Text Message

Click for larger view.

This tutorial will be utilizing the following PSP Components:

Colorizing
Magic Wand
Flood Fill
Layers
Copy and Paste
Resizing
Animation
Changing Frame Properties
Propagate Paste for Signature Text

Needed:

Tube of Choice: The lovely tube image I am using is a Gorjuss image created by Suzanne Woolcott.

The texting template can be downloaded here.

Font: Arial Rounded MT Bold Size 16 for texting message and Larger Size of same font for Signature Text

Optional: Eye Candy 4000 Gradient Glow for Signature Text

SETTINGS USED IN THIS TUTORIAL

Magic Wand:
Mode: Add/Shift, Match Mode: RGB Value, Tolerance 26, Contiguous checked, Feather: 0, Anti-Alias checked and outside selected.

Drop Shadow for Image:
Vertical Offset 2, Horizontal Offset 2, Opacity 80, Blur 5, Color Black

Drop Shadow used on Text:
Vertical Offset 1, Horizontal Offset 1, Opacity 30, Blur 2, Color Black

Eye Candy 4000 Gradient Glow Setting (Optional for Text)
Under Basic - Just Change Glow Width to 3
Under Color - Select Fat
Apply Drop Shadow setting used on text above

Step 1
Open up the text template and your tube graphic. Open up the layer palette and you will see you have two layers. The bottom layer (Raster Layer) has the Iphone. The layer above has the line art.

Go to Raster Layer 1 and colorize the Iphone to a color that works with your tube graphic. To colorize, go to Adjust/Hue and Saturation/Colorize and move the sliders over until you find a color that works for you.

Go to the Line Art layer and colorize with the same color you used on the IPhone Layer.

Step 2
Open up the tube graphic you will be using and copy and paste it on the template. If the image needs to be resized, go to Image/Resize using the percent option, bicubic and resize all layers NOT checked.

Step 3
Add your licensing information to the tag.

Step 4
Go to Layers/New Raster Layer and flood fill this layer with the color of the background of the forum, web site or blog where you will be posting your tag.

Go to Layers/Arrange send to bottom.

Go to Layers/Merge/Merge All (Flatten).

Step 5
Go to Layers/Duplicate.

Step 6
At the Material Palette, make the bottom color box, black and the top color box null (no color). Locate the Arial Round MT Bold, size 16. For text type, you need to use FLOATING, not Vector.

Step 7
On the duplicate layer (not the original layer) type in the the first letter of your message, making sure to move the first letter of the text is all the way over to the left inside the message box. Go to Selections/Select None.

Step 8
Go to Layers/Duplicate. On the duplicate layer, next to the first letter of your message, type in the second letter. Go to Selections/Select None.

Step 9
Go to Layers/Duplicate. On the duplicate layer, type in the next letter of your message and go to Selections/Select None.

Step 10
Continue duplicating your layers after adding each letter of your text message until you have your entire message in the message box. Save this file as a PSP or PSD file.

Animation Shop

Step 1
Open up your psp file and go to View/Normal Viewing. Go to the very last frame of your animation. Right click that frame. Go to Frame Properties and left click. Type in 55. We only want to slow down the last frame.

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 Median Cut 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 Paint Shop Pro as on the Tag

Step 1
Open up your tag file. Go to Layers/New Raster Layer and type in the signature text using the same font but at a larger font size. Do not apply a stroke. At the Material Palette, only select a color for the bottom color box (fill) and leave the top color box null (no color).

Step 2
Left click the magic wand using the settings from above. Left click the magic wand on every other letter of the signature text to select it. Go to Adjust/Brightness and Contrast/Brightness/Contrast and use these settings:

Brightness 48 Contrast 37

Go to Selections/Select None.

Step 3
Go to Effects/Plugins/Eye Candy 4000/Gradient Glow and use the settings from above.

Step 4
Go to Effects/3D Effects/Drop Shadow and use the settings from above for the signature text.

Step 5
Go to Edit/Cut. Go to Edit/Paste as New Image. Close your tag and DO NOT resave it. We only needed to see the placement of the signature text.

Step 6
Make your signature text active and go to Edit/Copy.

Adding Signature Text in Animation Shop by Propagate Paste

Step 1
Go to Edit/Paste as New Animation. Your Signature Text should now be in animation shop.

Go to Edit/Copy. Go to Edit/Propagate Paste

Step 3
Have your tag file open and activate all the frames by clicking the Control and A keys. 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 mouse button and the signature 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!

Colors Brighten My World

Click for larger view.

This tutorial will be utilizing the following PSP Components:

Magic Wand
Flood Fill
Copy and Paste
Resizing
Rotating Images using the Deformation Tool
Layers
Animation
Copying and pasting animations on to another file
Propagate Paste

Needed:

Tube of Choice: The lovely tube image I am using is a Gorjuss image created by Suzanne Woolcott.

All art supplies tubed my me, Pad Template and Line Art created by me. These supplies, including the animated pencil, can be downloaded here.

Font: Crayon Alphabet - Included in Zip

SETTINGS USED IN THIS TUTORIAL

Magic Wand:
Mode: Add/Shift, Match Mode: RGB Value, Tolerance 10, Contiguous checked, Feather: 0, Anti-Alias checked and outside selected.

