Click for larger view.This tutorial will be utilizing the following PSP Components:
Deformation Tool
Colorizing
Copy and Paste
Resizing
Layers
Animation
Copying and pasting animations on to another file
Creating Signature Text in Animation Shop
Propagate Pasting Signature Text
Needed:
Tubes of Choice (4): The lovely tube images I am using are Gorjuss images created by Suzanne Woolcott. Please be sure that all tube images are from the same artist.
Outside Filters:
Toadies Band Surpressing Noise Filter
FM Tile Tools Blend Emboss Filter. The free demo version with 7 of the 21 filters enabled is located here.
Download Supplies: Frame created by me. Butterfly animation is from Peachie's Collection. You can download the supplies here.
Optional: Any elements you wish to add to decorate the frame.
SETTINGS USED IN THIS TUTORIAL
Magic Wand:
Mode: Add/Shift, Match Mode: RGB Value, Tolerance 0, Contiguous checked, Feather: 0, Anti-Alias checked and outside selected
Drop Shadow (Optional for Tube Graphic)
Vertical Offset 2, Horizontal Offset 2, Opacity 80, Blur 5, Color Black
This tutorial will be in three parts.
Part I will show you how to create the frame. If you would rather use the pre-made frame, skip Part I and start at Part II
Part II - will show you how to create the tag with your frame.
Part III - will add the animation
PART I - Creating the Frame
Step 1
Open a new transparent image 800 width by 500 height. We will start big and resize later.
Have your four tube images open as well so you can select a color for your frame that will work well with all of your tube graphics.
At the Material Palette, in the top color box, set it to black. In the bottom color box, set it to a color that will work with all of your tube graphics.
Left click the preset shape tool set to rectangle, with solid line, and line width of 5.05. Nothing else should be checked. Going from left to right and down, draw a rectangle that fits within a little less than a quarter of your transparency, leaving enough room to add the additional frames, some graphic decoration to the frame and text to the top of the frame. Also leave some room for your copyright information.
Step 2
Go to Layers/Duplicate.
Go to Image/Resize using the percent option at 85%, bicubic and resize all layers NOT checked.
Go to Layers/Merge/Merge Visible.
Step 3
Left click the magic wand using the settings from above. Left click the magic wand inside the middle of the frame and hit the delete key.
Go to Selections/Select None.

Step 4
Left click the Raster Deform tool. Holding down the control key, with the left mouse button, left click the right top corner node and move the frame up just a little bit, so it looks like this:
Step 5
Go to Layers/Duplicate and Image/Mirror.
Left click the mover tool and move the duplicate layer directly next to the original layer with just a bit of overlap of the two frames (see below) and go to Layers/Merge/Merge Visible.
Step 6
Go to Layers/Duplicate and Image/Mirror.
Left click the mover tool and move the duplicate layer directly next to the original layer, again overlapping the frames somewhat in the middle where the two sets of frames meet (see below) and go to Layers/Merge/Merge Visible.
Step 7
Go to Effects/3D Effects/Drop Shadow and use the settings from above.
PART II - Creating the Tag
Step 1
Have your frame psp image on your desktop. (If you are using the pre-made one, go to Adjust/Hue and Saturation/Colorize and by moving the controls, select a color for your frame).
Step 2
Left click the magic wand using the settings from above and left click the outside of the frame portion.
Go to Effects/Plugins/Toadies/Band Supressing Noise, use the default settings, but do not Deselect.
Step 3
Go to Effects/Plugins/FM Tile Tools/Blend Emboss and use the default settings.
Go to Selections/Select None.
Step 4
Left click the magic wand and left click inside the first frame section. Go to Selections/Modify/Expand 14. Do not deselect.
Go to Layers/New Raster Layer.
Step 5
Flood fill the selection with a color that will coordinate with both your frame and your tube graphic. Go to Layers/Arrange/Move Down, but do not deselect.
Step 6
Open up one of your tube graphics. Copy and paste the tube graphic as a New Layer. If the image is too large to fit within the selection, go to Image/Resize using the percent option, bicubic and resize all layers NOT checked. Move the tube graphic within the selection. Go to Selection/Invert and click the delete key.
Go to Selections/Select None.
