ANIMATED
FLORAL PEN SIGNATURE
by Maureen Williams

In this tutorial I have endeavoured to simplify the steps required to produce a written signature. I have done a couple of different tutorials but they seen very wordy and the animation more complicated. Although the tutorial seems difficult the individual steps are really quite simple. I hope you find this tutorial easy enough to follow but if you have any problems don't hesitate to email me. I have included a floral decoration with the signature but this could easily be left out.

Requirements:
Paint Shop Pro version X but should work in 7, 8 or 9. Download a free 30-day trial version here.
Animation Shop - download trial copy here
Decorative script font - I am using CAC Shishoni Brush
Small floral tube if desired.
Pen image (supplied)

A good working knowledge of PSP and using layers is required for this tutorial.

Keep in mind that an animated signature file can be quite large so it is best to keep the finished image small. If using a background image (e.g. floral) ensure this is no higher than 150 pixels.

Remember - take your time and save frequently.

Initial Preparation
Open a new transparent image 300 x 200
Add your desired image or tube and resize to 150 pixels high.
Add a new layer.
Click on the Text Tool and write the desired text - position over the floral.
Hint: do not use bold test as the animation will thicken the letters.
Copy and paste the pen as a new layer. Position the pen at the highest point of the text.
Duplicate the pen layer and position this pen at the farthest point to the right of the name.
Crop the floral/name image leaving a small border all round.

Save your image.

Step 1
Rename the flower layer - flower and turn this layer off for the time being.
Rename the name layer - name
Use the Mover Tool to position the pen at the start of the first letter
Rename the pen layer - pen
Delete the duplicate pen layer.

Step 2
Copy the name layer about 10 times - this is an approximate number only,
the more layers the smoother the animation.
Tip - duplicate the original name layer each time to avoid degradation of the image.

Repeat for the pen layer
Drag the pen layers between the name layers so you have alternating layers.

Step 3
Turn off all layers except the first copy of name and copy of pen layers,
make sure the pen is at the beginning of the first letter.

Click on the name layer and delete the text.

Click on the pen layer and then ** Merge > Merge Down.
Rename the layer - name01.
Turn off this layer.

** Note for Version 7 users - you will need to use Merge > Merge Visible

Step 4
Turn on the next two layers (copy of name and copy of pen)
Use the Mover Tool to position the pen and the end of the first stroke of the letter

Click on the copy of name layer and use the eraser to remove all of the image to the right of the pen tip.

Tip - it may be easier to use the Freehand or Lasso tool to outline the area to be removed
and then click on Delete. This will avoid missing ane pixels.

If necessary zoom in on the image so you can see it clearly.

Click on the copy of pen layer and then Merge > Merge Down
Rename the layer - name02
Turn off this layer.

Step 5
Turn on the next two copy layers.
Position the pen at the end of the next stroke of the letter.
On the name layer erase the remainder of the name to the right of the pen tip.

Note: It may be necessary to turn off the pen layer to be able to see where you need to erase.

Click on the copy of pen layer and then Merge > Merge Down
Rename the layer - name03
Turn off this layer.

Step 6
Repeat Step 5 for the remainder of the parts of each letter,
moving from the start to finish of each logical stroke.
Keep in mind the more particular you are the smoother the animation will be.
At the beginning of the stroke you will only see the pen in the new position,
at the end of the stroke the new letter or part of a letter will be visible.
If unsure where you are up to turn on the previous raster layer briefly as a reminder.
If you need more duplicate layers turn on the original name & pen layers
and copy from these again. Move them to the top of the Layer Pallete
using right click > Arrange > Bring to Top then drag them into position as before.
In a typical 5 letter name this can be as many as 25 or more layers.

Step 7
Once you have finished all the letters and renamed each merged layer "name# " add another copy of the name layer and move it to the top. Rename this one accordingly.

Save the file in Animation Shop format as pen.psp.

Step 8
Before copying the flower layer we need to check the animation to see
 if we need to make any changes.

Open Animation Shop
Go to File > Open and navigate to where you have saved your pen.psp file.
Click on the View Animation icon (View > Animation)
If you are happy with the animation close the file without saving the animation and return to PSP.
Don't worry about the speed or any other features at this stage.

Troubleshooting
Things to be aware of - if you have missed erasing any pixels on any of the layers
these will show up in the animation. Turn off all the pen layers
Add a new layer underneath the raster01 layer and floodfill with white or a contrasting colour.
Turn each layer on separately and check to see if there any
stray pixels where the name has been erased.
Zoom right in so you can see these clearly.

Step 9
If you aren't using a background image you can skip this step.
Copy the flower image and drag one under each name layer.
Merge > Merge Down on each pair (name# & copy of flower) of layers.
Rename the merged layer "raster#" using the same number as the name layer.

Rename the original flower layer - raster0.

Due to the size of animation files it is suggested you resize the image to 75%.
Save the file in Animation Shop format - pen.psp

The Animation

Start Animation Shop and open the pen.psp file.

Step 1
Click on the View Animation icon and check the newly saved file
 with the flower is working correctly.

Step 2
To amend the speed of the animation right click on the relative frame
and select Frame Properties (Alt + Enter)
Note: the larger the number in the Display Time box the slower the animation.

Change the duration of the first frame to 30
and the last frame to 100.

Leave the animated pen frame at a duration of 10.

Step 3
Click on the Save icon and in the Save As box that opens give your animation a name,
select .gif in the save as type box and then accept the defaults settings
 by clicking next through the following boxes.

Congratulations!

All finished - if you have any queries don't hesitate to email me.

Please help me keep this site up and running....
ANYTHING is appreciated, thank you so much!