Drop Shadow:
Vertical Offset 2, Horizontal Offset 2, Opacity 80, Blur 5, Color Black

Step 1
Open up the pad template. Left click the magic wand, using the settings from above, and left click the magic wand on the frame of the pad to select it. At the Material palette, left click on any color that you would like for the color of the frame so that it appears in the top color box. Left click the flood fill tool, and left click the flood fill tool inside the pad's frame. Go to Selections/Select None.

Step 2
Open up the artist supplies and copy and paste them on your image on separate layers. Make sure to paste the crayon, pencils, brush or makers above the pad template. Left click the mover tool and move the each image where you would like it. Once you place an art image (pencil, crayon, marker brush), go to Layers/Arrange/Move to Bottom so that the crayon, pencil, brush or maker is below the pad template and yet standing up beneath the pad. Copy and paste as many of the art images as you like, making sure that each is placed underneath the pad and that each can be seen on the tag.

Step 3
If you need to resize your images either larger or smaller, go to Image/Resize using the percent option, smart size and resize all layers NOT checked. Or you can use the Raster Deform Tool - see information below.

Raster Deform Tool
If you wish to angle your art graphics, click the raster deform tool and you will see nodes surrounding the graphic. If you look on the side mode, you will see that when you place your mouse there, you have two rounded arrows. That means that is the node that will rotate your images. Just left click where you see the two rounded arrows, and holding down your left mouse button, slowly rotate your image to the left or to the right.

To make your images larger, left click the top node, and holding down your left mouse button, move the node upward. Or left click the bottom node, and holding down your left mouse button, move the node downward. To make the image wider, left click the right side node and holding down your left mouse button, move the node outward to the right. To mkae the left side wider, left click the left side node, and holding down your left mouse button, move the node outward to the left.

Step 4
If you wish to add a drop shadow to these images, go to Effects/3D Effects/Drop Shadow and use the settings from above.

Step 5
Once you have all your images placed under the pad template, go to Layers/Merge/Merge Visible.

Step 6
Go to Layers/New Raster Layer and add your main tube image to the tag and resize as necessary and apply the drop shadow to the main tube image. Add your copyright/licensing information to the tag.

Step 7
Go to Layers/New Raster Layer and copy and paste the line art to the tag.

Step 8
Go to Layers/Merge/Merge Visible. Go to Layers/New Raster Layer and on this layer flood fill with the color of the background of the forum, blog or web site where you image will be shown. Go to Layers/Arrange/Send to Bottom.

Step 9
If you wish to have the crayon, going sideways at the bottom of the tag, add that now and use the Raster Deform tool to rotate it and resize it. Or you can go to Image/Rotate/Free Rotate with Direction left and 90 degrees. You can resize the image to make it larger by going to Image/Resize, using the percent option at 120%, Smart Size and resize all Layers NOT checked.

Step 10
Go to Layers/Merge/Merge Visible.

Step 11
Go to Layers/Duplicate. Keep duplicating the layers until you have 29 layers. Save as a psp or psd file.

Animation Shop - Adding the Animated Pencil

Step 1
At Animation Shop, locate the tag file and open it. Go to View/Normal Viewing. You should see 29 frames. Click the Control and A keys to activate all the frames.

Step 2
Open up the animated pencil and also go to View/Normal Viewing. There should also be 29 frames. 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. If they are not, then click the Control and A keys to activate all the frames. Go to the very first frame and go to Edit/Paste into selected frame. Holding down the left mouse button, place the animated pencil in the same spot as you see on my tag and release the left mouse button.

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 Paint Shop Pro

Step 1
Open up your tag file. Go to Layers/New Raster Layer. In Internet Explorer, open up the crayon font and minimize it. Left click the text tool. Locate the Crayon Alphabet font and make it about Size 36 with stroke set to O. Left click the bottom color box. When the color window opens, left click gradient. Select the rainbow gradient with angle set to 90 and repeats set to o. The top color box should be set to null. Add your text on the new layer. If you used Vector Text, make sure to convert the vector layer to a raster layer. Go to Edit/Copy.

Close the tag file. Do not save it. We only needed it for signature text placement.

Step 2
Go to Edit/Paste as New Image.

Step 3
Go to Edit/Copy.

Adding Signature Text in Animation Shop by Propagate Paste

Step 1
At Animation Shop, go to Edit/Paste as New Animation.

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 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 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!

Twice Transmission Tag

Click for larger view.

For this tutorial you will need two Outside Filters:

DSB Flux - Linear Transmission Filter

VM Extravaganza - Transmission Filter (Do make sure you have the correct transmission filter - it needs to be part of the VM Extravaganza Collection).

This tutorial will be utilizing the following PSP Components:

Foreground/Background Gradient
Outside Filters
Resizing
Copy and Paste
Raster Deform
Crop Tool
Animation
Pasting Animation Files into Another
Changing Frame Properties

Needed:

Tubes of Choice (2):

Main Tube Image: The lovely tube image I am using is a Gorjuss image created by Suzanne Woolcott.

Small Tube Image for Bouncing Effect - Either use a tube from the same artist or use a clipart tube that does not require copyright information. Small tube image will have dimensions roughly with a width of 100 and height of 67.

