Tutorial: A Simple Way to Create an Animated Snowy Icon

[charliemc]

Well, I had hoped to have this up before Christmas, but you all know how that goes. (smile) Such a busy month!

Anyway, seeing as there are many snowy months of winter ahead of us, here's a very easy way to make a snowy icon!

This tutorial requires the use of both PSP and AS3.

I'll start with these:


  
  

And end with these:


  
  

1. Open PSP and AS3.
   
   
2. You need to start with an icon -- but it doesn't really matter what icon you use! Obviously it can be fun to make one that shows a winter scene or a tree, but use your imagination.
   
   If you wish, you can use one of these:
   
   
     
     
   
   Right-click on the above image(s) and then Copy. Go to PSP, right-click and Paste as new image. (You can save at this point, if you wish, so you'll have a copy to keep of the original icon.)
   
   
3. Next, you'll need copies of the following two images:
   
   Snow Effect One:
   
   
   Snow Effect Two:
   
   
   (Or feel free to create your own snow effect bases! I simply used white noise on a black background. Then I copied the first image and mirrored it. That's all there is to it!)
   
   
4. Take your original icon (or copy of it). Make a second copy.
   
   
5. Starting with the first icon, make a Copy of Snow Effect One and Paste as new Layer.
   
   
6. If it's not open, open your Layer palette.
   
   
7. Go to your Layer palette and set this new layer to Dodge. Reduce the Opacity to 50%. (Yes, you can make this whatever you prefer.)
   
   Or try setting the new layer to Overlay, at 100%! Also a nice effect.
   
   
8. Copy Merged.
   
   
9. Go to AS3 and Paste as new animation. This will be frame one.
   
   
10. Return to PSP. You'll now be working with the second copy of your icon.
    
    
11. Make a Copy of Snow Effect Two and Paste as new Layer.
    
    Look above and do exactly what you did with the first icon (frame). If you used Dodge, then do so again. If your Opacity was 50%, or 47%, then it should be the same for this one.
    
    
12. Copy Merged.
    
    
13. Go to AS3. Right-click on the first frame and select Paste > After current frame. (Shift + Ctrl + L.)
    
    
14. Now all you need to do is Save!
    
    NOTE: Yes, you can change the speed of the animation, if you wish. Go to Edit > Select all. Then right-click on your animation and select Frame Properties. The default 10 will give you a blizzard-type snow, while slowing it down a bit will make your snow fall less quickly...
    
    
15. F12. Name the animated icon. (And decide where to Save it.)
    
    
16. Click Next, Next, Next -- be sure to note the final size of the image, just for practice. (smile) LiveJournal won't allow the use of icons 40k or larger, so it's a good habit to always check this -- even when you know you'll be way under that size.
    
    
17. Click Finish.
    
    Wasn't that easy?
    
    Do feel free to share your results here at the community!
    
    ==CharlieMC, assistant moderator