Conceived by and written by Rae for PSP versions 8 & 9..  November 11, 2005
All graphics in this tutorial are created by rae - the star is ©rae -
the reindeer is enhanced, by rae, from clipart

Tutorial is ©rae
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.

 

 

 

 click for Supply Folder 

  • 'Snowman' Gradient to your PSP Gradients Folder
  • 'raeLilStars' to your PSP Picture Tube Folder
  • Open 'Gramius Blizzard.ttf' and minimize
  • Open 'rae_ReindeerGameLayers' at PSP

 

 

The canvas is very large - so you have plenty of room to create and situate your text. We'll remove the excess space later.

Please don't make the Text Size smaller than I have it at the settings.  By using Vector - you can 'pull in' the side nodes to shorten the length, pull up/down the mid-top and bottom nodes.. and retain the quality of the text. 

Place your Text very near the bottom of the canvas - leave at least two or three grid squares of room underneath.  Have no concern for it's placement with regard to the reindeer - we'll get to him after your text is finished.

1.

Open your Text Tool :

  • Highlight the 'Background Layer 
  • Font = 'Gramius Blizzard' with these settings **the vector will make it's own layer 

 

Materials Palette:

   

  • **you may flip the colors, if you like
  • Enter your text 
  • Adjust the Kerning to move your letters together *mine is at -25
  • Apply > use the Vector nodes to adjust the width and height - depending on the length of your text

 

    

  • Convert to Raster Layer
  • Rename as 'Text'
  • Effects > 3D Effects > Inner Bevel :

    

  • Magic Wand > Feather at 2
  • Hold Shift Key > Select into each snowcap portion of the letters
  • Floodfill with 'Snowman' Gradient :

 

  • Keep Selected > Apply the Inner Bevel again
  • Select None

 

 

2.

  You will notice that all the layers but for your text layer - are Linked.  This is done so you can, now, move your reindeer, stars, etc. as a   group.

  • Mover Tool > highlight one of the layers with a Blue Chain Link
  • Pull the reindeer, stars, etc. into position at your text

  When you're satisfied with your placement :

  • Layer Palette > All Reindeer and Feet layers > Right Click at the Blue Link to change the value to 'None'

 

 

  • Leave the Stars and Hats Linked

 

 

3.

 We have to create a temporary 'frame' in order to keep all your merged layers aligned as we drag and drop them :

  • Zoom Out to see the entire canvas
  • Highlight the 'Hat 3' layer
  • Preset Shape Tool > Rectangle
  • Foreground > any color
  • Background > null
  • Draw a shape from under your text to the near top of the canvas *leaving room between the images and the shape - we'll be cropping inside the shape, later, to remove it 

 

  • You may crop outside the shape now, to trim your canvas *do not cut off any of the shape
  • **the vector shape must be ON with each 'Merge Visible' step
 

 

4. 

  Layers ON  :

  • Vector Shape
  • Hat 1
  • STAR
  • Reindeer 1
  • Foot 1
  • Text
  • Merge Visible
  • Layer Palette :
  • Left Click / Hold / Drag the Merged layer off into your workspace > Release the Click / Drop and it will make it's own canvas
  • Return to your work canvas
  • Undo

 

 

5.

Layer ON :                         Layer OFF :

  • Foot 2                            Foot 1

 Make sure only the Stars and Hat layers are Linked ..  *the Blue Chain Link

  • Highlight any Star or Hat layer
  • Mover Tool > Click into the canvas

  • Directional Arrow Keys at your Keyboard
  • Click the UP Arrow 4 times

  •  If You are Using PSP 8 ..  Click the Deformation Tool, other than the Mover Tool, to enable use of the Directional Arrows

     

The directional Arrow keys will move the group up till the star point rests in the palm-center of Foot 2 

  • Merge Visible
  • Drag and Drop to the new canvas *it will make it's own layer
  • Undo
 

 

6.

  At each remaining Linked Layer > Right Click and return the value to 'None'

 

 

7.

      Layer OFF :

  •  Hat 1

DUPLICATE layer :

  • STAR  *leave turned OFF

Layer ON :

  • Copy of STAR
 

 

8.

 Lasso Tool > set Point to Point > Mode - Replace

  • Slice through the star

 

  • Right Click with Lasso to select
  • Left Click to surround the selection
  • Layer Palette > at Floating Selection > Right Click / Promote Selection to Layer
  • Rename to 'Point'
  • Select None
  • Pull the Point layer up the palette > overtop the 'Hat 2' layer

   

  • Image  > Mirror
  • Mover Tool > Neatly align the point

 

  Now is a good time to use your Push Tool or Paintbrush and fill the gap between the Star and Point .. do so at your 'Copy Of' STAR layer :

 

 

 

9.