There are no psp elements for this tutorial. All elements on your tag will be supplied by you!

Please note: DO NOT RESIZE the tag. By doing so, you will lose the look of the design. If you look at my resized smaller tag you will see that it does not match the full size tag when you click for the the larger view.

Settings Used in this Tutorial:

Drop Shadow:
Vertical Offset 2, Horizontal Offset 2, Opacity 80, Blur 5, Color Black

Free Hand Selection Tool (Lasso)
Set to Point to Point, Mode Add (Shift), Feather 0, Smoothing 2, Anti-Alias
checked

Font Used: Microsoft Sans Serif

Making the Basic Tag in Paint Shop Pro

Step 1
Open a new transparent image 600 width by 400 height. Left click the top color box at the Material Palette and select a deep color that coordinates with your main graphic.

Left click the bottom color box and either select a lighter variation of the same color family in the top color box or a color that coordinates well with the first color you selected.

Left click the top color box and when the color selection window opens, click the gradient tab and select, linear style, foreground-background with angle and repeats set to 0. Have invert checked.

Flood fill the transparency with this linear foreground-background gradient.

Step 2
Go to Image/Resize using the percent option at 90%, bicubic, and resize all layers NOT checked.

Step 3
Go to Effects/Plugins/VM Extravaganza/Transmission and use these settings:

Line Width 174, Offset 0, Contrast 40

Step 4
Go to Effects/Plugins/DSB Flux/Linear Transmission and use these settings:

Size 1, Offset 4, Blend -4 (to get to the minus 4, move the slider)

Go to Layers/Merge/Merge All (flatten).

Step 5
Open your tube graphic and make it active. Go to Edit/Copy. Make your tag image active and go to Edit/Paste as New Layer.

Step 6
If your image is too large, resize your image by going to Image/Resize, using the percent option and Resize all Layers NOT checked.

Step 7
Go to Effects/3D Effects/Drop Shadow and use the drop shadow settings from above.

Step 8
Go to Layers/New Raster Layer and add the licensing information.

Step 9 (Optional)
Add any additional decorations to your tag.

Step 10
Go to Layers/Merge/Merge All (flatten).

Step 11
Go to Layers/Duplicate. Left click the crop tool and draw a rectangle around all the areas you wish to keep eliminating all the extra white palette surrounding the tag. Double left click inside the rectangle and save this file as a psp file (without the text). This is your basic tag.

Creating the Text

Step 1
Have your Original Tag Open. Go to Layers/New Raster Layer and type in your text. Once you have your text typed, go to Edit/Cut. Now go to Edit/Paste as New Image. Close your original tag. We only wanted to know the where the text would be placed.

Step 2
Have your new text file open and go to Image/Canvas Size and make the width and height 600 just to give you plenty of room to work.

Step 3
Go to Layers/Duplicate so that you have your text on two layers. Open up the layer palette and left click the eye on the bottom layer to close it off. Make sure you are on the duplicate text layer.

Step 4
Left click the Freehand Selection Tool (Lasso) and use the settings from above. With the lasso tool, draw a selection around the middle letter of your text. Once you have the letter selected, go to Edit/Cut. Now go to Edit/Paste as New Layer. With your mover tool, move the letter back into place in your text.

Step 5
On the layer with your one letter of text, left click the raster deform tool. You will see that the letter is now surrounded by nodes. See example below:

Step 6
Holding down the left mouse button, left click the top middle node and move it downward so that the letter shrinks. See example below:



Step 7
Open up your layer palette. Your bottom layer (original text layer) should be closed off - red X on the eye of that layer. Go to the layer above it. Go to Layers/Merge/Merge Visible.

Step 8
Left click the red X on the bottom layer to open it. You should now have two layers of text. One layer has the original size text. The second layer has the text with one letter made much smaller.

Save this file as a psp file.

Adding the Smaller Tube Image to the Text for the Bounce Effect in Animation Shop

Step 1
In Animation Shop, open the text file and go to View/Normal Viewing so you can see the two frames. Go to View/Onion Skin Enabled. By doing this, you will be able to see the placement of images in prior frames on your present frame.

Step 2
Open up the small tube image you will be using. Go to Edit/Copy. Make the text file active and left click Frame 1 to activate it. Go to Edit/Paste into Selected Frame. Remember you had selected a letter in your text that has the regular size in Frame 1 and the smaller size in Frame 2. Holding down the left mouse button, place the smaller tube image above the regular sized letter in Frame 1 and release the left mouse button.

Step 3
Make Frame 2 active by left clicking it. Now go to Edit/Paste into Selected Frame. Holding down the left mouse button, place the smaller tube image directly on the smaller deformed letter and release the left mouse button.

Copying and Pasting the Text with Animation on the Tag File.

Step 1
Your text with animation file should be open. Click the Control and A Keys to activate all the frames. Go to Edit/Copy.

Step 2
Open up the tag file and click the Control and A Keys to activate all the frames. Go to Edit/Paste into Selected Frame. Go to the very first frame. Holding down the left mouse button, place the text with animation in Frame 1 exactly where you want it and release the left mouse button.

Step 3
Right click Frame 1 go to Frame Properties and left click. Type in 20.

