Simple Text Spin:
1 Create a new 200x200 transparent image
2 Insert some text using the text tool
TIP:To reproduce the text in this tutorial, click in the frame when the cursor coordinates (in the bottom left of the window) show "(100,170)". When the "Add Text" dialog pops up select the following text font size & options...
3 Copy (CTRL-C) and paste as new frame (CTRL-L)
4 Paste as new frame (CTRL-L) (You should now have 3 identical frames)
5 Click on frame 2 and select "Animation->Mirror"
This should result in the following frames...
TIP:Note that frame 2 (F:2) has a blue border.
This indicates the currently selected frame(s).
6 Click on frame 1 and select "Effects->Insert Image Transition". The following dialog will pop up.
7 Select spin from the drop down list, select a Transition Length of 1.0 secs. Click on Customize...
This dialog will pop up...
Here we have customized with
[Direction=Vertical]
[Fill unused=canvas color]
OK the "Customize..." dialog (This simply means click the OK button)
OK the "Insert Image Transition" Window
This will result in the following frames...
TIP:Note the multiple selected frames (blue border)
The frame to the right of the last selected frame is
frame 12 (F:12) in this example.
8 Click on the frame to the right of the last selected frame and select "Effects->Insert Image transition
9 Simply OK the "Insert Image Transition" window.
10 Click on the frame to the right of the last selected frame and select "Effects->Insert Image transition
11 Simply OK the "Insert Image Transition" window.
12 Delete the last frame
Simple rotating disc (using text)
1 Create a new 200x200 transparent image
2 Select "Effects->Insert Text Effect"
3 Choose "Wheel" from the drop down list and set the "Effect Length" to 2.2 seconds
Here we are using
[Start with=Animation Frame]
[Text appearance=custom color] (select color to use)
(To use the same text/font as this example click on the "Font..." button and use the same settings as in the "Spin Part 1" Tutorial)
4 OK the "Insert text Effect" window
5 Delete frame 1
Combining Effects
This will show you how to combine 2 animations. It is in effect animating with layers
1 Create 2 animations using the 2 spin animations. (Do not resize the text wheel animation)
2 Load the 2 animations into AS2 (They must be the same length (hopefully 22 frames if both tutorials were followed to the letter)
3 Select the first animation and select all frames (CTRL-A)
4 Copy the frames "Edit->Copy" (CTRL-C)
5 Select the second animation and select all frames (CTRL-A)
6 Select "Edit->Paste->into selected frame" (CTRL-E)
All the frames should paste over the animation.
The order the cut and paste is done effects whether anim 1 is on top of anim 2 or vice versa. You can use this technique for all types of layer animation.
Applying animations to animations (Stained glass onto a wipe)
1 In PSP: Create your text on a black background using the color, font and size you want.
2 Crop the image using the crop tool ensuring you leave a border around the text
3 Get your image into AS2 (Copy form PSP & Paste to AS2)
4 Insert a blank image at the start and end of the animation and flood fill with black (you should now have frames 1=blank, 2=text, 3=blank)
5 Select frame 1 and choose "Effects->Insert Image Effect". Choose "wipe" from the drop down list, Choose a duration of 2 sec at 10fps
6 Click on customize and use the following [slide first frame=unticked][slide last frame=unticked]
7 You should now have
8 With the frames still selected choose "Effects->Apply Image Effect" and choose "stained glass" from the drop down list.
9 Click on customize and use the following Settings (make sure red & green for light source are both in center)
10 Ok Customize, OK apply Effect
11 Click on the last frame of the stained glass effect (frame 21)
12 Select "Effects->Apply Image Effect" (you are applying an image effect to one frame)
13 Use the previous stained glass settings.
14 Click on the frame prior to this (frame 20)
15 Select "Effects->Insert Image Transition and choose a "Fade" Transition. Set the length to 0.4 sec
16 Click on the last frame that has a stained glass effect (Frame 25) and insert another fade transition using exactly the same parameters
17 Click on the next to last frame (Frame 30) and insert another fade transition using the same settings.
18 Delete any frames from the start of the animation that are repeat blanks(Click on them and hit CTRL-X) (Should be frames 1 and 2 in this test.
19 Select frame 1 and select "Animation->Frame Properties". Set the display time to 100 (for 1 second)
20 Select the frame that has the solid text (Frame 27 in this test)
21 Select "Animation->Frame Properties". Set the display time to 100.
Mapping an image to a sphere.
For this to work the image should be 3 times as wide as it is tall (because PI=3.1472)
If your image is not this shape then re-size it to be so. It doesn't matter if it gets distorted because it will be even more distorted when we've finished. I chose to re-size to 300x100 to make the math easier.
