How to make Animated Pen & Ink Signature and Q / A

Note: New revised version with graphics for PSP 7. Click

"How To" Animated Pen & Ink Signature with Paint Shop Pro 5 & 6.

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How to insert the signature in your EMail |Click|

It is not hard to do, just a lot of steps. Practice, Practice, Practice.
I would like to thank Melody Wood for RE-rewriting the instructions in a way that is easier to understand.
Thanks again Melody.

To Download the Feather.psp file. Click here. Download and save the Feather.psp file. It is in the Paint Shop Pro (PSP) file format. Open up this file and make a copy, Shif+d.
Never work from the Original. Close the Original.
Feather in Zip format, Click = Just added quill for PSP5.

NOTE: It will NOT open in your newsreader. Open it in PSP
If you are having trouble opening it, try this:
>Open PSP, Click File > Browse. Find the folder, find the file and click on it.

Making an Animated Quill Pen Signature: You need to have a 2 layer, 24 Bit (16 Million Colours)Image or (Feather) or know how to edit an already created Quill Pen Signature .gif File.
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How to make a Feather.psp

In PSP {Top Toolbar} File>New Image. Set H: 160 W: 120 Pixels. Resolution 72.
Select Transparent Background or stipulate a colour.

Open a creatively acquired :-) Quill Pen Signature.gif {This example has 2 Images, a Feather Quill and an Inkwell.}
Shift+D twice, makes 2 copies. Never work from the Original. Close the Original.

Highlight {click on} first copy. Select Magnifying Glass, make frame bigger. Select Lasso Tool, choose Point to Point setting, draw around Inkwell. Demagnify {left clk with Magnifyer=bigger, right clk=smaller} back to original size.

Ctrl+C Highlight New Image Ctrl+E {Inkwell is now in New Image} Use the Mover Tool to place Inkwell in desired spot. Selections > Select None.
This is the Background Layer. Close first copy, no to changes.

Highlight second copy. Select Mag. Glass, make bigger. Select Lasso Tool, Set to Point to Point draw around Feather.
Demagnify. Feather is Selected. Ctrl+C clk on New Image Ctrl+E Move Feather into desired
position. eg: half way to the middle, as if on the move. Close second copy, no to changes.

You now have 2 Layers. 1. Background with Inkwell 2. Floating Selection {Feather}
File > Save as: Feather.psp Shift+D twice {2 copies} Close Original.
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First Image will be your 2nd Frame in your animation.
Second Image {displays typed Name & Inkwell}

Highlight Second Image > Delete Feather. Now is when you pick your Text colour. Left clk on Dropper Tool, Left clk on Foreground Square {top square on Colour Pallette} Select colour.

Click on A Tool, clk on 2nd Image, {this opens Text Window} Select Font, Size {clk on large square and it will change to the colour of the Foreground square} Create as .Floating .Antialias Type your name.

Click on Second Image, Text is now in your Image. Click on Mover Tool, move to desired position.
Selections > Select None. Your Text is now permanent. Figure out how many copies you will need to write your name.
The fewer the frames the less fluent the writing, the fancier the font the more frames needed. eg: M=5 Frames minimum. 20 is a good starting point, if you need more, make more, if you need less, simply don't use.

Second Image with your Name in it Highlighted as the active Window Shift+D as many times as the # of copies needed (plus an extra one in case you need more than you projected)
{your work area is now covered, minimize all windows except First (with the Selected Feather) and
Second Images. {maximize a new image as you need it}
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Tip: Tools Control Settings: Click Eraser Click Toggle Control Panel {Blue Icon} Under Tools
Controls Click on Brush Tip Eraser & Spray Can Size 4 (the larger the # the more pixels will be
erased at once) Hardness 0 Opacity 100 Density 100 Paper Texture: None.
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Highlight the First Image (Feather on the move) and SAVE as Image 2. I save to a New Folder and name the folder the signature File Name (ex: Terri,Mary whichever sig your making).

Now you need to put the Feather into the frame with the Inkwell and Text. Highlight Image 2 > CTRL C Highlight the Second Image (Inkwell and Text) CTRL E the Feather is now in the frame. Move it into position on top of Inkwell.
(If by chance it's facing the wrong way and extending outside the frame, CTRL M mirrors it and faces it the other way then you move it into position)
Save as Image 1. You can now close Image 1 .
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Bring up one of your Mimimized Text Images. Click on Eraser or Spray Can Erase whole Name up to your first starting point of first letter of name.
Tip: Use the Mag. Glass to enlarge to see any leftover pixels or for a bigger viewing area of the pixels. Erasing clean will prevent any leftover pixels from displaying in your final animated gif.

Click on Image 2 Ctrl+C click on Frame you just erased Ctrl+E Position the Feather at your starting point.
Save as: Image 3.
You can now close Image 2 (Feather on the move) From now on you will copy and paste the Feather from the previous frame.

Maximize your next Frame Erase whole name up to second point in first letter. Click on Image 3 Ctrl+C Click on Erased Image Ctrl+E Position Feather Save as: Image 4.

Repeat this process to the end of the name. Saving your Images in progressive numbering. The Last Frame has Name in full. Close any open Images.
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File > Run Animation Shop. File > Run Animation Wizard. Choose Options:
Same as first image, Transparent or Opaque, Upper left, With the Canvas Colour, Repeat Indefinitely..set at 10, 15 or 20. Now add your Images in order of #. The Wizard now creates your animation.

Highlight Frame 1. Top Toolbar > Animation > Frame Properties. Set Display time to: 300 - 500. All others 10 15 or 20.

You can send Frames back to PhotoShop for editing, then right click to send them back to Animation Shop.

File > Optimization Wizard > Choose Animated GIF File , Replace current animation with optimized version. Choose your optimal # of colours. (more colours=larger file size.

That's it!! Don't worry....after you've done 3 or 4 Sig Files you won't need these long seemingly complicated instructions :-) and I'll bet you'll find your own shortcuts or techniques that make it easier for yourself :-)

Oh, and by the way, this technique can be applied to making other Signature Files using Tools other than Feather and Inkwell.

Happy Quilling!!
Melody :-))
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Note: New revised TUT version with graphics for PSP 7. Click

Last updated 02 Aug 2007

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