Step 4
Right click Frame 2, go to Frame Properties and left click. Type in 30.

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 Median Cut 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.

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!

Happy Thanksgiving Tag

Click for larger view.

This tutorial will be utilizing the following PSP Components:

Foreground/Background Gradient
Resizing
Effects/Reflections Effects/Kaleidoscope
Colorizing
Animation
Pasting Animation Files into Another
Propagate Pasting Images on Frames in Animation Shop as well as text

Needed:

Tube of Choice: The lovely tube image I am using is a Gorjuss image created by Suzanne Woolcott.

The following are included in the zip file which you can download here:

Turkey tubed by me, Happy Thanksgiving word art by me, beautiful leaves in basket with rake and pumpkins were from Suzie Q's Paint Shop Pro Tubes, and awesome animated leaves created by Kat. Do visit Kat's wonderful blog located here.

Settings Used in this Tutorial:

Drop Shadow:
(1) Vertical Offset 1, Horizontal Offset -1, Opacity 40, Blur 4, Color Black
(2) Vertical Offset -1, Horizontal Offset 1, Opacity 40, Blur 4, Color Black
(3) Vertical Offset 2, Horizontal Offset 2, Opacity 80, Blur 5, Color Black (used on text and can be applied to tube graphics, as well)

Making the Basic Tag in Paint Shop Pro

Step 1
Open up a new transparent image, 600 width by 600 height.

Step 2
At the Material Palette, in the top color box, select a light to medium color that coordinates with your graphic. In the bottom color box, select a deeper shade of the same color family.

Step 3
Left click the top color box and when the color selection window opens, click the gradient tab and select linear style, foreground/background with angle and repeats set to 0. Your gradient should now have the deeper color on the top and the lighter color on the bottom.
Flood fill the transparency with this gradient.

Step 4
Go to Image/Resize using the percent option at 70%, bicubic and resize all layers NOT checked.

Step 5
Go to Effects/Reflection Effects/Kaleidoscope and use these settings:

Horizontal offset -100, Vertical Offset -82, Rotation angle 36, Scale factor -54, Number of petals 16, Number of orbits 0, Radial suction 16, Edge Mode: Wrap

Step 6
Repeat Step 5 applying the kaleidoscope settings and erase all of the pixels that are not part of the kaleidoscope design.

Step 7
Go to Effects/3D Effects/Drop Shadow and apply the #1 drop shadow.

Step 8
Repeat Step 7 but apply the #2 Drop Shadow.

Step 9
Go to Layers/Duplicate. Go to Image/Resize using the percent option at 80%, bicubic and resize all layers not checked.

Step 10
Repeat Step 9 duplicating the layers and again resizing 80%.

Step 11
Go to Layers/Merge/Merge Visible.

Step 12
Copy and Paste the Happy Thanksgiving Word Art to the top of the tag. If you want a deeper shade, go to Adjust/Brightness and Contrast/Brightness/Contrast and use these settings: Brightness -43 (minus) and Contrast -13 (minus). Now Colorize the Word Art by going to Adjust/Hue and Saturation/Colorize and moving the sliders until you get a color that you like.

Step 13
Go to Layers/Merge/Merge Visible.

Step 14
Go to Image/Resize using the percent option at 90%, Bicubic and Resize all Layers NOT checked. Move the image toward the top of the palette to leave room below to add graphics and text.

Step 15
Go to Layers/New Raster Layer and flood fill this layer with the color of the background of the forum, web site or blog where your image will be shown. Go to Layers/Arrange/Send to Bottom

Step 16
Add your copyright information and go to Layers/Merge/Merge Visible.

Step 17
Go to Layers/Duplicate. Continuing duplicating until you have a total of 20 layers. Save this file as a psp or psd file. We will be adding the graphics on the tag in animation shop.

Step 18
The tube images supplied will need to be resized by 90% or smaller (except the turkey which should be fine as is) - so go ahead and resize and resave each of them now. We will add the graphics to the tag directly in animation shop. Should the images still need further resizing, resize and resave in Paint Shop Pro.

Adding the Graphics to the Tag in Animation Shop by Copy and Paste and Propagate Paste

Step 1
Open up your tag image. Go to View/Normal Viewing so you can see all the frames. There should be 20 frames. Click the Control and A keys to activate all the frames.

Step 2
Open up the leaf animation and go to View/Normal Viewing. Click the Control and A Keys to activate all the frames. Go to Animation/Resize Animation. We will be making the animation LARGER. Use Percentage of Original at 110%, Resize Type: Smart Size and Maintain Aspect Ratio checked. Go to Edit/Copy. Make the tag image 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, go to the very first frame and place the leaf animation on the second tier area of the tag and release the left mouse button.

Step 3
Open up the pumpkin tube and go to Edit/Copy. Now go to Edit/Propagate Paste. Make the main tag image active, making sure all the frames are still activated. Go to the very first frame and go to Edit/Paste into Selected Frame. Holding down the left mouse button, place the pumpkins where you want them on the tag or use my tag as an example.

