Paw print in the Sand

This is a fun way to learn how to create textures and beveled (sunken) effects in Fireworks. In this case, we'll be creating a paw print in the sand.

Of course, the first thing to do is to create the vector shapes for the paw print. I just drew them out with the Pen Tool.

The Fill

Select one of the shape (we'll be creating the same style to apply to the others later) and fill with the Goo-Blue Pattern.

This is the fill, without any effects added to it, notice the fill direction. Basically, you just want to make sure there aren't any noticeable repeating patterns in the fill.

The Stroke

Choose Oil for the stroke category and Bristle for the stroke name. Use the settings shown below.

Filters, Filters and MORE Filters

There's quite a few Fireworks and Photoshop Live Filters to add for this effect. Note: You'll need CS3 or later for this tutorial.

Fireworks Live Filters:

Photoshop Live Effects

No more filters or effect add! Now save this as a style and apply it to the other shapes for the paw print.

There's one extra thing I did to make it appear like the paw print was actually sunken into the sand. I simply made copies of each shape in the paw print, removed the effects and filled them with a solid brown. I placed them underneath the original shapes and nudged them over a bit to show enough edge for the desired effect. It's a subtle effect but it does the trick.

Finally, I drew out a rectangle underneath everything else the size of the canvas and applied the Paw print style to it for the background which acts as the soil or sand.

And thank goodness, that's it!