Saturday, July 7, 2012

Vintage Butterfly Siggy Snag Set

This was my first tag set made using Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0

The program is old but I found a copy on Amazon.com for $13.99 and I was told this was the easiest of the Elements versions to use.

It is somewhat similar to PSP, however there are enough differences to make it confusing. PSP is more "logically" laid out to me.

Vintage Butterfly

Photobucket

The animation action was made using Alien Eye Candy Glass effect with three different Refraction settings (15, 22 and 50) and putting the frame with the 22 setting both before and after the frame with the 50 setting, so there are only 4 frames in Animation Shop for this tag.

All tutorials and screenshots are mine. Please DO NOT repost my tutorials as to your site or group. Do NOT claim as yours nor use my screenshots in your tutorials. Please link back to me instead. Do NOT translate my tutorials into another language unless you have received permission from me. Send an email with a link to your site first. By using any item from this Blog, you agree to be bound to my TOU. Thank you for visiting my little Blog.

Update on the computer issue

I thoroughly researched the "missing gdiplus.dll" problem. I tried all the simple solutions (delete the corrupted fonts, searching the trash for accidentally deleted file, etc) that I found in the various forums and on the web.

I finally found where I should download and extract a gdiplus.dll file to my Windows\System32 folder, which I did. Then go to "Run" and type in "regsvr32 gdiplus.dll" and click "Ok".

Under "normal" circumstances, this would "load" the missing .dll file and all would be wonderful, right? NOT!

I received a new error message stating the file had loaded BUT "the DLLRegisterServer could not find the entry point", the entry point was missing, therefore the gdiplus.dll could not be registered by the system. So the problem is within the Windows XP Pro system and as soon as I find the installation disk that came with the computer, I should be able to do a repair install and hopefully THAT will fix the problem.

Interesting that Adobe products do not seem to need this file to operate since my Adobe products will operate. 

Oh... Internet Explorer will not function neither. I use Firefox and do not seem to have any problems there. 

I am posting this as an FYI to anyone out there who may be having the same computer issue.

By using any item from this Blog, you agree to be bound to my TOU. Thank you for visiting my little Blog.

Monday, June 18, 2012

Computer Down

Not exactly the computer but the Corel PSP X2 software is down. 

On the 14th I upgraded my memory and was excited that I would be able to zip on through my creations but as Murphy would have it, whatever can go wrong, will go wrong.

PSP would not open and after several days of messing with the issue and research help from my cousin Lisa, we have found that the gdiplus.dll entry point is missing. Do not ask me how on earth that happened. 

Corel has assigned a Support Person to help me (Thank you Corel!) and hopefully I will back to making tags soon.

Please stand by....


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Sunday, June 3, 2012

Vintage Snags

I love the vintage look and steampunk themes so I have combined these to produce the following snags. The background is a steampunk design from Dover publications with an overlay of a mask and then a marbled filter. The beautiful scraps are by  "DigiZines By Teri

Deepest Sympathy

Congratulations

Checking In

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Thank you for visiting my little Blog and please leave a comment if you enjoy the snags.

Monday, May 28, 2012

Want My Cupcake Tutorial







This Tutorial, "Want My Cupcake" was created on 27 May 2012 by me and is the registered property of Graphics4Fun PSP Tutorials. All my tutorials are registered with Tutorial Writers Inc, the Tagging Community's premier tutorial registration company.

This tutorial is written in and for PSP X2 and assumes you have an excellent working knowledge of PSP and Animation Shop. Please use my tutorial as a guideline and you are encouraged to try your own ideas.

Remember to save your work often. Finished tag will be over 1MB.

For this tutorial I am using "Lucy Loves Cupcake", a tube by Kim Turner purchased from PSP Tube Stop. You need a license to use her work. Many thanks to PSP Tube STOP for allowing me to use the wonderful work of Kim Turner.

You may use whatever font you wish. I am using a free font,  "Missed Your Exit". Click the link to download the font.

I am using Eye Candy 6, Glass effect. If you do not have Eye Candy, you can download the free trial version here or skip that section and just add the drop shadow to the frame.

Lets Begin

Create a layer 600x275 (if you want to increase or decrease the tag size, you will need to adjust the percentage of the tube in the next step to suit your tag.)  Open your tube and reduce to 45% and copy & paste the image with the background as a new layer. Flood fill the bottom layer with a color of your choice. 

