Many of you may have been wondering how to make glittering images, and things of that nature. I have created this guide just for all those wondering how to do that.

I will include a few pictures if I can, but don't freak out if they don't look exactly the same as yours, because most likely I am using a different program than you, but the basic idea will look the same.

Here is the layout of my posts:
First post (this post) : General Information & Programs Needed
Second Post: How to Glitter the Images
Third Post: How to Animate the Images
Fourth Post: Common Questions and Answers & Errors and Solutions

Here are the things you need to download to make your glitters.
Click the links to be taken to the download page.

Jasc Paint Shop Pro (http://www.click-now.net/downloads09.htm) You will need to download either Version 8 or 9, it doesn't matter. I have not tested it with any other versions, like six or seven. If you have already used both 8 and 9's trial time, you can try your hand with Corel. Personally, I like Jasc better and I find them easier to deal with, plus Corel gets on my nerve, but once you get it downloaded you're fine. Go to Corel.com and look around for Paint Shop Pro X. Try and download it.. it takes forever and is sometimes hard to deal with but like I said once it's downloaded, it's good to go. The good thing about it is once your trial is up, you can open the window and click "Extend Trial" and keep using it for free.
MS Gif Animator (http://www.purpletoad.net/MSgif_animator.zip) This program is virus free, and released by Microsoft if that makes you feel any better. Not an awesome program, but it's free and simple to use and no trials to deal with.
Twinkles Image Tubes (http://www.purpletoad.net/tubes/twinkles.zip) These are the glitter images we'll be using in this tutorial. Look in my Other Info section for how to install the tubes in your Paint Shop Pro. Do NOT download until you are following my directions down there.
You will need all of those things to make your glitter. If you cannot download them, sorry but you won't be able to make the glitters. Don't worry though, I'm sure plenty of people will be opening shops now.

Other Information
~ Before starting this tutorial, it would be helpful to educate yourself and become familar with the basic tools and functions of Paint Shop Pro. You can either search for basic tutorials on the net, or you can just play around with the different simple tools.
~ Sorry, but I will not be making a tutorial for Adobe Photoshop.
~ No, I am not taking orders to make glitters.
~ If any part of the tutorial makes no sense, please feel free to ask a question. Look for the answer in my post with Questions and Answers. It's easier for you to locate them, and it's easy for me to update one post and let everyone know their answer may already have been asked by someone else.
~ I may use some abbreviations, and that's just cause I'm lazy. =D Here are some I might use..
PSP = Paint Shop Pro
gif pro = Gif Program = MS gif Animator
pic = Picture
Glitter or Glit pic = Glitter Picture = Final Glittered Image
~ Here is how you download the Glitter Tubes...
Download the tube you want to use. Make a note of what the file is named, so you can find it later. When the SAVE AS dialog box pops up, click on MY COMPUTER, then select the [C]: drive, select and open PROGRAM FILES. Find and Select JASC SOFTWARE INC. Select PAINT SHOP PRO 8. Select the PICTURE TUBES file. Click SAVE.

Now you need to go unzip the file.

In the START menu, Click on MY COMPUTER, then select the [C]: drive, select and open PROGRAM FILES. Find and Select JASC SOFTWARE INC. Select PAINT SHOP PRO 8. Select the PICTURE TUBES file, and open it. It will show you all of the tubes you have. Find the zipped folder of the tube you just downloaded. Either right-click on the zipped file and choose "extract all" or Double click on the file to open it and then select the "extract all" from the folder tasks list. This will open the extraction (unzipping) wizard. Click NEXT, and it will ask you where you what folder you want to extract the file to. It should point to the tubes file and look something like this:

C:\Program Files\Jasc Software Inc\Paint Shop Pro 8\Picture Tubes\tubefilename

Click on NEXT, and it will extract (unzip) the file for you. Click FINISH, and your done. close the file windows, and the next time you use your tube tool in PSP8 the new tube will show up in the list.

That may not make sense about the Tubes part until either you have used Paint Shop Pro enough or until you get to that part of the tutorial.



Keep reading for the rest of the guide!

How to Make the Glittered Image

First, open the image you would like to apply glitter to. If you are a beginner, I would suggest using a premade image. If you want to glitter an image you made in PSP and it has text, you must do the following or your image will not work.

On the right hand side, there is a box that says Layers. In that box, find the button that says New Layer Group. Click OK in the pop-up box, and then drag the layers around in the Layers toolbox so that both layers are in the group, with the Vector layer (the one with text) is on top.

Now you need to have three copies of the image altogether. To do this, you will do one of two things.

If you do not have text, click on the window bar (that blue bar on top of the image that says the Image name, like on all program windows.) Then Hold down Control and press C. That is the keyboard shortcut for copy. Then, hold down Control and press V. That is the keyboard shortcut for paste. Press it again and you should have three images. One original, and two copies.

If you do have text, you need to make sure that in your Layers box, the layer marked Group 1 is highlighted. Then follow the steps above to copy and paste your image.

Now you should have this:

http://uploader.neoextreme.com/files/1039/Tut1.PNG

To be continued..

Saving this space - How to Animate Glittered Image

Saving this Space - FAQ&A and EAS - Frequently Asked Questions & Answers and Errors And Solutions