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Author: Edna Munn
Software: PhotoImpact Version 12 & X3
Title: Coloured Noise
Skill Level: Intermediate
Description: This tutorial will teach you how to make coloured noise using the Gradient Ramp Palette in PhotoImpact. (most versions)
Ever wondered if there was a quick and easy way to make coloured noise for your sparkle on sig tags or tiles for your web-sets........................now you can just by making your tiles with this tutorial. No outside filters are used to make the coloured noise (sparkle) it is all done with the "Gradient Ramp Palette" in your PhotoImpact Software.
Supplies Needed: A copy of PhotoImpact 30 Day Free Trial
Let's get started and don't forget to save often!!
Open your copy of PhotoImpact. goto File/New and open a new image 100x100 with a white background. I am going to show you how easy it is to make coloured noise tiles. We will be making a Christmas noise tile by making our own Gradient.
1. Goto your Layer Manager and Right-click your base layer and duplicate twice.
You should have 3 tile layers.
Because you have duplicated the base layer I have found that there is no need to Convert it.
It doesn't make any difference what colour you use as we are going to fill from the Gradient Ramp Palette.
Your layers should look like this image below.
2. Click on your top tile layer and goto Edit/Fill/Magic Gradient.
Click on the Edit button and choose Gradient 045.
Now right-click on one the coloured squares and change the colour to #17B900. Right-click on another square and also change that to #17B900.
Change the remaining 2 squares that are left to #FF0004
Now drag your little squares into about the same positions that are pictured in the image below. When you are happy with your result, click on Add, (this will add your new gradient to the colour palette) then OK.
Now click on Mode 9 and type (or hit the down arrow) 0.75 in the repeat number box.
Point of Interest
If you would like more red in your tile or sig tag, click on the square button next to Edit. This will give you a stronger effect.
Click OK.
Click on the next Layer (for sig tag 2D name layer) down, then Goto Edit/Fill/Magic Gradient and give it the value of 0.74 in the repeat numbers box.
Click OK
Click on your bottom layer, (for sig tag 2D name layer) then Goto Edit/Fill/Magic Gradient and give it the value of 0.73 in the repeat numbers box
Click OK
3. Save your file as a UFO or if you have trouble opening ufo files in Gif Animator 5, save as a PSD file.
Animating Your Tile and Sig Tag
Open you Gif Animator 5 and navigate to the folder you have save your Coloured Noise tile (sig tag) and open it in GA.
The next step is easy peasy!!
For your Tile: Click on your bottom layer, hold down shift and click on your top layer. This will highlight all your layers in GA5. Then all you have to do is click on the Distribute to Frames button and your done!
For your sig tag: Highlight your 3 Sparkle 2D name layers and then click on the Distribute to Frame button. You will have to go back and open the eye on the layers that don't have the 3D pipe showing.
Click on the Preview tab and if you are happy with how it looks, it is time to optimize your tile/sig tag and save.
Click on your optimize tab and check out how heavy it is, as you can see mine is only 11,729 bytes. not to bad at 256 colours. you can take it down to 128 or even 64 on the optimizing presets without too much change in the animation.
You can either click on the save button on the bottom right just above the storyboard or you can goto File/Optimization Wizard.
You are now done.
Examples
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034 |
014 |
my Gradient |
106 |
088 |
If you have plug-ins in GA5 you could also add other sparkles such as
VM Natural/Sparkle or Xero/Sparkle or even Xenofex 2/Constellation.
The possibilities are endless.
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| Xenofex 2/Constellation |
PART 2
Using Coloured Sparkle/Noise to make a Sig Tag
OK now the fun part of the tutorial................rofl
Open your copy of PhotoImpact.
File/New image or Ctrl+N
I am going to make mine 190 x 60, which is a good size for forum sig tags.
Please Note
Always make your name the size that you want it to look when it is finished.
Trying to re-size your name in Gif Animator, will take away a lot of the sparkle effect you have spent time making in PhotoImpact!!
Start as you mean to finish is always the best policy.
Using a fat font, (I am using a font called Mama) click on your text tool, click on your new image, then goto your text tool settings and put a tick in the kerning box and type 4 in the Character Spacing box.
Click once again on your new image and type your name in 2D.
At this point it is important that you get the first name looking exactly as you want it and in the correct position in your new image.
The colour of your name is not important as the G/Ramp Palette Mode 9 does not recognize it.
Duplicate your name either by Right-clicking/Duplicate or hold down Shift+D 3 times.
In total you will have 4 name layers.
Click on your top name layer in your "Layer Manager" and choose 3D Pipe in the drop down mode list.
Goto the text tool settings and change the width to 2 and Depth to 30.
Click on the next layer down under your 3D pipe layer,
Right-click and choose Convert Object Type/From Text/Path to Image.
Repeat this instruction for the remaining 2 layers going down the Layer palette.
You should have 1 3D pipe name layer and 3 converted Object Type name layers.
your Layer Palette should look like the one below.
Click on the 2nd name layer (the first 2D name layer under your 3D pipe layer) and goto Edit/Fill/Magic Gradient.
Click on the Mode 9 and type a value of 0.75.
Click on the linked Bookmark below
and
for your sig tag.
My examples of a Christmas sig tag.
Hope you have enjoyed my tutorial and had fun!
Please feel free to print this tutorial out for your own personal use, but do not copy it in any way to put on-line, pass out, or re-write and claim as your own.
Any resemblance to any other tutorial like this, is not intentional and is purely coincidental.
This tutorial was written on the 28th November 2008 and is therefore
© to Edna Munn
Website and web set Design
Also created
by
Edna Munn