 DUPLICATE :

  • Point layer  to 'Copy of '  Point

  Layer ON :                   Layer OFF :

  • Hat 1                             Point

     

 

 

10.

 'Copy of' Point layer :

  • Deformation Tool
  • Rotate to have the Star point at the front edge of the hat

 

  • Adjust > Sharpness > Unsharp Mask

  • Merge Visible
  • Drag to your new canvas
  • Undo

 

11.

  Layer ON :                                                             Layer OFF :

  • Point                                                                         'Copy of' Point
  • Hat 2                                                                          Hat 1
  • Merge Visible
  • Drag to the new canvas
  • Undo
 

 

12.

  DUPLICATE  :

  • STAR  *leave turned OFF

  Turn ON :                                 Turn OFF :

  • 'Copy of' STAR                          Point
  • Reindeer 2                                 Reindeer 1
  • Merge Visible
  • Drag to new canvas
  • Undo

 

13.

 Turn ON :                                                          Turn OFF :

  • Hat 3                                                                 Hat 2
  • Reindeer 3                                                       Reindeer 2
  • Merge Visible
  • Drag and drop to the new canvas
  • Undo

 

 

 

14. 

  Turn ON :

  • 'Copy of' Point

  • Highlight 'Copy of' Point
  • Image > Flip
  • Mover Tool > set his point to touch his belly

 

  • 'Copy of' Point layer :
  • Select All > Float
  • Copy
  • Keep selection active *marching ants
  • Highlight 'Copy of' STAR layer
  • At canvas > Right Click > Paste Into Selection
  • Select None
  • Return to 'Copy of' Point layer
  • Image > Mirror
  • Mover Tool > set into place *example - left star

 point moved into place >>   << erased point underneath

  • Eraser at 'Copy of' Star > erase away the excess point  *example - right star
  • Highlight the 'Copy of' Point layer
  • Select All > Float
  • Keep selection active
  • Move to 'Copy of' Star layer > Right Click > Paste Into Selection
  • Select None

 

15.

 Before we move on..  let's Tidy up your Layer Palette

DELETE :

  • Both Point layers
  • Hat 1
  • Foot 1

  If you didn't miss a recent step - your star should be laughing and hugging himself      ..  the reindeer is looking at him

 

 

 

16.

 OK.. now do not be afraid.. this is Sooo Easy !  ..*just looks intimidating!

Warp Brush with these settings :

 

  • Highlight 'Copy of' Star layer

Put the center 'dot', at the crosshairs of the warp brush, where I have the green dots *one side at a time, of course

 

  • undo of you don't like it .. try again ..  it takes only a minute to get the feel for it
  • Mostly, don't overdo the movement - I've only moved mine a small portion of a grid square
  • Merge Visible
  • Drag over to your new canvas
  • Undo back to the Star hugging - before you warped   

 

17.

  Warp Brush again - same settings :

  • reverse the dots and movement

    

  • Merge Visible
  • Drag to your new canvas
  • Undo
 

 

18.

  DELETE :

  • 'copy of' Star *warped

  

  Turn ON :                                                              Turn OFF :

  • STAR
  • Hat 2                                                                      Hat 3
  • Reindeer 4                                                            Reindeer 3
  • Merge Visible
  • Drag to your new canvas
  • Undo

 

19.

 Turn OFF :             

  • All layers *including Vector rectangle ..  but not Hat 2 and STAR                 
  • you want to see the star and his hat/face alone
  • Merge Visible
  • Rename to Star

Turn ON :

  • Vector Rectangle
  • Reindeer 1
  • Foot 3
  • Text layers

DELETE :

  • Hat 3
  • Reindeer 4, 3 & 2
 

 

20.

  We'll now begin the frames of the Star toss.  The hardest part of this section is to keep the Star centered on the same path Up and back Down.    I've added a Guide Line to use  .. you may do it without a guide but you risk having your Star bobble left and right.. and not line up with the Reindeer foot at the last frame. 

  How to add a Guide Line :

  • I renamed my vector rectangle to 'Rectangle'
  • Highlight the 'Star' layer
  • Pen Tool > Foreground / Any Color > Background / Null
  •  
  • Click at the bottom point of the Star
  • Move straight up - click again to set a line
  • **the line is overtop the Star so you won't forget to turn it OFF before each merge

 

 

 

21.

 Highlight 'Star' layer

DUPLICATE to 'Copy of' 

  • Turn OFF 'Star'

  • Highlight 'Copy of' Star layer
  • Image > Rotate > Free Rotate

 

  • Adjust > Sharpness > Unsharp Mask

 

  • Move the Star UP approximately 7 grid squares *my grid-size is set to Medium
  • **he's rotated - you don't want to connect his bottom point to the line, but more try to center him on the line

  

  • TURN OFF : Guide Line Vector
  • Merge Visible
  • Drag to new canvas
  • Undo TWICE to return the Guide Line Vector to ON

 

 

 

22.