Read about Propagate Paste

The Propagate Paste function works as a control or switch that has been turned on. Once you have used the Propagate Paste function one time, and want to continue pasting one image or text file on all the animation frames, you can continue to do so. BUT, DO NOT GO TO EDIT/PROPAGATE PASTE. Instead, just go to Edit/Paste into Selected Frame. As long as you continue to have Animation Shop open, all pasting is done by Edit/Paste into Selected Frame.

Step 4
Open up the leaves and rake tube image. Again go to Edit/Copy. Make the tag image active (making sure all 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 leaves and rake exactly where you want it on the tag and release the left mouse button. Remember - DO NOT USE Propagate Paste since you already used it and opened that control.

Step 5
Continue copying and pasting your images for your tag as you did in Step 4.

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 Median Cut 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. This is your template file. We will now add the signature text.

Adding Text in Paint Shop Pro

Open up Paint Shop Pro and create your text. Go to Edit/Copy. Open up Animation Shop and go to Edit/Paste as New Animation.

Copying and Pasting the Signature Text in Animation Shop

Make your text animation active and go to Edit/Copy. Make the tag image active, making sure all 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 text exactly where you want it and release the left mouse button. Again - DO NOT USE PROPAGATE PASTE because the control is already opened from the very first time you used this function. Resave the 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!

Friends Worldwide

Click for larger view.

This tutorial will be utilizing the following PSP Components:

Template
Copy and Paste into Selection
Layers
Magic Wand
Colorizing
Resizing
Animation
Pasting Animation Files into Another
Propagate Paste

Needed:

Tube of Choice: The lovely tube image I am using is a Gorjuss image created by Suzanne Woolcott.

The friends worldwide template with word art, animated globes small and large, created by me and world map can be downloaded here. Globes were created using the Ulead Gif-X program.

Settings Used in this Tutorial:

Magic Wand:
Mode: Add/Shift, Match Mode: RGB Value, Tolerance 46, Contiguous checked, Feather: 0, Anti-Alias checked and outside selected.

Drop Shadow: (Optional for tube image)
Vertical Offset 2, Horizontal Offset 2, Opacity 80, Blur 5, Color Black

Font Used: Andy

Making the Basic Tag

Step 1
Open up the Friends Worldwide Template and the World Map. Go to the layer with the white circle. Left click the magic wand using the settings from above and left click inside the circle to select it.

Step 2
Make the world map image active and go to Edit/Copy. Make the tag image active and go to Edit/Paste into Selection. Go to Selections/Select None.

Step 3
Open up your tube image and go to Edit/Copy. Make your tag active and go to Edit/Paste as New Layer. If the image needs to be resized, go to Image/Resize using the percent option, bicubic and resize all layers NOT checked. Make sure to paste your image in such a way that your continent is not covered up.

Step 4
If you wish to apply a drop shadow to your tube image, go to Effects/3D Effects/Drop Shadow and use the settings from above.

Step 5
Add the copyright and licensing information.

Step 6
Open up the word art layer. You can leave the word art with the original color or you can colorize it by going to Adjust/Hue and Saturation, Colorize and moving the sliders over until you get a color you like.

Step 7
Go to Layers/New Raster Layer. On this layer, flood fill with the color of the background of the blog, forum, or web site where you will be posting your tag. Go to Layers/Arrange/Send to Bottom.

Step 8
Go to Layers/Merge/Merge Visible and save this file as a psp or psd file without text.

Creating the Text File

Step 1
Open the tag file and on a new layer type in your text. Go to Edit/Cut and Go to Edit/Paste as New Image. Close your tag and do not resave it. We only needed the tag to see where the text would fit.

Save this file as a psp or psd file.

Animation Shop

Step 1
Open up the globe files (both the large and small) and go to View/Normal Viewing. You should have 15 frames for both these files. Click the Control and A Keys to activate all the frames.

Step 2
Open up the tag file which is only one frame. Go to View/Normal Viewing. Right click the first frame and go to duplicate selected and left click. Continue duplicating the frames until you have 15 frames (the same number as the globe animations). Click the Control and A Keys to activate all the frames.

Step 3
Make the small globe active. Go to Edit/Copy. Make the Tag file active and go to Edit/Paste into Selected Frame. Holding down the left mouse button, go to the very first frame and place the small globe next to the continent where you live.

Step 4
Make the large globe active. Go to Edit/Copy. Make the Tag file active and go to Edit/Paste into Selected Frame. Holding down the left mouse button, go to the very first frame and place the large globe at the bottom of the tag.

Adding the Text by Propagate Paste

Step 1
Open up the text file and go to Edit/Copy. Now go to Edit/Propagate Paste. Make your tag image active and go to Edit/Paste into Selected Frame. Holding down the left mouse button, go to the very first frame, place the text exactly where you want it, and release the left mouse button.

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 Median Cut 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. Should you wish to make additional tags for friends and forum/group members, in Paint Shop Pro create the text files and save them. In Animation Shop, open up the animation you created and just copy and paste the text to the tag and save.

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!

My Pictures

Click for larger view.

This tutorial is very similar to the one I wrote called, "Fading Tag." The principle is basically the same using the fade transition effect in animation shop applying it a little differently with a different setting.

