Adding Glitter To Your Graphics

This is a little tutorial on how to add glitter to your graphics. 

As always, my way is not the only way or the best way. 

It's just how I happen to do it. 

You may find a way that works better for you.

I recently (like in the past few days), finally got out of my comfort zone 

and took the plunge. I decided to try my hand at adding glitter to my 

PNG, before making an alpha.

I hope that I have included enough screen shots.

You can find the alpha here:

https://alphas-etc.blogspot.com/p/dragon-alphas-page-2.html

Step 1

Open your PNG in PSP. 

Step 2

Open your Glitter in AS. 

Make sure the Propogate Paste button is active.

Go to Edit and Select All so that all of your frames are highlighted.

Right Click on your Glitter and Export Frames to PSP.

Step 3

This Glitter has three frames.

Highlight the TOP frame and X out the others.

Pay close attention to the name of your glitter. 

You will need to re-choose this in your Patterns folder

for each new layer.

This one says Image 7.

Do NOT choose Current pattern even though it will look the same.

Now go to your PNG and Duplicate the Layer twice.

The glitter I am using has 3 layers so my png will need also need 3 layers.

**In order to get into all the little nooks and crannies, you will probably 

need to ZOOM in on your graphic using the wheel of your mouse. 

I usually have to Zoom in to make it 200%.

My PNG says Frames instead of Raster Layers because I resized it in AS

and pasted it in PSP. I apologize for any confusion. 

*A Side Note: Resizing in AS keeps the integrity of your graphic. 

Make sure the TOP Layer is highlighted.

Step 4

Find your Selection Tool and Choose the Freehand Selection.

This is the hardest part for me.  

Take your time. 

Think of it as taking Baby Steps. 

If you go outside the lines, just go to Edit and Undo and it will 

take you back to the last  part you Selected. 

It won't Undo everything. 

It's better to work on small sections at a time.

This is what I came up with.

Step 5 

Now it's time to Fill your Selection with glitter.

This is the setting I used.

Make sure that the Top Layer of your PNG and Glitter are both Highlighted.

X out the other Layers.

Go into your Patterns folder and choose the Image of your glitter. 

Mine is called Image 7. 

Don't use Current Pattern.

Click anywhere inside the lines. This should fill all of your Selected areas. 

Step 6

Go to your Glitter and X out the Top Frame and Highlight the 2nd Frame.

Now go to your Patterns Folder and choose your Glitter Image again.

This changes the Image to the 2nd Frame you just highlighted.

Go to your PNG and X out the TOP Layer and highlight the 2nd Layer

FILL your Selected area.

Step 7

Go to your Glitter and X out the 1st and 2nd Frame. Highlight the 3rd Frame.

Go into your Patterns Folder and Choose your Image again so the 3rd Frame

will be active.

 

Go to your PNG and X out the 1st and 2nd Layer. 

Highlight the 3rd layer and Fill.

Go to Selections and Select None.

Highlight the Top Layer.

Step 8

Now you are ready to take your Frames to AS.

Right-Click on the blue bar and Copy.

OR go to Edit and Copy.

Go to AS and Paste As New Animation.

Go back to PSP and Highlight 2nd Layer. 

Copy.

Go to AS and Paste After Current Frame.

Go back to PSP and Highlight 3rd Layer. 

Copy.

Go to AS and Paste After Current Frame.

Go to Edit---> Select All

Check your Animation. If everything is running smoothly you can 

choose to Save As or you can use the Optimization Wizard. 

Sometimes the Optimization Wizard refuses to play nice with your

graphics. Don't stress out about it. 

 

Sometimes, it helps if you give your animation a white background.

 

Here's a mini tutorial on the Optimization Wizard.

Click Next at the bottom.

Click Customize at the bottom

I've always used Optimized Median Cut but I discovered with the last alpha I 

made that Optimized Octree did less damage.  I've seen it go both ways.

 

The Optimizations tab gives you options that I don't know much about.

The Partial Transparency tab is what you want to open. 

THIS is where the magic happens. 

I use 42 because it seems to work the best for me, but I've also had some 

temperamental alphas that didn't like any number I picked.

Where it says to blend with this color I usually pick white.

The alpha I made with this dragon, I chose Purple instead of White

because the edge of the letters had slivers of white that were showing up

on the graphic when I placed it, so I tried the purple and it worked.

This is the finished animation.