  Highlight 'Star' layer

  DUPLICATE to 'Copy of'  *you'll have two 'copy of' star layers as we go along.. you'll understand that the top 'copy of' is the one you used previously..  now it is only a guide and will be deleted.

  • Turn ON
  • Image > Rotate > Free Rotate
  • Change the Free value to 35
  • Adjust > Sharpness > Unsharp mask = Change STRENGTH to 35
  • Move UP the guide to previously rotated Star - but to the side
  • Using the bottom point as reference - move the new Star further UP 2 grid squares

 

  • DELETE the Previous 'copy of' Star
  • Move the newly rotated star over to the line and center
  •  
  • TURN OFF : Guide Line Vector
  • Merge Visible
  • Drag to new canvas
  • Undo TWICE to return the Guide Line Vector to ON

 

 *Please Note* ..  I know you will be tempted to SKIP duplicating the Star and Rotating, moving it UP next to the previous, etc. - in order to save time.  

I tell you that I tried to do it that way - using the same star but rotating it further for every step.

For each rotation it badly degrades in quality.   

For all your effort and time spent on this tut, to get the Best Tag out of it, it's important that you don't keep using the same star

 

 

23.

  Highlight 'Star' layer

  DUPLICATE to 'Copy of' 

  • Turn ON
  • Image > Rotate > Free Rotate
  • Change the Free value to 55
  • Adjust > Sharpness > Unsharp mask = same settings
  • Move UP the guide to previously rotated Star - but to the side
  • Using the bottom point as reference - move the new Star further UP 1 grid square
  • DELETE the Previous Star
  • Move the newly rotated star over to the line and center
  •  
  • TURN OFF : Guide Line Vector
  • Merge Visible
  • Drag to new canvas
  • Undo TWICE to return the Guide Line Vector to ON

 

24.

 Highlight 'Star' layer

  DUPLICATE to 'Copy of' 

  • Turn ON
  • Image > Rotate > Free Rotate
  • Change the Free value to 75
  • Adjust > Sharpness > Unsharp mask

  • Move UP the guide to previously rotated Star - but to the side & DOWN 1 grid square
  • DELETE the Previous Star
  • Move the newly rotated star over to the line and center

Turn ON :                                               Turn OFF :

  • Foot 4                                                      Foot 3 

  • TURN OFF : Guide Line Vector
  • Merge Visible
  • Drag to new canvas
  • Undo TWICE to return the Guide Line Vector to ON
 

 

25.

  Turn ON :                                       Turn OFF :

  • Foot 2                                             Foot 4

  Highlight 'Star' layer

  DUPLICATE to 'Copy of' 

  • Turn ON
  • Image > Rotate > Free Rotate
  • Change the Free value to 95
  • Adjust > Sharpness > Unsharp mask = same settings
  • Move UP the guide to previously rotated Star - but to the side & UP 1 grid square
  • DELETE the Previous Star
  • Move the newly rotated star over to the line and center
  • TURN OFF : Guide Line Vector
  • Merge Visible
  • Drag to new canvas
  • Undo TWICE to return the Guide Line Vector to ON

 

26.

  Highlight 'Star' layer

  DUPLICATE to 'Copy of' 

  • Turn ON
  • Image > Rotate > Free Rotate
  • Change the Free value to 120
  • Adjust > Sharpness > Unsharp mask = same settings
  • Move UP the guide to previously rotated Star - but to the side & UP 1 grid square
  • DELETE the Previous Star
  • Move the newly rotated star over to the line and center
  • TURN OFF : Guide Line Vector
  • Merge Visible
  • Drag to new canvas
  • Undo TWICE to return the Guide Line Vector to ON
 

 

27.

   Highlight 'Star' layer

  DUPLICATE to 'Copy of' 

  • Turn ON
  • Image > Rotate > Free Rotate
  • Change the Free value to 145
  • Adjust > Sharpness > Unsharp mask = same settings
  • Move UP the guide to previously rotated Star - but to the side & DOWN 1 grid square
  • DELETE the Previous Star
  • Move the newly rotated star over to the line and center
  • TURN OFF : Guide Line Vector
  • Merge Visible
  • Drag to new canvas
  • Undo TWICE to return the Guide Line Vector to ON

28.

   Highlight 'Star' layer

  DUPLICATE to 'Copy of' 

  • Turn ON
  • Image > Rotate > Free Rotate
  •  SWITCH to 'Left'

 

  • Adjust > Sharpness > Unsharp mask = same settings
  • Move UP the guide to previously rotated Star - but to the side & DOWN 1 grid square
  • DELETE the Previous Star
  • Move the newly rotated star over to the line and center
  • TURN OFF : Guide Line Vector
  • Merge Visible
  • Drag to new canvas
  • Undo TWICE to return the Guide Line Vector to ON
 

 

29.