Duplicate the bottom layer and move it to the top.

Using the Selection tool set to "Rectangle", create & cut out a section of the top solid layer. I like to come in about 5/10ths (5 little lines), on the top and side and drag the rectangle box to the opposite corner, stopping at the same points. Once you have cut the center out, copy the frame and paste as a new image layer with a transparent background (you can delete this layer on the tag).

Go to your Eye Candy 6, Text_Selection, Glass and follow the 2 screenshots. The Bevel Profile is the Factory setting "Button".  Add drop shadow with a V. & H. of "0" and the O. of 100, & B. 3.19.  Color Black. On the frame I also add my credits and license number. Merge VISIBLE and carry to AS and leave it for now. ( For credits, I use Pixelette 8pts, anti-alias off).



Photobucket

Back to the tag, you should have a background layer of a solid color, and a layer of the tube with it's background. Move the tube layer to the left. Duplicate the Tube layer five times. You should now have a total of 7 layers altogether.

Go to the bottom layer, create a new layer above it,  to add your text.  You can put any phrase you wish. I picked white for the color. I added a drop shadow on the same layer with these settings.

V. - 1
H. -  3
Op. - 100
B. - 3.19
C. - Black

You will now have 8 layers: Bottom/background, Text, Original Tube, 5 Duplicate tube layers. Label your layers 1-8;  Hide the duplicate tube layers. Only the background layer, the text layer and the original tube layer should be visible. (Layers 1, 2 and 3)

Keeping the text on this second layer, move the text to the right of layer 3.(Click to see the layers)



Copy Merge and take to AS, Paste as a New Animation. Come back to your tag.

Unhide layer 4, move to the right of layer 3, Copy Merge, Carry to AS, Paste AFTER the first frame,

Unhide layer 5, move to the right of layer 4, Copy Merge, Carry to AS, Paste AFTER the second frame,

Unhide layer 6, move to the right of layer 5, Copy Merge, Carry to AS, Paste AFTER the third frame,

Unhide layer 7, move to the right of layer 6, Copy Merge, Carry to AS, Paste AFTER the forth frame,

Unhide layer 8, move to the right of layer 7, Copy Merge, Carry to AS, Paste AFTER the fifth frame.

You should now have 6 frames in Animation Shop. You can either Copy the Tag Frame you pasted earlier in AS (no animation on this frame) or you can continue with the tut and animate the frame. *Please make sure to have the "Propagate Paste" icon ticked in AS.

If you decide to stop now, while still in AS, go to your Tag Frame, select it and copy, go back to your 6 frame tag animation, highlight the first frame, then select all, and then Paste INTO selected frame. The Tag Frame will propagate into all the frames. You can save as a gif and you are done with the tag. Continue below for the avatar.

For those continuing:

Go to your Frame, highlight it and then Insert Image Effect: Underwater with the settings in the screenshots (3 & 4). You will have 6 Frames, highlight and CUT the first frame.






Because the timing of the frame animation and the timing of the tag animation are different, we have to adjust the number of frames.

Still working with your Frame set, select all, Copy, highlight the last frame, then Paste AFTER CURRENT FRAME. This will give you 10 frames. Highlight the last frame, the again Paste After Current Frame.

Repeat this until you have 30 Frames in all..

Leave for now and go to your 6 Tag frames. You want the one Frame that is Open (just the one tube image and the text) to show for an extended length of time. You also want the closed Frame (where the text is completely covered by the many tube frames, like an accordian opening and closing), to be closed for an extended period of time. If you changed the frame properties on the these 2 frames, it would interfere with the rhythm of the Tag Frame animation so therefore, you will need to add more of the open and closed frames to make it all work together.

First thing is to select all 6 frames of the tag, copy and highlight the last frame, then paste After the current frame. Then reverse the frames. You now have 12 frames with the animation rapidly opening and closing back and forth. We are going to highlight and copy the 1st frame and then paste after the Current frame so that you should have 2 frames like the first frame. Repeat this so that you end up with a total of 11 frames, all of 1st frame. 

Now go to Frame #16, it should be the first frame with the tube all the way across.  Highlight it, copy and then Paste After current Frame. Do this until you have 9 copies of Frame 16 so that there are a total of 10 frames of frame 16.

