ZODIAC

This tutorial is my own design and any resemblance to any other tutorial is purely coincidental.
© 2009 Yorkshire Lass Designs in PSP. All Rights Reserved.

It was created in Paint Shop Pro 8, but can be realised in other versions.
However, some tool descriptions and locations may vary, but the overall result should be the same.
You will also need Animation Shop.

My thanks to all the artists and other creators, known and unknown to me,
who have inspired this tutorial and whose work I have used.

You will need the following to complete this tutorial:

Tubes, Mask and Glitter

taurus.psp from birgittasplace.com (site inactive)
yp_star-ring.psp
Becky Mask022.jpg
Winni glitter gold-4.gif from Winni's Designs

The above can be downloaded
HERE
Download and extract to a file on your computer.
Open tubes and mask in PSP and minimise.
Leave glitter in the file untouched for now.

Plugins
Unplugged Tools - Star Chart

Available here
PSP Designer Studio

Download and extract to your Plugins folder

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Drag this arrow with you to mark your place in the tutorial
Drag and Drop Script from Dynamic Drive



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INSTRUCTIONS

STEP 1

Open new canvas 600x 600 pixels white
Layers >> Promote Background Layer
View >> Rulers

STEP 2

In the Materials Palette load Foreground with Gold #9F9741
Layers >> New Raster Layer
Flood fill layer with Foreground colour

STEP 3

Layers >> New Mask Layer >> From Image
Select becky mask022 from the drop down list



Layers >> Merge >> Merge Group

STEP 4

Effects >> Plugins >> UnPlugged Tools >> Starchart



STEP 5

Select the Preset Shape Tool and choose Ellipse from the shapes list



Starting at 80 pixels across and 80 pixels down
Draw out a circle a little larger than the outer circle



Selections >> Select None

STEP 6

In the Materials Palette load Foreground with Gold #9F9741
and make the Background null

Select the Text Tool with the following settings



Place the cursor over the circle, when it changes to an A with a curve under it left click
Type TAURUS in the text box until the circle is complete

I typed TAURUS with a space between each word then added an extra space
between some of the words until the text was even around the circle.
If you are using a zodiac sign other than Taurus, you will need to play with the word spacing.

Selections >> Select None

This is what you should have now



STEP 7

In the Layers Palette click on the plus sign



Click on the eye to make the ellipse invisible



Layers >> Convert to Raster Layer

STEP 8

Layers >> Duplicate
Layers >> Merge >> Merge Down

Layers >> Duplicate
Image >> Resize 55%
Resize All Layers unchecked

STEP 9

Layers >> Duplicate
Layers >> Merge >> Merge Down

STEP 10

Maximise tube taurus.psp
Edit >> Copy
Minimise tube
Edit >> Paste >> Paste as New Layer

STEP 11

Effects >> 3D Effects >> Drop Shadow



Repeat drop shadow changing the Vertical and Horizontal Offsets to minus 2 (-2)

STEP 12

Layers >> New Raster Layer
Add your name and/or watermark
Layers >> Merge >> Merge All Visible

STEP 13

Maximise tube yp_star-ring.psp
Edit >> Copy
Minimise tube
Edit >> Paste>> Paste as New Layer
Adjust position if necessary

NOW TO ANIMATE THE STARS

STEP 14

File >> Jasc Software Products >> Launch Animation Shop
Open winni.glitter.gold.4.gif
Edit >> Select All
Edit >> Copy

STEP 15

Over to Paint Shop Pro
Edit >> Paste >> AS Animation as Multiple Images
You should now have 3 separate glitter images
I re-named these images winni-glitter-gold-4-1.jpg, winni-glitter-gold-4-2.jpg and winni-glitter-gold-4-3.jpg

STEP 16

We need 3 star layers to match the number of glitter images
In the Layer Palette highlight Raster 4 (the star layer)
Layers >> Duplicate twice
Re-name these layers Star 1, Star 2 and Star 3



STEP 17

In the Layer Palette highlight Star 1 and hide Star 2 and Star 3

With the Magic Wand



and holding down the shift key select all the stars

In the Materials Palette change the Foreground Style to Pattern
Load winni-glitter-gold-4-1 from the selection of patterns



Select the Floodfill Tool and apply Foreground pattern to all the stars
Do not de-select

Effects >> 3D Effects >> Drop Shadow



Do not de-select

STEP 18

In the Layer Palette open and highlight Star 2 and hide Star 1 and Star 3



Load Foreground with winni-glitter-gold-4-2
Select the Floodfill Tool and apply Foreground pattern to all the stars
Apply Drop Shadow as in STEP 16
Do not de-select

STEP 19

In the Layer Palette open and highlight Star 3 and hide Star 1 and Star 2



Load Foreground with winni-glitter-gold-4-3
Select the Floodfill Tool and apply Foreground pattern to all the stars
Apply Drop Shadow as in STEP 16
Selections >> Select None

STEP 20

Still working in the Layer Palette
Highlight Star 1
Hide Star 3 and Star 2
Edit >> Copy Merged

Over to Animation Shop
Edit >> Paste >> As New Animation
Return to Paint Shop Pro

STEP 21

Open and highlight Star 2
Hide Star 1 and Star 3
Edit >> Copy Merged

Over to Animation Shop
Edit >> Paste >> After Current Frame
Return to Paint Shop Pro

STEP 22

Open and highlight Star 3
Hide Star 1 and Star 2
Edit >> Copy Merged

Over to Animation Shop
Edit >> Paste >> After Current Frame

STEP 23

View >> Animation


STEP 24

Save as a gif and we're done



Here is another example




I hope you enjoyed this tutorial.

If you have any questions or would like to show me your result
EMAIL ME