' .. Naughty or Nice '

Tutorial by rae December 06, 2006

Cats and Mice are ©Linnea *pre-credited on .mng file @ gift boxes

Animated by rae

all other graphics created by rae .. including the 'Shamrock' pattern

**Please do not add ©rae to your tag

..................................

This tutorial and its' supplies are not to be redistributed
at other Groups, Messageboards or through Email;
translated and redistributed at other Groups,
Messageboards or through Email etc. ..
without Permission.
Nor may you copy this tutorial and claim it
as your own, in any manner.

**note** .. the Cats and Mice are not 'mine'.. but I've tubed and enhanced them, put them together (from separate images), and animated them. The separate images are free to share from your collection of Linnea ~ not from this animated file

** supplies here ** very large file..sorry :(

mng Folder ~ Open all at AnimationShop
Zinco.ttf ~ Open and minimize
PremadeText Folder ~ contains the opening text at my tag and the 'HoHoHo' bubble (open both at AS). Use if you don't care to create your own text.

1. AnimationShop ~

Select Frame #3 > Hold Shift > Select Frame #4 (*highlighting both frames)
Export to PSP
Right click > Break Link with Exported Frames

2. PSP ~

If you want to add your own text to the 'dark' frames :

Turn OFF Frame #2
Select Frame #1
Text tool = Create as Vector
I used 'Zinco' .. Text Size 55 (this will be your choice - considering the amount of text you enter)
After Applying text ~ I used the Vector nodes to adjust/expand the fit
**be careful not to let your text enter into the "click" area
Copy the text layer > Paste as a New Animation to AS

Return to PSP ~

Turn ON Frame #2
Text Tool = choose a Dark Red for Outline/LightRed for Fill ~or~ a DarkGreen/LightGreen .. from your image
Stroke size = 2
Font size your choice .. determined by your length of name *I used 160
Adjust the Kerning = mine is -25
Apply text
Now.. adjust the Vector nodes, if necessary
Convert to Raster
Lasso tool = surround the Initial Cap(s) and move the bottom to position, approximately, on the line with the green x

*I also lassoed the lower case letters and moved them a just a bit
Select All/Float
Effects > TextureEffects > SoftPlastic :

Keep selection Active
Select Frame #2 layer > Add a New Raster
Flood Fill ~ each letter ~ with #096060 = Opacity 70

Select None
Select the new layer with flood filled letters
Image > Flip
Deformation tool = decrease the height by half

Move down to text line
Deform again, lessen the height

I then lassoed the lower case letter shadows and moved them to meet the text

Apply Blur > Gaussian Blur = 1
Turn OFF all layers but text and shadow > Merge Visible
Copy > Paste as a New Animation to AS
OR ~ stay with me for instruction to add some garland!

3. PSP .. adding garland ~

Copy these images and Paste to PSP

Turn ON Frame 2 layer > Add a New Raster named 'garland'

Open your paintbrush > find the 'Spiky Twirl small' brush

Settings :

Materials :

At the 'garland' layer = paint a line of garland that lays at the floor and drapes over your text (**picture where you want the garland to come through your text) :

Duplicate
Move the 'Copy of' layer above your text - at the layer palette
**it's helpful to drop that layer transparency ~ so you can see your text, below
Lasso out portions of text (*that you want to protrude from/be in front of the garland) at the 'Copy of' layer
Delete those areas (at the 'Copy of' garland layer) :

Select none
Turn OFF Frame 2 layer
Merge visible
Copy > Paste to AS as a New Image

move to AnimationShop ~ The most difficult part is over .. now we'll put your tag together

4. ~ Bring up the 51 frames 'raeNaughtyNice' :

Select Frame #1 > Hold Shift > Select Frame #3
Edit > Propagate Paste

4a. ~ Bring up your 'text' - for the 'dark' frames :

Copy
Right click > Paste Into Selected Frame

4b. ~ Bring up your 'name' :

Copy
51 frames = Select Frame #4 > Hold Shift > Scroll to Frame #51 > Select
Right Click > Paste Into Selected Frame
Position at the line with the green x

4c. ~ Bring up the 'red bow' *if you'd like to add it :

Right Click > Paste Into Selected Frame
*position it somewhere on your text

4d. ~ Bring up 'raeRollingOrnament' frames :

Edit > Select All
Copy
51 frames = Select Frame #6 > Hold Shift > Scroll to Frame #47 > Select
Right Click > Paste Into Selected Frame
Position over the red x

4e. ~ If you're using the 'HoHoHo' bubble :

Edit > Select All
Copy
Select Frame #48 > Hold Shift > Scroll to Frame #51 > Select
Right Click > Paste Into Selected Frame .. where you like **but notice the lightly shaded area, at the edges, of the final mask - keep your bubble from laying into that area

4f. ~ Bring up the 'maskedFrame' :

Copy
Edit > Select All
Right Click > Paste Into Selected Frame

**I've added an extra area, around your frames, in Red. When positioning your frame = carefully position your mask frame so that you see the red all around..like a border. Then click to set into place.

The red color isn't permanent but added through Animation Properties.. it's only to guide you in mask frame placement.

~ To remove it = Do Either :

Right Click > Animation properties > Opaque = White

~ or ~

Crop :