BLINKIE TEXT

HOOTEYE AUGUST 2008

I have tried to write this Tutorial with PSP beginners in mind, I have included
lots of screen shots, and have gone into much detail to explain the various steps

This Tutorial was wrote for Paint Shop Pro 8, but I have also tested it in
PSP X, any resemblance to any other Tut on the web is purely coincidental.

This Tutorial is basic, and as it is only a 4 frame animation, it should be quick and easy to do.

After working through this tutorial you should end up with this type of result

( REMEMBER TO SAVE REGULARLY)

STEP (1)

On the Overhead Bar go to File and in its drop-down menu, click Open, then find and select the image
you wish to apply the Blinkie Text to, preferably the image size should not exceed 500x500 Pixels.

For this Tutorial I will be working with this 400x400 pixel image, please feel free to use it.

STEP (2)

Go to the Layer Palette, and right click on the Background layer, and
click Promote Background Layer, it will automatically be renamed Rasher 1,

STEP (3)

On the Overhead Bar go to Image, and in its drop-down menu, click Canvas Size, when
its pop-up box appears change the Width and Height settings to 500 Pixels, click Ok

NOTE:- regardless of what size image you use, it is important that the canvas size is set to 500x500 pixels,
as the settings we will be using to form our animation have been accurately matched to this size document

My Document now looks like this

STEP (4)

Go to the Layer Palette, and create a new Rasher Layer, it will automatically be named Rasher 2,

STEP (5)

Go to the Toolbar and select the Flood Fill Tool, then go to your Material Palette, and click on the Foreground Color

When the Material Properties Box, appears make the settings highlighted in pink, then click ok

STEP (6)

With your Flood Fill Tool still selected, again go to your Material Palette, and click on the Background
Color, when the Material Properties Box, appears, make the settings highlighted in pink, then click ok

Note:- the colors selected for the Foreground and Background will form the Gradient that we
will be using for our animation, if you prefer to work with different colors, you will find
that the Gradient works best when you have a good clear contrast between the two colors.

STEP (7)

With your Flood Fill Tool still selected, again go to your Material Palette,and click on the Foreground
Color, when the Material Properties Box appears, make the settings highlighted in pink, then click OK

STEP (8)

With your Flood Fill Tool still selected, go to your Layer Palette and make sure Rasher Layer 2,
is selected then click and fill your Document, your Document should now look like this

STEP (9)

Go to your Layer Palette and right click on Rasher 2, Layer, and click
Duplicate, then right click on this Duplicated Layer and name it Rasher 3,

STEP (10)

With Rasher Layer 3, selected, go to your Toolbar and select the Deform Tool

(In PSP X you will need to select the Pick Tool to be able to make the following settings)

On the Overhead Bar change the setting for Position Y: to 3,(highlighted in pink) this is the only setting
we will be adjusting for each Layer we create, some settings will adjust them selves automatically

with Rasher 3, Layer still selected you will see your Document has moved 3 pixels down.

STEP (11)

Right click on the Rasher 3, Layer, and click Duplicate, and then right click on this Duplicated Layer
and name it Rasher 4, With Rasher 4, Layer and the Deform Tool selected, again go to your Overhead Bar
and increase the Position Y: setting to 6, again you will see your Document move another 3 pixels down.

Step (12)

We must do this step once more, so right click on the Rasher 4, Layer, and click Duplicate, and then right click
on this Duplicated Layer and name it Rasher 5, With Rasher 5, Layer and the Deform Tool selected, again go to your
Overhead Bar and increase the Position Y: setting to 9, again you will see your Document move another 3 pixels down.

Step (13)

Arrange your Layer Palette, like this

Go to your Toolbar and select the Text Tool and make these settings

Tip:- experiment with different fonts, and font sizes

Go to your Document and position the Text curser approximately where you want the text
to be, now click your Document this will bring up the Text Entry pop-up box, enter
your text, use the curser and space-bar to centralise the lines of text, then click Apply

Your Document should now look like this

If the (Marching Ants) Text is not in the exact position you want it to be go to the Overhead Bar and go to
Selections and in its drop-down menu, click Edit Selection the (Marching Ants) will stop and your Text will
go red, go to your Toolbar and select your Deform Tool, hold down your ctrl or shift key and with your Arrow
Keys, position your Text to where you want it to be, then go back to the Overhead Bar and go to Selections
and in its drop-down menu, again click Edit Selection, the (Marching Ants) will be back around your Text

NOTE:- In PSP X, when in Edit Selection, select the Move Tool, and use the Arrow keys to position your text

Step (14)

Go to your Layer Palette and make Rasher Layers 2, 3, 4, and 5, visible by clicking their Eye Icons

With the (Marching Ants) text still active, go to the Overhead Bar
and then go to Selection and in its drop-down menu, click Invert

Go back to your Layer Palette and select Rasher Layer 2, and tap down your
Delete Key (once only) Repeat this delete step to Rasher Layers 3, 4, and 5,

With the (Marching Ants) text still active, go to the Overhead Bar
and go to Selection and in its drop-down menu, click Invert

Your Document should now look similar to this

Step (15)

With the (Marching Ants) text still active, go to the Overhead Bar and
then go to Selection and in its drop-down menu, click Modify/Contract

When the Contract-Selection pop-up box appears set the Number of Pixels to 1, then click OK

Go back to your Layer Palette and select Rasher Layer 2, and tap down your
Delete Key (once only) Repeat this delete step to Rasher Layers 3, 4, and 5,

Step (16)

Hold down your ctrl Key and tap down your D Key, this will deselect the (Marching Ants) text

Step (17)

On the Overhead Bar go to Image, and in its drop-down menu, click Canvas Size, when its pop-up box appears
change the Width and Height settings back to 400 Pixels, (the original size of the image) click Ok

That's it we are done, all you need to do now is take your Layers into Animation Shop.

The display time for all frames should be set for 1

If you need some help Animating your Layers, check out my Tutorials:-

Animating your PSP work with Jasc Animation Shop (Method 1) here

Animating your PSP work with Jasc Animation Shop (Method 2) here

Animating your PSP work with Ulead GIF Animator (Free Trial) here