Revolutionary

This tutorial is copyrighted to Kaye @ Kaye'z Designz. You may print out for personal use but do not post to any site or distribute as your own. Any resemblance to others online is purely coincidental.
Supplies Needed: Paint Shop Pro any version, I used X2. You can get it from COREL. Animation Shop (Optional). Tube of choice. I used one by Bam-Bam, it can be purchased at MPT. You may use your own color, gradient, pattern or scrap kit. I used FTU scrap kit by Monti called Big Bang Boom Blog Train. After entering site on the left click on scrap kits. Kit is near the top. Font of choice. Mask of choice or use mine WSL mask 257. Notes: Open supplies & tube in PSP. Open font and minimize to task bar. SAVE OFTEN.

Step 1 Open new canvas 500 X 500. Flood Fill with white.. Name layer BG.

Step 2 Add a New Layer. Flood Fill with another color, gradient, pattern or paper of choice. I used Monti-BigBangBoom-Paper-Stars. Apply WSL mask 257 with Invert Mask Data unchecked. Merge / Merge Group. Drop Shadow of choice, I used 1, -1, 100, 1, #0000FF. Name layer Mask Blue.

Step 3 Duplicate mask layer and Colorize using 255, 150. Same Drop Shadow but use #FF0000 for color. Name layer Mask Red.

Step 4 Add frame of choice. I used Monti-BigBangBoom-StarsAndStripes-Frame. Add Drop Shadow of choice. I used 3, 3, 65, 8, Black. Name layer Frame.

Step 5 Add any other elements of choice. I used red and blue candles and Patriotic word art. Name layers what they are.

Step 6 Copy and Paste tube of choice. Drop Shadow of choice, mine was 3, 3, 65, 8, Black. Place above frame. Activate frame layer and with Magic Wand click inside frame to get marching ants. Re-activate the tube layer and Selections / Invert. Use Eraser Tool to erase bottom part of tube sticking over frame. Name this layer tube.

Step 7 Add any copyrights required. Add your name and / or text and watermark. All on separate layers.

Step 8 Save as .pspimage to retain layers for future changes. Save as .jpg using Jpeg Optimizer to send thru group.

IF YOU CHOOSE TO ANIMATE FOLLOW STEPS BELOW

Step 1 Hide the red mask layer. Copy Merged, take to Animation Shop and Paste as New Animation.

Step 2 Back in PSP hide blue mask layer and unhide red mask layer. Copy Merged, take to Animation Shop and Paste after Current Frame.

Step 3 Select both frames (Ctrl + A). Change Frame Properties to 30, or your choice.

Step 4 Save as .gif file with these settings: Slider all the way at top for Better Quality. Under Colors tab: 255 colors, Optimized Octree, Error Diffusion. Under Optimizations tab: Check Write Minimal Frames and Map Identical Pixels other boxes should be unchecked.

All done! I hope you have enjoyed my tutorial. Remember this is just a guide. Experiment using different colors, gradients or patterns, images and settings. Any questions you can reach me at kayewinters@zoomtown.com. This tutorial was written 1/3/2010 by Kaye'z Designz.