Fireflies
Just a note here. I realize this is unfinished,
but this will be the last version upload until I get
back home. We will do it completely in Saturday's Live
I will use Lady Tess' image for the background.
I added the fairy but like it better without her there. I will not add her in the directions.
I also don't like so many fireflies, so will only add a few in the lesson.
We will also get rid of that jaggie edge.
A note about fireflies. I grew up with them. It was always a great night
when fireflies would appear. We would catch them and decorate our
bodies with their glow. It was easiest to catch them at dusk. They do not
leave a glow trail when they fly. They just blink. They are so small,
that once it was dark, all you would see is the blink of their light.
They were hard to catch then. They moved so fast, you never knew
what direction they were going or where they would blink next.
Open a background image.
First we will make the cut circle selection.
Click on the Selection Tool.
Choose Circle shape
Feather 10
Antialias checked
Feather will add a gradual decrease to the sharpness
of the edge of the image.
This image will be used on a page with a white background.
You will get a different edge look if you use Feather
on an image used on a colored background
Starting in the middle of your graphic's height at the left edge. This one is 432 so position your cursor at 0,216. Drag your mouse down the 0 coordinate. When you are happy with your selection,
Copy and Paste as a New Image.
The prime time to see fireflies is at dusk, when they first come out for the night. Make your image more like dusk. There are several ways to do this. Using a New Adjustment Layer, is just one of them.
Layers/ New adjustment Layer - Color Balance.
I have a problem here. Every time I go to get the settings I used, I find some I like better. Play with the sliders and the 3 Tone Balance options. Make as dusky as you wish.
Layers/Merge visible
Save as Semi.psp
Duplicate that layer 3 times. Layers/Duplicate
Make the first layer active.
Using the tubes tool, Sparkle, set at 20, click 4 times on your image making 4 fireflies. If a size 20 sparkle is not a good size, Undo and change size. Set the fireflies down near the bird.
Make the next layer active. Set the 4 fireflies again but move them a bit to show they are moving in the area.
Do the same with all of the layers.
Save as fireflies.psp
Open fireflies.psp in Animation Shop.
View/ Animation. If you are happy with the duration and locations, Save As from the View screen.