 Highlight 'Star' layer

  DUPLICATE to 'Copy of' 

  • Turn ON
  • Image > Rotate > Free Rotate
  • Change the Free value to Left 90
  • Adjust > Sharpness > Unsharp mask = same settings
  • Move UP the guide to previously rotated Star - but to the side & DOWN 1 grid square
  • DELETE the Previous Star
  • Move the newly rotated star over to the line and center
  • TURN OFF : Guide Line Vector
  • Merge Visible
  • Drag to new canvas
  • Undo TWICE to return the Guide Line Vector to ON

30.

  Highlight 'Star' layer

  DUPLICATE to 'Copy of' 

  • Turn ON
  • Image > Rotate > Free Rotate
  • Change the Free value to Left 70
  • Adjust > Sharpness > Unsharp mask = same settings
  • Move UP the guide to previously rotated Star - but to the side & DOWN 3 grid squares
  • DELETE the Previous Star
  • Move the newly rotated star over to the line and center
  • TURN OFF : Guide Line Vector
  • Merge Visible
  • Drag to new canvas
  • Undo TWICE to return the Guide Line Vector to ON
 

 

  ** Ü **  LAST ONE!!  ** Ü **

 31.

 Highlight 'Star' layer

  DUPLICATE to 'Copy of' 

  • Turn ON
  • Image > Rotate > Free Rotate
  • Change the Free value to Left 15
  • Adjust > Sharpness > Unsharp mask = same settings
  • Move UP the guide to previously rotated Star - but to the side & DOWN 2 grid squares
  • you want him to be approximately at this spot

 

  • DELETE the Previous Star
  • Move the newly rotated star over to the line and center
  • TURN OFF : Guide Line Vector
  • Merge Visible
  • Drag to new canvas

 

  Now..  take a breathe..  the worst is Over!

 

32.

 Move to your 20 Frames - your canvas with all the Merged Layers.

You're going to add a lil Stardust to the frames in which he's being tossed.

Turn OFF all layers but for 'Raster 10' *where he's on the way UP

Picture Tube Tool :

  • 'raeLilStars'
  • drop the Scale to 60
  • click once or twice around the Star - place them close to the star *don't overdo the stars..  less is more
  • Turn OFF that layer - Turn ON Raster 11
  • repeat the lil stars but vary the placement at each layer
  • Continue through the layers, placing stars, till you reach Raster 20
  • Turn ALL layers ON

 

 

 

33.

  Crop Tool :

  • Crop Inside the rectangle - **we'll get a closer crop at Animation Shop
  • SAVE AS a Paint Shop Pro Image (.psp)

 

34.

Open Animation Shop

  • Browse to open your .psp image
  • Crop Tool > Options > Surround the Opaque Area > OK > Crop
  • Return to your Pointer Tool
 

 

35.

   Scroll to Frame # 7 - it should be your Star doing a one-way wiggle

  • Left click to Select that Frame
  • Hold Shift > left click into Frame #8 - it should be a wiggle the opposite way
  • Both frames should be selected now
  • Right Click > Copy
  • Left Click into Frame #8 to select > then Right Click > Paste After Selected Frame
  • You should now have 4 frames of the Star wiggling - 22 Frames, total, in your animation

36.

Left Click into Frame #1

  • Animation > Frame Properties = 20

Left Click into Frame #2

  • Hold Shift > Left Click into Frame #6 , selecting that series of frames
  • Animation > Frame Properties > 30

Left Click into Frame #7

  • Hold Shift > Click into Frame #10 , selecting that series of frames *the hug/wiggle
  • Animation > Frame Properties > 12

Left Click into Frame #11

  • Animation > Frame Properties > 50

Left Click into Frame #12

  • Hold Shift > Click into the Final Frame #22, to select that series of frames
  • Animation > Frame Properties > 8
 

 

  Have you played it yet??  .. Go ahead.. and have a Smile ..

 

Resize now, Bicubic, to your liking. 
 

 

  Before we Optimize, we need to add a background in order to bring down the Kb's ..  you may want to Hold Shift and press the D key - making a duplicate animation.  Then save one with a white background.. one with MSN yellow.. for example.   Then you can add it to an intro post, at a new thread, and it will appear transparent

  MSN yellow color code = #FFFFCC

  • Edit > Select All
  • Animation > Animation Properties > Opaque > select White or what color you need

 

Now you may Optimize :

I chose : Optimized Octree / Error Diffusion

               checked off all boxes at Optimizations tab..  your choice

 

 

  Here is Crimson's tag!  The BestTut-tester, Bar None! 

Thanks, Crimmy..  without your help and critique, I'd be bonkers

 

 

 

 

Thank you for trying this tut!

I hope you enjoyed it

rae