If the image is not beneath the frame, go to Selections/Arrange/Move Down.
Step 7
Open up your layer palette and make sure you are on the frame layer.
Repeat Steps 4-6 but this time you will be working with the second frame section. You can use the same color for the background of your frame or select a different color.
Step 8
Repeat Step 7 but this time you will be working on the third section of your frame.
Step 9
Repeat Step 7 but this time you will be working on the fourth section of your frame.
Go to Layers/Merge/Merge Visible.
Step 10
Open up the elements you wish to add to your frame for decoration. Copy, Paste and Resize your elements to work with your frame. To resize your elements, go to Image/Resize using the Pixel Option, Smart Size, Maintain Aspect Ratio and Resize all Layers NOT checked.
Step 11
Apply a drop shadow effect to your elements by going to Effects/3D Effects/Drop Shadow and using the settings from above.
Step 12
Add the copyright/information.
Step 13
Go to Layers/New Raster Layer and flood fill this layer with the color of the background of the forum, blog or web site where you will be posting your graphic. Go to Layers/Arrange/Send to Bottom and go to Layers/Merge/Merge All (flatten).
We will add our text in animation shop.
Step 14
Left click the crop tool and draw a rectangle around the area you wish to keep, eliminating the background palette that you will not need. Leave some room at the top of the tag for your text.
Step 15
Go to Image/Resize using the percent option at 85%, bicubic and resize all layers checked.
Step 16
Go to Layers/Duplicate and duplicate the layers 3 times so you have a total of 4 layers.
Step 17
Save the tag as a PSP or PSD file.
PART III - Adding the Animation
Step 1
At Animation Shop, locate the tag file and open it. Go to View/Normal Viewing. You should see 4 frames. Click the Control and A keys to activate all the frames.
Step 2
Open up the butterfly vine animation and also go to View/Normal Viewing. There should also be 4 frames. Go to Animation/Resize Animation using the percentage option at 70%, Smart Size, and Maintain Aspect Ratio checked.
Step 3
Click the Control and A keys to activate all the frames. Go to Edit/Copy. Make the tag file active, making sure all the frames are activated. Go to the very first frame and go to Edit/Paste into selected frame. Holding down the left mouse button, place the butterfly vine animation on the left side of the frame. Once you have it in place, release the left mouse button.
Step 4
Make the butterfly vine animation active (making sure all the frames are activated) and go to Animation/Mirror. Go to Edit/Copy.
Make the tag image active and this time place the butterfly vine on the right hand side of the frame. Once you have it in place, release the left mouse button.
Step 5
Making sure your tag animation has all the frames activated (Control and A keys), right click any frame, go to Frame Properties, left click and type in 15.
Saving the Animation
Step 1
Before we save the animation, click the Customize button to make sure you have all the correct settings for this animation. You should see two tabs: Colors and Optimizations.
Here is what each setting should be under the two separate tabs:
Colors
255 Colors, Optimized Octree and Error Diffusion should be checked.
Optimizations
The middle three selections should be checked.
The top and bottom selections - unchecked.
After customizing the animation settings, click Ok and click Next and you will get the following screens:
Screen 1 Animation versus output Size - just click next.
Screen 2 Optimization process - just click next.
Screen 3 Optimization preview - just click next.
Screen 4 Optimization results - click finish.
Step 2
Save the file as a gif file (without text). You will later add text and resave so you can make additional tags for friends and forum/group members.
Adding Signature Text in Animation Shop using Propagate Paste
Step 1
Go to File/New. For Animation Properties make the width and height 300 and have transparent checked.
Left click the text tool and when the text entry box opens, select your font type and size, type in your text, and click ok.
Step 2
Go to Edit/Copy. Go to Edit/Propagate Paste.
Step 3
Make your tag file active, making sure all the frames are activated. If they are not, click the Control and A keys to activate all the frames. Go to Edit/Paste into selected frame. Holding down the left mouse button, place the signature text exactly where you want it in the very first frame. Release the left mouse button and the text should now be in all the frames.
Resave your animation with a new name.
Comments and Sharing Your Results
Please do let me know how this tutorial worked for you. You can post your comments at the Blog and do email me your results so I can see!