This tutorial will be utilizing the following PSP Components:

Copy and Paste
Layers
Magic Wand
Merging Layers
Animation
Image Transition (Fade)
Pasting Frames
Changing Frame Properties
Adding Text using the Propagate Paste function

Needed:

1 Main Tube of Choice: The lovely tube image I am using is a Gorjuss image created by Suzanne Woolcott.

3 pictures of choice - again, I used the full images by Suzanne Woolcott

All tubes and pictures should be by the same artist.

The easel, palette, paint brushes, all tubed by me can be downloaded here.

Settings Used in this Tutorial:

Magic Wand:
Mode: Add/Shift, Match Mode: RGB Value, Tolerance 14, Contiguous checked, Feather: 0, Anti-Alias checked and outside selected.

Drop Shadow:
Vertical Offset 2, Horizontal Offset 2, Opacity 80, Blur 5, Color Black

Making the Basic Tags and Merging Them

Step 1
Open up the artist zip and rearrange the elements however you like or keep them the same. If you have your own elements you would like to add, go to Edit/Copy and Edit/Paste as New Layer. Resize your elements to fit by going to Image/Resize using the percent option, bicubic and resize all layers NOT checked.

Step 2
Add your main tube image as a new layer and resize as needed.

Step 3
Go to Layers/New Raster Layer and Flood Fill with the color of the background of your forum, blog or website where this image will be displayed. Go to Layers/Arrange/Send to Bottom.

Go to Layers/Merge/Merge All (flatten).

Step 4
Left click the magic wand using the settings from above. Left click the magic wand into the white portion of the easel. Go to Selections/Modify Expand 2.

Step 5
Go to Layers/Duplicate. Do this once more so you now have three layers. DO NOT DESELECT.

Step 6
Open up the layer palette and make sure you are on layer 1. Open up one of your picture images and resize it by going to Image/Resize using the Pixel Option, Smart Size, and Resize all Layers. Go to Edit/Copy. Now go to Edit/Paste into Selection. DO NOT DESELECT.

Step 7
Go to layer 2 and copy and paste the second picture inside the easel. DO NOT DESELECT.

Step 8
Go to layer 3 and copy and paste the third picture inside the easel. Go to Selections/Select None.

Step 9
Go to Layers/New Raster Layer. On this layer, type in your text using the floating option for text.

Step 10
Go to Layers/New Raster Layer. On this layer, type in a your text using something different than before and typing directly on top of the text in the previous layer so that it is superimposed.

Step 11
Go to Layers/New Raster Layer. On this layer, type in a your text, again using something different than before and typing directly on top of the text in the previous layer so that it is superimposed.

Step 12
Open up the layer palette and rename all your layers. To rename the layers, right click on one of the layers, go to rename, left click and type in the new name. You will be renaming the layers as follows: background1, background2 background 3, text 1, text 2, text 3. Once you have renamed your files, left click on one of the layers, and holding down your left mouse button, physically move the layers so that you have a background layer and a text layer above for each of the 3 backgrounds. See screenshot below:

Merging the Layers

Step 1
Left click on the eye on background 2, text 2, background 3 and text 3 to close off these layers. You will see a red X. Go to the background 1 layer (the bottom layer) and go to Layers/Merge/Merge Visible. Left click the eye on the Merged layer and you will now have a red X closing off this layer.

Step 2
Left click the red x on the background2 and text 2 layers to open up these two layers. Go to the background 2 layer and again go to Layers/Merge/Merge Visible. You should now have two merged layers. Left click the eye on the new merged layer to close it off.

Step 3
Left click the red x on the background3 and text 3 layers to open up these two layers. Go to the background 3 layer and again go to Layers/Merge/Merge Visible. You now have a third merged layer. Left click the red X on the two bottom merged layers to open them up. All three merged layers should now be open.

Step 4
Go to Image/Resize, using the Pixel option, Smart Size, Lock Aspect Ratio and Resize all Layers checked. Resize this image to 510 width by 474 height.

Step 5
Save this file as a psp or psd file.

Animation Shop

Step 1
Open the psp or psd file. Go to View/Normal Viewing. You should have three frames.

Step 2
Left click Frame 2. Now, holding down the shift key, left click Frame 1 in this order. Go to Effects/Insert Image Transition and click the down arrow to select fade, using the settings as you see below.

Holding the shift key is important because it allows you to select the settings for the starting and ending frame you see on the screenshot. If you did not hold down the shift key, the starting and ending with Animation Frame would not be an option you could select.

Step 3
You should now have 11 frames. Left click Frame 11. Now, holding down the shift key, left click Frame 10 in this order. Go to Effects/Insert Image Transition and again apply the fade transition. You should now have 19 frames.

Step 4
Left click Frame 1 to activate it. Go to Edit/Copy. Go to Frame 19 and left click to activate it. Go to Edit/Paste after selected frame. You should now have a copy of Frame 1 after Frame 19. You should now have 20 frames.

Step 5
Left click Frame 20. Holding down the shift key, left click Frame 19. Go to Effects/Insert Image Transition and one more time apply the fade transition. You should now have a total of 28 Frames.

Step 6
Holding down the Control Key, left click Frame 1, Frame 10, and Frame 19 to activate these frames. At Frame 19, right click, go to Frame properties and type in 200. This will slow down Frame 19, Frame 10, and Frame 1.

