ellipses and paths from all tools you have used.

I. Putty Envelope
This tool draws a rectangular path shape that allows you to adjust the image shape to match changes you make to the shape on the envelope. You may only have one envelope on the screen at a time.

The Envelope path has predefined points on the center of each side and on the corners. You may adjust these points to change the shape of the image. Use the Add / Remove Point tool to add or remove points from the Envelope path. You may also use the Convert to Corner Point tool on any Envelope points.

The Envelope path can transformed (rotated, stretched and moved), and the image under it is transformed. To adjust the points on the Envelope path, move the cursor over the point, and it changes to allow you to click and drag to move the point.

J. Freehand Path
This tool allows you to draw a path by dragging the cursor along the area you want the path to be formed. When you lift the cursor, the path is formed along the area you have traced. After the path has been drawn, move the path, and it will Putty the image beneath it in the shape of the path and in the direction and distance you have moved it. The Influence slider affects how strong the adjustments will be.

• To adjust points on the path, move the cursor over the point, and it will change to an Adjust Path cursor.
• To adjust a handle of a point, move the cursor over the handle, and it will change into the Adjust Path cursor, and you can select and move the handle.
• To move the path, place the cursor over the path, and it changes to a Move Path cursor. Click and drag the path.
• If you move the cursor adjacent to the path, it will change to a Transform Path tool that allows you to drag and transform the path length and rotation.

K. Add / Remove Point
This tool will add point to a path or removes existing points. Move the tool over a path and click to add a new point, or move it over and existing point and click to remove it. The path will automatically redraw after you remove a point.

L. Convert to Corner Point
This converts any point on a path to a corner point. Click over a curved point and it becomes a corner point.

Influence
This slider controls how much influence the Envelope and Freehand path tools have on the image they are transforming.

By Joe Cilinceon, © July 28, 2002