Read on to view our exclusive tutorial by Lynn Farmer on creating cinnamon sticks.

Creating Cinnamon Sticks using PSP9 and EyeCandy 3.1

by and copyright 2004 Lynn Farmer

Open a new image, set to 12x4 (inches), 300 dpi, raster background, 24 bit colors, transparent.

Colors: Set ‘Fill" to R105, G48 and B35 and ‘Stroke’ to R0, G0, B0 (black).

Select the ‘Pen tool’ and set to ‘Draw Freehand’, ‘Tracking’ set to 85, ‘Create on Vector’ checked, ‘Line Style’ set to +solid, ‘Width’ set to 10.00, ‘Anti Alias’checked, ‘Join’ set to miter join and ‘Miter Limit’ at 15.

Now you’re ready to draw your first ‘log’. Don’t be too perfect here, cinnamon isn’t perfectly rectangular, and leave the edges a bit rough or slightly jagged. Also, draw your log about one-half to an inch thick by 10-11 inches long. It’ll be easier to work with at this point besides we’re going to squish it later to make it the right size. When done click on ‘Apply’.

Make another vector layer and draw another ‘log’. Same as before except this time overlap the first one you made. Click on ‘Apply’.

Change both to Raster layers.

Using EyeCandy, go to ‘Chrome’ and set your setting to:

Softness, 72

Variation, 50

Contrast, 50

Bands, 4

Base Color, black

High light color, white

Apply

Repeat for the other layer.

Now go to Effects/3D Effects/Innerbevel

Bevel settings set to:

Bevel, #9

Width, 15

Set Image setting to:

Smoothness, 88

Depth, 55

Ambience, -7

Shininess, 12

Set the Light settings to:

Angle, 49

Intensity, 63

Elevation, 18

Color set to:

R167

G112

B103

Apply. Repeat for the other layer.

Next we’ll use the ‘Dodge brush’ – We’ll use these settings:

Choose the Dry Brush Angle, size 75, Step 10, density 100, Rotation 185 and Opacity set to 25.

Create lighter parts on the logs keeping in mind what a cinnamon stick looks like. Stay away from the darker areas and lighten inner edges of both logs.

Create a new Raster layer.

Set ‘Fill’ color to:

R132

G48

B34

Using the ‘Paint Brush’ tool with the Dry Brush Angle chosen, size 75, step 10, density 100, Rotation 185 and Opacity set to 30.

With this brush add variation to the logs leaving some brown.

Now take this layers’ opacity down to the desired effect.

Make sure that you are on the top log’s layer. Go to Effects/3D Effects/Drop Shadow and plug in these settings:

Offset:

Vertical, -12

Horizontal, 0

Attributes:

Opacity, 65

Blur, 5

Color, Black = R0, G0, B0

Shadow on new layer, not checked

Apply.

Merge visible.

Go to Effects/Texture Effects

Use these settings:

Texture:

Cedar 02 (or a deep bark texture)

Size 260%

Image:

Smoothness 1

Depth 1

Ambience 7

Shininess 10

Light:

Angle 330

Intensity 50

Elevation 27

Apply.

Click on the ‘Deform’ tool and squish the image to a size of about ¼ to ½ inch wide. When using more than one stick in an element I lighten some of them to give them a more uneven ‘real’ feel.

That’s it! Now go make a couple more and put together some of those cinnamon stick ornaments we see hanging on trees, or make a frame like I did.

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