1 Load the image to map into PSP and select "Image->Re-size" (SHIFT-S)
2 Resize to 300x100.
3 Cut the image into 3 equal squares (Call them L, M, R for left/middle/right)
4 Click on L and select "Edit->Copy" (CTRL-C)
5 In AS2, select "Paste->As new image" (CTRL-V)
6 Select "Paste->As new frame" (CTRL-E)
7 In PSP select R and "Edit->Copy" (CTRL-C)
8 In AS2, click on frame 2 and select "Edit->paste as new frame (CTRL-E)
9 In PSP select M and "Edit->Copy" (CTRL-C)
10 In AS2, click on frame 2 and select "Edit->paste as new frame (CTRL-E)
11 You should now have the frames L.M.R.L
12 Click on frame 1 and select "Effects->Insert Image transition" Choose "wipe" from the drop down list and a duration of 0.4 Customize as follows
[slide first frame=ticked]
[slide last frame=ticked]
[wipe direction=Horizontal/Right to left]
[Preserve Transparency=unchecked]
13 OK Customize, OK "Insert Image Transition" window
14 Click on M (Should be the frame to the right of the last selected frame)
15 Select "Effects->Insert Image Transition", Use the same settings as before (Just OK the "Insert Image Transition Window")
16 Click on R (Should be the frame to the right of the last selected frame)
17 Select "Effects->Insert Image Transition", Use the same settings as before (Just OK the "Insert Image Transition Window")
18 Delete the very last frame
If you animate this now you should see the image continually scroll left to right.
19 Select all frames (CTRL-A) and export them to PSP "File->Export Frames to PSP"
20 In PSP one of the frames will be selected.
21 Select "Image->Deformations->Circle"
22 Select "File->Close" - OK the window that pops up.
23 The next frame in your animation will become selected. Repeat step 21&22 for all frames
[A SHORTCUT: Hold down the ALT key and press in turn 'I' 'D' 'C' 'F' 'C' then OK the window that pops up. This is the shorthand method for steps 21 & 22
24 In AS2 you can now save your animated gif.
Stargate, simple 2 layer animation
This technique is sort of "How to animate a Layer" In this one we animate the background layer.
1 In PSP create a new transparent image.
2 Create your stargate image, ensuring you leave the center of the circle transparent.
Psp file is here.
3 In AS2 create a new transparent image that is the same size as the image you created with PSP
4 Flood fill the frame with black (This is different than creating an opaque image with a black background)
5 Select "Effects->Insert image effect" and select "Underwater" from the drop down menu
6 Select a duration of 1 Sec at 10fps and click on customize. Use the following settings
7 OK the window and check the results. If they don't look good, simply click on customize again (don't change any settings) then click on OK. Keep doing this till you get a good effect (it seems to be pretty random even using the same settings). When it looks good OK the "Insert Image Effect Window.
8 Delete frame 1 (it will be all black)
9 Go back to PSP and copy the stargate image "Edit->Copy" (CTRL-C)
10 In AS 2, click on the first frame and select "Paste->Into selected frame" (CTRL-E)
11 Click on frame 2 and repeat the paste. (CTRL-E)
12 Repeat step 11 for all the frames.
Animating a layer from a PSP image.
This will show you how to combine an animation with a layered PSP image. If these are the layers in your image:-
1 In AS2, Create a transparent animation the same size as your PSP image (200x200 in this example)
2 Export the frame to PSP "File->Export frames to PSP"
3 In PSP select your image and make sure the animated layer is selected
4 Copy the layer (CTRL-C) and paste into the exported frame "Paste->As new selection" (CTRL-E)
5 De-float the layer (CTRL-D) and close the image "File->Close". Select "yes" in the window that pops up
The next bit will animate the layer. For this I am just going to use a wipe transition
6 Copy the image (CTRL-C) and paste as new frame (CTRL-L)
7 Click on frame 1 and select "Effects->Insert Image transition"
8 Select "Wipe" from the drop down list and a duration of 1 sec at 1fps. Customize as follows:-
[Slide first frame=ticked]
[Slide last frame=ticked]
[Wipe direction=Vertical/Top to bottom]
[Preserve transparency=unticked]
9 Delete the last frame. You should now have an 11 frame animation.
10 In PSP select the background layer and copy it "Edit->copy" (CTRL-C)
11 In animation shop, paste as new animations "Edit->paste->as new animation" (CTRL-V)
12 Select "Edit->paste->as new frame" (CTRL-L)
13 Repeat step 12 until there are 11 frames (Same number as the text animation)
14 Click on the text animation and select all frames "Edit-Select all" (CTRL-A) and copy them "Edit->copy" (CTRL-C)
15 Click on the background frames, select all frames "Edit-Select all" (CTRL-A)
16 Select "Edit->copy->into selected frames
You now have the text animating over the background
17 In PSP select the foreground layer and copy it "Edit->copy" (CTRL-C)
18 In AS2, click on the first frame of the combined text/background animation and select "edit->paste->into selected frame" (CTRL-E)
19 Repeat step 18 for all frames.
You now have the text animated in front of the background layer but passing behind the foreground layer.
Learn Animation Step by Step
~!
Linear Mode
