Autumn Leaves
Skill level - Intermediate - I write tuts so that a beginner can follow it with a little effort. My tuts are graphic intensive.
Please note: When I use a Text Menu command I write the command out like this: Edit > Copy
Materials needed:
Open Autumnleaves.psp, AutumnQueen~Cait.psp and the background tile you want to use.
Minimise your tubes.
If your layer palette isn't visible, press F8 to open it.
SET YOUR MATERIAL PALETTE
Click on the Foreground window in the Material Palette by left clicking on the foreground box.
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Set your foreground to Pattern. Browse to the background tile you selected - open images are listed at the top of the list. (Optional) I set my material size to 250%.
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Open a new image 444X444 pixels - raster - transparent.
Floodfill  your new image with your pattern.
Adjust > Blur > Gaussian Blur - Radius 2
Effects > Plugins > AAA Frames > Foto Frame
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Width: 20
Brightness: 0
Stroke: 0
Matte: 0
Red, Green, Blue: 0
Opacity: 100
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Open Autumnleaves.psp. Press Shift+D to duplicate the tube. Close your original.
Image > Resize using these settings:
Height and Width - 90%
Resample using Bicubic
Lock aspect ratio and Resize all layers CHECKED. |
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Resize the image again. (This method retains the image clarity without the need to sharpen or touch up the image later.)
Duplicate the autumn leaves image again (Shift + D). Resize the duplicate to 90% and minimize it.
Go back to the autumn leaves image that was only resized twice.
Effects > Plugins > Mura's Meister Pole Transform:
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Y start - 60
Y end - 200
Center X - 121
Center Y - 100
Radius start - 0
Radius end - 157
Angle - 0
Radius Mode - Sphere |
Edit >Copy
Click on your main image title bar.
Edit > Paste > Paste as a new layer.
Hide this layer for now. (Click on the EYE behind the word Raster 2 in the layer palette.) You will come back to it later.
Close the swirley leaves image. You can save it if you want.
Open AutumnQueen~Cait.psp.
Shift+D to duplicate the tube. Close the original to use another day.
Resize the copy to 90% three (3) times.
Edit > Copy
Edit > Paste as New Layer in your main canvas.
Close or minimise the duplicate to get it out of the way.
Open the second duplicate of Autumnleaves tube. (The one that was resized 3 times.)
Edit > Copy
Edit > Paste as New Layer in your main image.
Layers > Duplicate
Image > Mirror
Close or minimise Autumleaves.psp.
You will now have 5 layers in your canvas, with the swirled leaves layers hidden.
Use the Move Tool  to drag the two autumn leaves layers into a V shape over the lady.
Effects > 3d > Drop Shadow with these settings:
Add a drop shadow to both of the leaf layers.
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Vertical: 2
Horizontal: 2
Opacity: 100
Blur: 3.00
Color: Black |
Notice that the AutumnQueen has a square edge that looks blocky beneath the leaves. Let's fix that so she looks more natural.
Don't hide the leaf layers, but make sure to click once on Raster 3 layer in the Layer Palette to select the lady.
Use the Lasso tool to select around the bottom of the lady, with the leaves still visible so they work as guides for your selection.
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Use these settings:
Selection Type: Point to point
Mode: Replace
Feather: 10
Anti-alias: Checked.
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Tap Delete.
Selections >Select None.
Add a drop shadow to the lady using the same settings as before.
Hide the bottom layer so only the leaves and lady are visible.
Layers > Merge > Merge Visible.
Unhide the background layer and the swirley leaves layer.
Hide the lady/leaves layer.
Make sure that the Swirley Leaves layer is highlighted in the Layer Palette.
Layers > Duplicate
Image > Rotate > Free Rotate
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Direction: Left
Degrees: Free - 45
All Layers: Unchecked
CHECK: Rotate single layer around canvas center. |
Repeat the Duplicate/Free rotate steps until you have 4 layers of leaves to form a complete circle.
It will look like this if you hide the bottom layer.
Layers > View > All
The top layer of the lady/leaves may be too large for the leaf layers to show up behind it.
If so, resize the top layer to 90% (same settings as before, but this time UNCHECK Resize all layers.)
(If you plan to put your signature or watermark into the graphic, do it now over the bottom layer:
Hide all the other layers, type in your signature in a font and color you like, add an inner bevel and/or drop shadow to your text, adjust the layer properties to your liking then and merge it with the background layer.)
DO NOT RESIZE THE IMAGE IN PSP AFTER THIS POINT EVEN IF IT LOOKS HUMUNGOUS TO YOU!
Open Animation Shop.
In PSP:
Unhide the top layer (the lady&leaves) and the first swirly leaves layer on the bottom. Make sure the background layer is visible, too.
Edit > Copy Merged
In Animation Shop: Right click on the workspace and click Paste as New Animation.
Back to PSP.
Hide Raster 2 and Unhide the next swirl layer.
Edit > Copy Merged
Back to Animation Shop.
Edit > Paste > Paste AFTER current frame.
Back to PSP.
Hide Copy of Raster 2 - Unhide Copy (2) of Raster 2.
Edit > Copy Merged
Back to Animation Shop.
Edit > Paste > After Current Frame
Back to PSP
Hide Copy (2) of Raster 2 and Unhide Copy (3) of Raster 2
Edit > Copy Merged
Back to Animation Shop
Edit > Paste > After Current Frame
You will have 4 frames in Animation Shop in a line.
View > Animation
This brings up a preview of your animation.
The leaves are swirling behind her a little too fast. Let's adjust the timing of the animation.
Click on the Frames title bar to select it.
Edit > Select All
Animation > Frame Properties
In the popup window, change the value from 10 to 25.
The higher the number in this window, the slower the animation will move. You can adjust all the frames at once or you can select any frame and change the frame speed one at a time, varying speed for each frame.
This is a large image. You may want to resize the dimensions now. Do not resize multiple layers images that you intend to use as an animation in PSP. When PSP resizes it, it throws individual placements of objects off and distorts your animation. Resize your image in small increments 90% at a time until it is the size that you want.
View > Preview in Web Browser
This is the first screen that will come up. Choose Animated GIF and your Web Browser if you have multiple browsers. If you don't see your browser, click on Edit Web Browser.
The next screen you see will be Animation Quality vs. Size.
I chose Quality Settings for this Animation. Slide the Slider to the top - Choosing Better Image Quality.
Click on Customize.
Number of Colors: 255
Create palette by: Optimized Octree
Reduce colors by: Error Diffusion
Under Optimizations: I select all options.
Click OK, and through the next 2 screens to view your animation in your web browser.
Back to Animation Shop - Close the Preview in Web Browser screen.
Adjust anything that you want.
Save your animation and pat yourself on the back! I'd love to see the results of your work.
vetch
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