This tutorial is dedicated to my good friend Tash.  Her obsession of Kelly Clarkson has spilled over into my mind and created this tutorial.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I know Tash is screaming right now! lol

For this tutorial you will need:

4 images of your choice (1 main image, 3 for the blind avatar)
Filters Unlimited 2.0: Edges Square/Square Edge 16 HERE.
Gradient of your choice.
Font of your choice.
Texture of your choice.

Lets begin.

Remember to save often

This tutorial was written using PSP version 8.

1. Open a 500 x 500 transparent canvas.

2. Open your main image of choice. If its not already black and white, greyscale it by going to Image/Greyscale.

3. Add a new raster layer. Selections/Select all.

4. Change your foreground to a gradient of your choice. I used Multi-Blue, Angle: 45. Repeats: 0.

5. Select your flood fill tool and flood fill this layer.

6. Change your blend mode to Dodge. Lower your opacity to 75% or there abouts (depends on your image and your choice of gradient). Keep selected.

7. Add a new raster layer. Open your texture of choice and paste into selection. Selections/Select none.

8. Change your blend mode to Hard Light. Lower your opacity to 50%.

9. Add a new raster layer and and add some brushes of choice.

10. Add a new raster layer.

11. Select your pen tool. Mode: Drawing Mode. Segment Type: Line Segments. Line Style: Dot. Width: 5. Anti-Atlas: Checked.

12. Change your foreground to a light colour from your image.

13. Draw a line on the left side (please refer to sample for guidance).

14. Add a drop shadow with the following setting: Vertical: 2, Horizontal: 2, Opacity: 85, Blur: 5.

15. Add a new raster layer. Draw out another line, this time along the top. Add the same drop shadow.

16. Add a picture frame of your choice. Go to Image/Picture Frame/Edge Brush 03. If you do not have picture frame, please add a mask of your choice. :)) Merge/Merge all visible.

17. Add your font of choice. Add the same drop shadow we used previously. Merge/Merge all visible.

Ok, lets set this aside for now. Open up your 3 other images of choice. If they are coloured, greyscale them.

18. Select your Crop Tool. Change your width: 100, Height: 350. Position it over your image, then hit the "tick". It will crop it to that size.

19. Repeat this for the remaining 2 images.

Ok, for each image, I want you to apply the same gradient, texture we used for the main image in steps 3 - 8.

20. Go to Effects/Plugins/Filters Unlimited 2.0: Edges Square/Square Edge 16.

21. Repeat step 19 for the remaining 2 images.

Ok, lets animate. This is how I make Avatars, if you know a different way, please feel free to do so :)).

22. Right click/Copy your first image for the avatar. Open your Animation Shop and paste as new animation.

23. Return to PSP, right click/copy your second image. Return to Animation Shop and paste after current frame.

24. Return to PSP, right click/copy your third image. Return to Animation Shop and paste after current frame.

25. Return to PSP, and copy your FIRST image again. Return to Animation Shop and paste after current frame.

You now have 4 frames.

26. Right click the first frame and select "Insert Image Transition". Select Effect: Blinds. Customise: Vertical,
Number: 7. Click "ok" for the customising, then click "ok" to apply the transition.

27. Right click the second picture you added. Select "Insert Image Transition". Again apply the blinds effect.

28. Finally, right click the third picture you added. Select "Insert Image Transition". Apply the blinds effect.

To view your animation, go to View/Animation. Happy? Then lets return to PSP.

29. Open the main image we set aside after step 16. Right click/Copy.

30. Open Animation Shop and Paste as New Animation.

31. Continue to "Paste After Current Frame" until you have 25 frames (or the same amount of frames your avatar
has).

32. Activate your avatar. Hit Ctrl A, Ctrl C. Activate your main image. Hit Ctrl A, Ctrl E. Position your avatar
in the lower left.

We're done. Save as a gif file.

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