Saving the Animation without Signature Text

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 Median Cut 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. This is your template file. We will now add the signature text.

Adding Signature Text in Paint Shop Pro

Open up your PSP file and go to Layers/New Raster Layer. Type in your text and go to Edit/Copy. Close the psp file without any changes. We only needed to see where the text would go.

Back to Animation Shop and Adding Signature Text using Propagate Paste

Step 1
Go to Edit/Paste as New Animation. Go to Edit/Copy. Go to Edit/Propagate Paste.

Step 2
Have your tag file open. Go to View/Normal Viewing so you can see all the frames. Click the Control and A keys to activate all the frames and go to Edit/Paste into Selected Frame. Holding down the left mouse button, go to the very first frame and place the signature text exactly where you want it and release the left mouse button. Resave the file again 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!

Photobucket Quick Tutorial on Uploading Images

When you have created a tag and want to display it on a web site, blog, or group forum, in most cases you will have online albums to store your creations. Many of us use Photobucket as our album of choice. In the past, I thought if I chose one upload option that would accommodate the largest images I upload (blogger backgrounds), this option would work for all images being uploaded. But I recently found out that is not the case.

When you open Photobucket, you will have options for uploading. See the screenshot below. Click where it says more options.

and you will get this screen:

Now, in the past, I would have selected 1 megabyte file size since that is the largest option available with the free Photobucket accounts, and it is what I use when uploading my forum backgrounds. I would have not worried choosing this option when uploading all my other files, as well. But, when I tried to upload an animated tag that was 600 width, which is much smaller than my huge forum backgrounds, my tag, surprisingly, was reduced to a very tiny image after uploading. Not at all what I would have expected! To accommodate my 600 width tag file, instead I changed the option to 17" screen and my file turned out perfect after uploading.

So, I thought - this is the answer for all my tags. But again, no it wasn't. Because when I resized this animated tag from a 600 width tag to a 400 width tag to show on the blog as an example, all my animation became lost. Instead, the tag was non-animated after uploading! How strange. To make the tag show as it should, I again how to go to options and instead select large (600 x 480) because the medium size would fall short of my width. I reuploaded my file with the new selection, and lo and behold, it worked!

Somehow, in the past, I do not recall having this problem uploading images. Maybe the site was fine tuned or I was just lucky. But take it from me, if you upload a file and when viewing it, it does not look the way it should, reupload the file by first going to options and making whatever upload changes are necessary. Nothing worse than working on a beautiful graphic and then it not looking right when you are sharing it! Remember each file can be uploaded with the options that are right for that file. Once you make an option choice, your previous files will not be affected.

Fading Tag

Click for larger view.
Using a Texture

Click for larger view.
Using a Pattern

This tutorial will be utilizing the following PSP Components:

Template
Colorizing
Copy and Paste
Layers
Magic Wand
Merging Layers
Animation
Image Transition (Fade)
Pasting Graphic File into Animation Frames by Propagate Paste
Changing Frame Properties
Adding Text in Animation Shop


Needed:

Tubes of Choice (two): The lovely tube images I am using are Gorjuss images created by Suzanne Woolcott.

The fade templates and the heart line created by me can be downloaded here.

Settings Used in this Tutorial:

Magic Wand:
Mode: Add/Shift, Match Mode: RGB Value, Tolerance 38, Contiguous checked, Feather: 0, Anti-Alias checked and outside selected.

Drop Shadow:
Vertical Offset 2, Horizontal Offset 2, Opacity 80, Blur 5, Color Black

Regarding the Templates and Creating Your Own

There is a blank template as well as three other templates which have various effects. With the blank template, there are two layers. The bottom layer, which is the background layer, can have any texture effect added to it. Just left click the magic wand using the settings from above, and left click inside the border to select the inside area. You can use PSP textures or textures from outside filters. For the three additional templates that are included, I used filter effects from Penta.Com's Dot and Cross, Screenworks' Box Dot, and PhotoEffex Scanlines. Once you add the effect, go to Selections/Select None. Then go to Layers/Merge/Merge All (Flatten) and your template is ready to use. Should you wish to add a background rather than a texture to your tag, that would work too - plenty of opportunity for creativity using the blank template.

Reminder about Texture Effects:
Make sure when starting out with the blank template to decide what size tag you want. You will find that when applying and then later resizing tags with some of these filter effects, the tags may not, in most cases, have the same look as the initial tag. So do decide from the outset what size tag you want. If my blank tag template is too large for your taste, resize it before adding your texture effect. With the premade templates included, those will need to stay as is. Resizing them will change the look of the tag. If you look at my smaller tag and click on it for the full size tag, you will see what I mean.

Making the Basic Tags and Merging Them

Step 1
Open up the template you will be using and the two tube graphics you will be merging for the fade effect. On the Template, copy and paste your copyright and licensing information as a New Selection so that it is on the same layer as your template. Go to Layers/Duplicate. On the first template layer, go to Adjust/Hue and Saturation, Colorize and move the sliders over until you get a color that will work well with one of your tube graphics. Go to the Duplicate Layer, and again colorize the template to a different color that will work with the second tube graphic you will be using.

