coll

often get asked how I make my glitters. There are several techniques out there for making glitters, but here is the one I use.
I use Paint Shop Pro 8 and Microsoft GIF Animator. Download MS GIF Animator *zipped file*
Jump to HOW TO ANIMATE GLITTERS



Creating the glitter images.



STEP 1:

First, OPEN the Image you want to glitter in PaintShop Pro 8. We will use this image of an earth faerie. Let's glitter her wing.


STEP 2:

Then, go under the IMAGE menu, go down to INCREASE COLOR DEPTH. Increase the color depth to 16 million colors.
If the option to increase is greyed out, it means the image is already displayed in 16 mil. colors, and doesn't need to be changed.

At this time you can also add a signature on your image if you like. Just use the font tool to put your text in


STEP 3:

COPY the image, and then use PASTE to make 3 identical copies of your image.


STEP 4:

In the section tool menu, choose the MAGIC WAND.

The Magic Wand is found in the selection tools. Click on the small arrow next to the tool that looks like a dashed box, and it is the third selection.

Change the MODE to ADD. this will make it so you can select more than one area in the image to glitter at a time. You can also change the TOLERANCE of the selection. This will change how sensitive the selection tool is. A low tolerance setting and the tool will only select small areas of color, the higher the setting, the more area it will select. Left click to select the area you want to glitter. It will now be highlighted with a blinking dashed line around it.


STEP 5:

Under the ADJUST menu go to ADD/REMOVE NOISE and choose ADD NOISE.


STEP 6:

In the Add Noise menu select GAUSSIAN. Select MONOCHROME to have your glitter stay the same shades as the image, or leave it unchecked to have colorful glitter. Set the NOISE PERCENTAGE to the level you want. The larger the percentage, the bigger and bolder the glitter. Play with these setting to find what you like best for your image, the click on OKAY.



Repeat Steps 4 through 6 for each copy of your image, making sure you select all of the same areas in each picture you selected in the first one.

STEP 7:

Now the fun part, adding the sparkles! Choose the PICTURE TUBE tool and choose a sparkle tube from the drop-down menu.
Sparkles, twinkles and star tubes come in many colors and shapes. Picture tubes and sparkle tubes can be downloaded from many places on the web. Try doing a search for "PSP8 sparkle flare tube". Go to my Tubes page to downlaod some or see the right sidebar for sparkle linksSet the SCALE of the sparkle till it's the size you want it.
]This may take a bit of experimenting until you find just the right size. Just place a sparkle, then use UNDO to erase it if it's to large or too small

STEP 8:

Place a sparkle or two inside the glittered area. Don't place too many sparkles, because you still have 2 frames of sparkles to add yet, and if you place to many in each frame, it won't glitter right when you animate it.


STEP 9:

Add sparkles to each of your pictures, staggering the placement and sizes of the sparkles within the glittered areas.
Putting them in differnt areas of each picture will make the sparkle "dance" when animated

Now it's time to make the backgrounds of each of your glitter animation frames transparent.

STEP 10:

In the MATERIALS SWATCHES palette, choose a color that is not found in the image you are using. Make that color both your forground and background color.
That's the two rectangualr boxes to the right of or below the color swatches.)
Then, use the FLOOD FILL tool to color in the background of the image. Do this with each picture.


STEP 11:

Under the IMAGE menu, go down to PALETTE, and select SET PALETTE TRANSPARENCY. This will set which color we want to have NOT show up in the image, in this case, the background.

STEP 12:

In the Set Palette Transparency pop-up menu, select "Set transparency value to current background color". This should be the same color you flood-filled with earlier. Click PROOF to check and see if the background becomes transparent, then click OK. Do this for each picture.

STEP 13:

Under the FILE menu, go to SAVE AS. Save your pic, and MAKE SURE TO SAVE THE IMAGES AS A ".GIF" FILE!! Otherwise the transparency and animation will not work. Do this for each pic, naming them in order pic1, pic2, pic3. This will help you keep them straight when it comes time to animate them.


Whew! There, now that you have your 3 frames done, you are ready to ANIMATE!