Easy Animated Forum Tag

Easy Animated Forum Tag

Supplies needed:

NO SCRAPKIT NEEDED

Tube of choice – I am using art that is ©Anna Liwanag, http://kei03.deviantart.com. The name of the tube is “I Love Music.” I have purchased a license to use this work. If you do not have a license, please do not use this work. If you would like more info on purchasing a license, visit MPT

Font of choice – I am using “TS Curly,” but you can use whatever works with your tube J

Preset shape of choice – I am using some music notes, but you should use whatever works best with your tube.

Filter – Mura’s Meister: Copies; Eye Candy 3.1 Glow or Eye Candy 5: Impact>Gradient Glow

Optional – DSB Flux: Bright Noise; Animation Shop

That’s it! This tutorial is written using PSP X2 but should work in any version. The forum sizes used here are based on the guidelines used at The Zone Groups.

Let’s get started!

First, open a new canvas 500 x 250. Open your tube and duplicate it into a new window (just use Shift+D). Close the original and leave the duplicate up for reference.

For this forum set, you will need to choose 2 colors that match/complement your tube. One should be darker and one lighter. I am using #d35b8c for my dark color and #f9a9d1 for my light color.

Flood fill your canvas with your light color.

Apply Texture Effects>Blinds with these settings: Width 2, Opacity 10, Color White, both boxes checked.

Now, using your Preset Shape tool, select the shape you’re going to use. Set your foreground to off, and your background (fill) to your dark color. Draw the shape out rather small (mine is roughly 65x65).

Object>Align>Center in Canvas. Convert to Raster Layer.

Still on your shape layer, apply Mura’s Meister: Copies, using these settings:

Duplicate shape layer. Save your progress.

On your original shape layer (the bottom-most one), apply a gradient glow using your light color. Then, apply a drop shadow. I used 2, 2, 85, 2, color – my dark color.

Above your shape layers, use your preset shape tool (rectangle) to draw out a rectangle across the length of your tag. (See my tag for placement). Again, set the foreground to null and the background to your dark color.

Convert to raster layer. Apply Texture Effects>Blinds with the same settings as before. Apply the same gradient glow as you did to your other shapes. Add a drop shadow, I used 2, 0, 85, 2, color – my dark color, and then -2, 0, 85, 2, my dark color.

Save your progress.

Copy & paste your tube onto your canvas. It should be your top-most layer. Arrange it how you like. Add a drop shadow. I used 4, 4, 45, 4, color – black. And then 4, -4, 45, 4, black.

Add a new raster layer above your tube layer. CTRL+A to select all. Flood fill with your dark color. Selections>Modify>Contract by 4. Hit the delete key. Then, CTRL+D to selection none. Save.

Now, add your copyright & your name, and we’re ready to animate!

Open Animation Shop, then return to PSP.

Activate your shape layer – the one that does not have a gradient glow or drop shadow.

Apply dsb flux>Bright Noise using these settings: Intensity 40, Mix. (Or you can use the Add Noise feature built into PSP).

Edit>Copy>Copy Special> Copy Merged.

In Animation Shop, CRL+V to paste the merged image.

Back in PSP, CTRL+Z to undo the bright noise.

Then, re-apply dsb flux Bright Noise, with the same settings, but click on the word Mix once or twice.

In Animation Shop, CRL+Shift+L to paste the merged image.

Back in PSP, CTRL+Z to undo the bright noise.

Then, re-apply dsb flux Bright Noise, with the same settings, but click on the word Mix once or twice.

In Animation Shop, CRL+Shift+L to paste the merged image.

Still in Animation Shop, CTRL+A to select all frames, then ALT+Enter to change the frame speed to 15.

Save as GIF & you’re done!

I love to see all tut results, so email them to tutsbyj0eswife@gmail.com.

This tutorial was created on March 7, 2011. Tutorial is © tutsbyj0eswife and is registered with TWI.

Here's another example, using the art of Ismael Rac & a snowflake preset shape :)