How-to: Animated Snow

It's that time of year - Christmas and winter tag making and often we want to add snow.  So I hope this will help to make 'snow' easy - you must provide your own shovel!!!!  LOL

Note: Written using PSPX.  A basic knowledge of PSP and it's tools is expected.

Supplies:

VanDerLee - Snowflakes

If you do not have this filter - you can get it HERE

(install it into your PSP Filters File and then add to PSP)

Tag

Animation Shop (which will be referred to as A/S)

Let's Begin:

I made a basic tag - make sure your background layer is NOT merged to any other layers.  Also your background needs to be a dark color so that the snow will be visible.

Activate your background layer - select all - float - defloat (please do not deselect until instructed)

Add a new layer

Filters - VDL Snowflakes:

You can adjust your settings as you wish - this is my personal preference.  If you want larger flakes (size) or more flakes (amount) then adjust that.  Transparency should be kept at 0.

Apply filter

Add another layer - change the random seed number (bottom row) - apply.

Add another layer - again change the random seed number.

I use 3 layers - you can use more - I recommend you use at least 3.

When you have all the layers you want - deselect.

X-out all your snow layers - except the one above the background layer.

Edit - copy merged

In A/S - paste as a new animation

Back in PSP - close out the bottom snow layer - open the next layer above it.

Edit - copy merged

In A/S - paste after current frame

Repeat the above step until all snow layers have been moved to A/S

In A/S - run your animation

To me the setting is too fast - to change that - close the window showing the animation.

Click the first frame of your animation - go to Edit - select all

Now go to Animation - Frame Properties - change the speed:

I prefer 30 - the higher the number the slower the snow 'falls'

Run your animation and once happy - save as a .gif.

CMW - Make Me Smile !!!!

Supplies:

Tube of choice

PI2 - Make Me Smile Template - HERE

NOTE:  I use PSP X - if you use another version you may need to make adjustments.

Let's Begin:

This tutorial uses the manual color correction (MCC).  If you do not have this function on your toolbar - this is how you can add it.

Click VIEW - the CUSTOMIZE

Click COMMANDS tab at the top - then click ALL COMMANDS at the bottom.

On the right hand side you will see icons and a list of all the functions available.

Scroll down until you locate MANUAL COLOR CORRECTION

With your mouse - drag this item up to your toolbar.  Now you may close this window.  You now have easy access to this function.

Open the template - duplicate - close the original and delete the credits layer.

Open your tube and choose several colors or complimentary colors - I made a color chart so that I had easy access when changing colors.

I prefer to copy and paste my tube - resize and position first.  Just so I can see what colors I want around the tube so that it compliments the tube the best.  As always, this is just a personal preference and a tut is just a guideline - please do what works best for you!!!!!

I set my foreground and background to 2 color choices.

I also start on the bottom layer - again, just my preference, and X-out all the other template layers - so I have a full view of the layer I am working on.

With the bottom layer activated - click the MCC button 

                                 that is now on your toolbar.

The first thing you need to do is set the color for the right box - so take your mouse over the template layer and click.  Since this layer is a gradient layer - there are several choices - I usually choose a light to middle tone.  Now I need to set the color I want the layer to become.  Click the TARGET box - right click - the palette opens - choose the color you wish. Click ok.

If you are not happy with that selection - click the undo button and select a different TARGET color.

Activate and un-X the next layer up - and repeat the above with another color choice.  Remember to change the SOURCE color if the template color is different, before selecting your TARGET color.

You can change the blend mode and even lower the opacity.

This is what my template looks like after these first 2 steps:

Continue this process with each layer until you are happy with the look.

Add a drop shadow to your tube.

Add any filters or techniques you wish - experiment and enjoy being creative!!!

Add your copyright and license information.  Merge and save !!!!

Video - Chicago - Make Me Smile