You are here:About>Computing & Technology>Graphics Software
About.comGraphics Software
Newsletters & RSSEmail to a friendSubmit to Digg

Animated Interlocking Hearts with Paint Shop Pro X and Animation Shop

From Arizona Kate, Guest Contributor

Create the Heart Shapes

Open Paint Shop Pro.
Open all the frames of your glitter pattern tile and set aside.
Open new image 300x300 with transparent background.
Select an outline color. You can use the Dropper tool to pick a color from the pattern tile or use a contrasting color. Set none for the fill color.

Select the Preset Shape tool (Preset Shape on flyout). Select the Heart-1 shape from the Tool Options palette shape list. Tool Options: Anti-alias checked, vector and retain style UNchecked. Line style solid and line width 30.

You can draw whatever size heart you want. Just remember, we're creating an animation and don't want to have too large of a file size! The heart I'm creating is approximately 150x150 pixels.

Position heart in upper left section of canvas, leaving room for second heart on right. If you want to add a text message at the bottom or top, be sure to leave some room for that too!

Important: Be careful not to move any hearts in the following steps. If alignment is off by just one pixel it will make your animation jumpy!
  1. Hearts All A-Glitter!
  2. Prepare the Glitter Pattern
  3. Save Frames as Separate Files
  4. Create the Heart Shapes
  5. Interlock the Hearts
  6. Set Up for Glitter Effect, Heart #1
  7. Set Up for Glitter Effect, Heart #2
  8. Animate the Glitter Effect
  9. Add Text
  10. Crop, Optimize and Save

<< Previous | Next >>

 All Topics | Email Article | | |
Advertising Info | News & Events | Work at About | SiteMap | Reprints | HelpOur Story | Be a Guide
User Agreement | Ethics Policy | Patent Info. | Privacy Policy©2008 About, Inc., A part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.