Water Signature Tag using the Almathera filter

Water Signature Tag using the Almathera Puddle Filter by Doris C. Murphy August, 2003 This tutorial is freely shared.... Just please don't sell it or claim it as your own.
Supplies Paint Shop Pro 8 You can download an evaluation copy here This can also be done in PSP 7 Almathera Filter (Free) Download HERE My Gradient File - DCM-Bluedream for PSP8 Download Here My Gradient File - DCM-Bluedream for PSP7 Download Here Font used is Bellbottom Wide Download here
This is a long tutorial, using lots of layers, but I am leaving it on one page for ease in printing it.
This tutorial is very detailed and is written so that those who are beginners to Paint Shop Pro can create it.
Unzip the Almathera Filter file to a folder. (Hint: If you create a folder on your C:\ drive named Filters, you can then add any new filters to their own folder inside the Filters folder and you do not need to set the path in PSP8)
If you do not have a usual folder for your filters, open Paint Shop Pro8. Click on File> Preferences> File Locations> Plugins and add the new location of the Almathera Filter.
Unzip the Gradient File to your gradient folder (For PSP8 usually My Documents\My PSP8 Files\Gradients) For PSP7 place in the gradient Folder where PSP7 is installed. (Usually C:\Program Files\Jasc Software Inc\Paint Shop Pro 7\Gradients)
Unzip the Font file and open it, then minimize it (you do not need to install it).
Now close PSP. Reopen the program. (This allows the filter to load)
OK .... LET'S GET STARTED!
Open a new image 600 X 150, 16 million colors, Transparent Background Save this file as watertext1.pspimage.
Set your colors: I used Foreground color #4974CB, Background color, DCM-Bluedream gradient
Click on the Text Tool then choose the following settings: Create as: Vector, Font BellBottomWide, Size 54, Stroke width 2.0, Anti-alias checked, Alignment center, Line Style solid. Note - set the size to whatever you want) Below is a copy of the PSP 8 Text Ribbon.
Place your text on the image.
Now, using the mover handles on the Vector text, move the text until it is spread out and the top and bottom are close to the top and bottom edges.
Click on Objects> Align> Center in Canvas. At this point your layer palette should look like this.
Right click on Vector1 and click Convert to Raster Layer. Rename this layer Original Vector. (To rename the layer, Right Click on the layer name and choose rename, then type in the name.)
SAVE
The marching ants are gone!!! Click on Selection>Select all then Click on Selection>float... (now they are back around the text). Click Selection> Modify> Contract 3 pixels. (This moves the ants inside the blue border). When you click enter you may see this screen. If so just click OK
Now, using the layer duplication tool, make 9 copies of your Original Vector layer. (The layer duplication tool is the set of double boxes at the top of your layer palette) We will be using the 9 copies and leaving the original intact. I do this .....just in case.
Now your layer palette looks like this:
SAVE
Close all your layers (Click on Layers>View>None)
(Note that beside each layer there will be a red X on the eye.)
Click on the layer name Copy 9 of the original Vector Layer, then Click on the red X on the eye beside Copy 9 of the Original Vector Layer. (This activates the layer).
You can see the name of the active layer at the top of your image screen
Click on Effects> Plugins1> Almathera>A Puddle The settings are as follows: reflection 110, displacement 41, lighting strength 74, perspective 79, scale 77.
Now your text looks similar to this....ugly isn't it?
Click on the red X by Layer Copy (8) of Original Vector
Now it looks kinda like this:
Right click on the name of one of the 2 open layers and click Merge>merge visible
Move Layer Copy (7) of Original Vector above the merged layer. Click on the red X on the eye to make it visible.
Using the slider to the right of the Layer name, move it to 50. ( You can experiment with this setting to see what you like.)
It will look similar to this
Place your cursor on the layer name Merged and Right Click>Merge >Merge visible. Rename the layer to 1. Click on the eye to turn that layer off.
SAVE
Click on the red x on the eye beside Copy (6) of Vector Original Layer to open it. Click on the layer name to select that layer.
Click on Effects> Plugins> Almathera>APuddle The settings should be as follows: Reflection 96, displacement 41, Lighting strength 74, perspective 87, scale 87
You will see something similar to this:
Activate copy 5 of Original Vector image
It should look similar to this:
Merge>Merge visible
Move Layer Copy (4) of Original Vector above the merged layer. Click on the red X on the eye to make it visible.
Using the slider to the right of the Layer name, move it to 60. ( You can experiment with this setting to see what you like.)
It should look similar to this:
Place your cursor on the layer name Merged and Right Click>Merge > Merge visible. Rename the layer to 2. Click on the eye to turn that layer off.
SAVE
Activate Copy (3) of Vector Original
Click on Effects> Plugins> Almathera>APuddle The settings should be as follows: Reflection 100, displacement 62, Lighting strength 88, perspective 96, scale 100.
It should look similar to this:
Activate copy 2 of Original Vector image
It should now look similar to this:
Right click on the name of one of the 2 open layers and click Merge>merge visible
Move Layer Copy of Original Vector above the merged layer. Click on the red X on the eye to make it visible.
Using the slider to the right of the Layer name, move it to 50. ( You can experiment with this setting to see what you like.)
It should look similar to this:
Place your cursor on the layer name Merged and Right Click>Merge > Merge visible. Rename the layer to 3.
Click on the eye of layers 1 and 2 to turn those layers on.
You can either delete the layers Vector Original and Raster1 or just leave them turned off. I will leave them just turned off.
SAVE	Next we will animate the water.
TIME TO ANIMATE
Open Animation Shop (In PSP click on File>Jasc Software Products> Launch Animation Shop)
Click on the Animation Wizard button
This screen opens Be sure same size as the first image frame is checked. Click Next	Be sure Transparent is checked. Click Next
Upper left corner of the frame and with canvas color should be checked. Click Next.	Be sure Yes, repeat the animation indefinitely is checked. Change the number in the bottom box to 25. Click Next.
Click Add Image	Locate your watertext1.pspimage. Click Open
Click Next	Click Finish
	Notice there is lots of empty space around the text. We need to fix that.
Click on the crop tool	Outline the area that you want to keep. Note that it will outline the same area in each frame.
	Click on Crop.
You will see something like this	Click on the View Animation tool. Be sure that the movement is ok. You can change the time of the movement if necessary... (See Below).
If the Animation is good, click on File, Save As and give it a filename. (Be sure you know the folder it is saved in) Click Save.	This screen determines the quality versus Output size. I usually choose the second mark if the picture still looks ok on the next screen. After clicking on your choice, Click Next.
This screen appears that shows that it is completing the file save. Click Next	This screen shows the original and the optimized images. If the optimized image is satisfactory, click next. If not satisfactory, click back, and change the Animation Quality screen.
This screen shows the File sizes and download times as well as the amount of change. If satisfactory, click Finish.
You are done!	Congratulations. You have created an animated water Signature Tag

To Change the Movement time of the Animation:
Click on a frame.	Click on Edit, then Select All
	Click on Animation then on Frame PropertiesChange the number in the box. Click OK
View your animation again. If not satisfactory, Click on Animation then on Frame Properties	Change the number again. Click Ok
Repeat as necessary until you are happy with the animation

This tutorial is copyright 2003 by Doris Murphy It is freely shared.... Just please don't sell it or claim it as your own.


Copyright 2003,2004 Designs by Doris