Step 2
Open up the layer palette, right click on the bottom layer, go to rename and left click. Rename this layer Background 1. Go to the top layer and rename this layer Background 2.

Step 3
Make one of your tube graphics active and go to Edit/Copy. Make the tag image active and go to Edit/Paste as New Layer. If the image needs to be resized, go to Image/Resize, using the percent option, bicubic and resize all layers NOT checked.

Step 4
Make the second tube graphic active and go to Edit/Copy. Make the tag image active and go to Edit/Paste as New Layer. Resize as necessary. Left click the mover tool and move this image directly on top of the tube graphic you added in Step 3 so that it is superimposed directly over the tube image.

Step 5
Open up the layer palette, and rename the tube layers Tube 1 and Tube 2.

Step 6
Go to Layers/New Raster Layer and on this layer add your text phrase (not signature text) using the floating option.

Step 7
Go to Layers/New Raster layer and on this layer add a second line of different text directly over the text in Step 6 so that it is superimposed.

Step 8
Open up the layer palette and rename these layers text 1 and text 2.

Step 9
Still at the layer palette, you should now have 6 layers comprised of two background layers (the two different color templates), 2 tube graphic layers, and 2 text layers. Holding down the left mouse button, physically move the layers so that you have the layers in this order from bottom layer to top layer:

One background layer, one tube layer, and one text layer. Then again, one background layer, one tube layer, one text layer. See my screenshot below:

Merging the Layers

Step 1
As on the screenshot above, left click on the eye on the second set of tag elments comprised of a background, tube and text to close off these layers. What we want is to leave open a set of tag elements: one background, one tube and text. Go to the background 1 layer (the bottom layer) and go to Layers/Merge/Merge Visible. Left click the eye on the Merged layer and you will now have a red X closing off this layer.

Step 2
Left click each red X on the background2, tube and text layers to open them up. Leave the merged layer closed. Go to the background 2 layer and again go to Layers/Merge/Merge Visible. You should now have two merged layers. Left click the red X on the closed merged layer to open it up. You should have both merged layers open.

Step 3
Save this file as a psp or psd file without text.

Animation Shop

Step 1
Open the psp or psd file. Go to View/Normal Viewing. You should have two frames (both sets of tags). Go to the 1st frame and left click on it to activate it. Go to Edit/Copy. Click on the 2nd frame to activate it. Go to Edit/Paste after Current Frame. You should now have 3 frames.

Frame 1 is Tag 1, Frame 2 is Tag 2 and Frame 3 is Tag 1 (same as Frame 1).

Step 2
Left click Frame 2. Now, holding down the shift key, left click Frame 1 in this order. Go to Effects/Insert Image Transition and click the down arrow to select fade, using the settings as you see below.

Holding the shift key is important because it allows you to select the settings for the starting and ending frame you see on the screenshot. If you did not hold down the shift key, the starting and ending with Animation Frame would not be an option you could select.

Step 3
You should now have 19 frames. Left click Frame 19. Now, holding down the shift key, left click Frame 18 in this order. Go to Effects/Insert Image Transition and again apply the fade transition. You should now have 35 frames.

Step 4
Holding down the Control Key, left click Frame 1 and Frame 18 to activate both of these frames. At Frame 18, right click, go to Frame properties and type in 200. This will slow down both Frame 18 and Frame 1.

Paint Shop Pro

Open up your heart line file in PSP and colorize it. Go to Edit/Copy. Go back to Animation Shop and go to Edit/Paste as New Animation.

Adding the Heart Decoration to the Tag in Animation Shop by Propagate Paste

Step 1
Your heart line file should now be activated. Go to Edit/Copy. Go to Edit/Propagate Paste.

Step 2
Have your tag file open. Go to View/Normal Viewing so you can see all the frames. Click the Control and A keys to activate all the frames and go to Edit/Paste into Selected Frame. Holding down the left mouse button, go to the very first frame and place the heart line exactly where you want it and release the left mouse button.

Read about Propagate Paste

The Propagate Paste function works as a control or switch that has been turned on. Once you have used the Propagate Paste function one time, and want to continue pasting one image or text file on all the animation frames, you can continue to do so. BUT, DO NOT GO TO EDIT/PROPAGATE PASTE. Instead, just go to Edit/Paste into Selected Frame. As long as you continue to have Animation Shop open, all pasting is done by Edit/Paste into Selected Frame.

Saving the Animation without Signature Text

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 Median Cut 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. This is your template file. We will now add the signature text.

Adding Signature Text in Animation Shop

Step 1
Go to File/New with canvas color transparent. You can make this file as wide and high as you like. We will only be adding the signature text to this.

Step 2
At the color palette, select the color for your text. Just left click the top color box.

Step 3
Left click the text tool located at the top of the Animation Shop Program. When the Add Text window opens up, select your font, style, and size and type in your text.

Step 4
Go to Edit/Copy. This time DO NOT go to Edit/Propagate Paste. The Propagate Paste is a control or switch that has been turned on. Remember, you already used this function to add the heart line. Just go to Edit/Paste into Selected Frame.

Step 5
Holding down your left mouse button, go to the very first frame of your tag (all tag frames should already be activated when you added the hearts), and place the text exactly where you want it. Now release the left mouse button. Resave the file again 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!