Running with Geese Pat's Tutorial

Girl Runs with Goose

Pat May

When I started this tutorial, I was using a tube with 2 geese...and in mid stream decided to use only one. But since I had already made the snaps of the directions, I an going ahead and use them, but I have included both tubes incase someone elects to use 2 geese instead of one.

As you can see it has to animated tubes and the goose appears to be walking across the top. Making this is not nearly as complicated as it looks, so if you are interested, download the zipped file and lets get on with it!

As usual, I like to work with plenty of room (and usually have my signature tags large, but easy to decrease size in animation shop). (The above one is 75%) So, open a new image size 500X500. Copy the girl as a New Section and paste to your image, add your shadow and promote her (floating section) to a layer.

Using Impact in caps, type your name/message in size 72. I use colorC74B48 for my name. Be sure that your background color is closed and the line is set to 2. Go to Effects/emboss, but do Not add a shadow to your text. Use the deformation to enlarge it enough for the girl to move easily inside the font. Once you are satisfied, promote the text as a layer.

We are now ready to copy and paste your other tubes to your image..Again add each one as a new section, bevel if you want, add your shadow and promote each one as a new layer. (This allows you to change your mind if you don't like where something is or it doesn't fit) Below is the settings I used for the bevel I used on the flowers. If you use the single goose, you will probably want to apply both 3 and -3 vertical and horizontal shadows...The goose's head seems to disappear without a shadow. Your layer palette and image should look something like this.

You are now ready to place your flowers on your name...Once you are satisfied. Merge the 3 layers Visible and don't forget to rename it.

From this point on you need to be very conscious of where your make your placement of the goose and girl in each layer. I always duplicate only what I need. I think this is a good habit and keeps me from getting confused and having zillions of layers to try and figure out what they are.

X out all your layers except the new duplicated copy of your name and the duplicated copy of the girl and goose 1. Move these images to the bottom....X out the image of the girl and goose. Using the magic wand, click one time anywhere outside the name. You should now have ants marching around the name and the outside edge of your image. Open the duplicated copy of the girl, being sure that place of the girl is BELOW the name layer. Using your mover, place just a small section of her inside the name. Go to Edit/Clear and click o.k. All of the girl should be gone except the tiny bit you left inside the name. DO NOT deselect your image. You are now ready to add your first goose to the top of your name. I have numbered them 1 and 2. Use them in numerical order. first 1 on image 1, 2 on image 2, 1 on image 3, etc. Place the goose close to the left edge of your name, merge the three layers Visible and name it Image 1. I do not add a background until I am finished so that I can open the layer below to check placement of my images movement. Your image and layers should now look like this.

You are now ready to place your flowers on your name...Once you are satisfied. Merge the 3 layers Visible and don't forget to rename it.

Duplicate your name again and the girl again and duplicate a copy of goose 2. Move these 3 images on top of your first merged Image l. Your ants are still active, and you want to move both your girl and Goose 2 further to the right. But REMEMBER, NEVER ADD YOUR GOOSE UNTIL AFTER YOU HAVE PLACED AND DELETED THE PARTS OF THE GIRL OUTSIDE THE NAMEAND THAT THE GIRL IS BELOW YOUR NAME. I always leave the image just below active until I am satisfied with my placement then I X it out, add my goose 2, reopen the layer below to check for placement, close it and merge the 3 layers, naming it Image 2.

Continue duplicating the images, deleting the parts of the girl that is outside the name, adding your goose/geese until you reach the end of your name. The next to last image will have the barest amount of the girl showing, (as you did with your first image).

Your very last image will not have any of the girl showing. Instead, just place your goose/geese at the end of the name.

You are now ready to add your background to each layer, again remember to rename them so you won't loose one. :O))

The length of your name will determine the number of layers you have. If you have an extra long name such as Veronica, you can move the girl further apart than I did. The speed of the animation will make it look the same as mine with only 6 letters. This is something you need to play with. I used 75 on my first frame, l00 on the last frame and 50 on all the others. You will need to play with these numbers until you are satisfied.

Once you have finished, be sure to uncheck all the layers before saving as a PSP image and taking it to Animation Shop.

I hope that you have enjoy this tutorial and that didn't make it to wordy. Please let me know what you think after you try it.

If you decide to use images other than what I have furnished you for this tutorial, be sure that the image moving through the name is facing laterally(to the side)

If you only want to make one with an object moving through your name, you can apply an extra image to the top when you add your flowers and animate only the image in the name. I have included a couple of examples below for you.