The complete number of frames for the Tag animation should be 30, the same number as the animated Tag Frame . Go to your Tag Frame, select All, Copy and then go to the Tag frames, select all and Paste into the current frame and you should have all 30 tags frames with the animated Frames. I set the frame properties to 12.  If you are satisfied with this speed, you can save it.

Go back to PSP and make your avatar.

Create a new layer 150x150. Flood fill with the same color as you used in the tag. Duplicate this layer. I used the tube image without the background and reduced it to 25%. Copy and paste as a new layer, moving it between the two solid layers.

Using the Square selection tool, cut the center out of the top layer like you did with the tag. I increase the avatar by about 300% so I can see the marks on the ruler. Select the 5 marks top and side, move to the opposite corner to the same markings, and cut this out. This frame is too small to run through the glass filter so just add the drop shadow with the same settings as you did for the frame in the tag:

V. & H.  "0" ; the O. of 100, & B. 3.19; color Black


Add the same drop shadow to the tube layer as well. Merge the three layers.

Add your artist copyright and your license number. Add you name. I used the same drop shadow settings for the name as I used for the text in the tag.

V. - 1
H. -  3
Op. - 100
B. - 3.19
C. - Black

Merge all and save.

You may also use this extra avatar frame I have included here:

Extra Avatar Frame

Just right click and save to your computer. Use this instead of making a frame for the avatar and continue follow the steps.

You have completed this tutorial.

Please let me know how you did.


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Monday, May 14, 2012

Finally Back Plus FB Timeline Covers

I want to say that I am back and feeling better after a month and half hiatus.

Many things happening around my world. My daughter and her 2 girls, my granddaughters, have moved back with me. Since this is a 1 bdrm apt, you can imagine the adjusting we are all doing. My granddaughters are 4 & 5 so they think all of this is just a new adventure. Through the eyes of children, the world looks great!

There is a new project on the horizon but we have not been able to confirm the opening date so I will just say that as soon as we are set, I'll make an announcement. We are shooting for June 1st but again... that is tentative.

Many of you are using Facebook. I make my own timeline covers so I will post some here. If you would like to comment about the themes you would like, that will give me an idea of what to make. Be aware that some artist have included in their TOU that their tubes are NOT allowed for Facebook Timeline Covers.

I made these Covers this morning from the new scrap kit by Rebel Without A Pause Designs titled "The Roses" and this part of the kit is "The Roses: Roses for Momma". Click to view full size, save to your computer and upload to your facebook account.




G4F

Graphics 4 Fun FB Timeline Covers




The second Facebook Timeline Cover is a frame with a transparent center, in which you can insert a photo of your family or friends, or anything you wish. Just open your favorite photo editing program, open this image (once you have downloaded it to your computer) and then create a new layer beneath the Cover image and then open your family or friend image, move it between the two layers until you are satisfied and merge all and save as a new image.

I have received a lot of compliments on the choice of font I used. You can find the font at FontYukle, click here: "BickhamScriptFancy2".

This second framed FB Timeline Cover has a 1930s Alfons Mucha image.  I love Alfons Mucha art and use it as often as I can.


G4F_FacebookTimelineCovers


Enjoy and don't forget to point folks back here to grab the timeline covers. Please leave a comment, thank you.

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Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Teddy and Butterflies Snags

 One of my favorite places to get awesome clip art is Barry's Place, also known as PSPTubez.com and it is really easy to join. This is a membership site and right now he is offering membership specials like 25% off and he has a 2-day Trial membership for only $5.95! That is the safest bet you could ever take! See the Membership Sign-Up for the different levels.

Today's snags are made from a gradient and tubes from Barry's Place.









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Monday, March 12, 2012

Website Buttons You Can Use

Tutorial Writers, Inc. have a wonderful forum and one of the most fun challenges I have seen is "Wordless Wednesday". The moderator picks a different theme each week and we create the item without any commentary other than our watermark.

Last week's theme was "Web Design Buttons". I had intended to just do one and post it but decided to do a set of nine. These were made from my own flower photo so I am posting them here as well and you can use them if you wish. I don't think resizing will work well but if you can, and you are satisfied with the result, then I don't mind.

Please do not claim these as yours. You do not need to give me credit but please do not take credit either.


Web Icons by Graphics4Fun


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