Burning Candle Animation

PSP X

*NOTE*

Sometimes the links for filters change, it's difficult (and a lot of work) to
keep changing them on individual pages, so I have created a page with
links to filters and programs that I have used in my tutorials.
That way it is easier for me, because when there are changes I will
only have one page to update and hopefully better for you, because I'm
less likely to miss a page out when doing the updates :)

You will find links to filters/programs used in this tutorial Here
the link will open in a new window

Filters and programs used in this tutorial :-
Paint Shop Pro
Animation Shop

Materials :-
My candle and flame tube, a flower tube Here

some images have been made smaller to shorten file size

Step 1.
Open the 'candlestick' tube that is in my supplies.
Duplicate and close the original.
There are 2 layers, the candle and the candle-holder.
If you want to change the colour of the candle go to
Adjust...Hue and Saturation...Hue/Saturation/Lightness...
Move the Hue slider to change the colour. The candle will
still be a light colour, but you can increase the Saturation
to make it a richer colour if you wish.

(If you are doing the 'Keep A Candle Burning' tutorial the Hue
setting I used was minus 166 (-166), I left the saturation at 0)

When you are happy with the colour of your candle
Go to Layers...Merge...Merge Visible...
Minimise this image for now, we will need it again later

Open the 'candle-flame-single' tube from my supplies
Go to Layers...Duplicate...3 times, so that you have 4 layers.

Starting from the bottom (Raster 1) and working upwards, rename
the layers, flame 1, flame 2, flame 3 and flame 4.
Hide the flame 1, 2 and 3 layers by clicking the eye for each of
those layers on the layers palette.

Flame 4 (at the top) should be the only visible layer,
that's the one we will work on first, so if you are not already on
that layer, click on it in the layers palette to active the layer.

Zoom in on the image, it will make working on the next steps easier.

Activate the Mesh Warp Tool

Use these settings:-
Mesh horizontal=9
Mesh vertical=8
Symmetric=unticked
Show mesh=ticked
Edge mode=fixed
Draft quality=High
Final Apply=Best quality

Drag the nodes on the mesh into similar positions as my screenshot.
I have zoomed in on the image to make the positions easier to see.
I know it's difficult to keep jumping back and forth from psp to
the tutorial while you are trying to do this, so feel free to right
click on these screenshots, copy and paste them into psp, so you
can see them while you are working.
Yours don't have to be in exactly the same positions as
mine, just use them as a rough guide.

When you are happy with the shape, click
the 'Apply' tick on the toolbar.

step 2.
Hide the Flame 4 layer, activate the Flame 3 layer and make it visible
This is the position I moved the nodes for this layer
Again, just use this as a rough guide.

When you are happy with the shape, click
the 'Apply' tick on the toolbar.

Step 3.
Hide the Flame 3 layer, go to Flame 2 and make that visible
This is the position I moved the nodes for Flame 2
Again, just use this as a rough guide.

When you are happy with the shape, click
the 'Apply' tick on the toolbar.

Step 4.
You don't need to use the Mesh Warp Tool on
Flame 1, that can be left as it is.
Click on any other tool to get rid of the mesh

Next we will enlarge the canvas to make room for the candle
Go to Image...Canvas Size....
Width=300
Height=500
In the Placement section choose the top centre box

Open the candlestick image that you minimised earlier
Go to Edit...Copy... this image can now be closed.
Go to Edit... Paste as New Layer....
Use the Mover Tool to drag the candlestick down, so that
it is just below the flame (and it's wick).

Step 5.
Duplicate the layer 3 times, so that you have 4
layers with candlesticks on.

If you want to add some flowers, or other decoration, put them
on a new layer. I have included a roses tube in the supplies zip
which you are welcome to use, or you can use your own.
Resize the flowers if necessary.
Duplicate the flower layer 3 times, so that you have 4 flower layers

On the layers palette, drag a candlestick layer and a flower layer
above each of the flame layers. You can see where they should be in
the following screenshot. I've named the layers to make it easier.
Next we will be merging each Flame, Candlestick and Flowers group
together, starting at the top and working down, so hide all the
layers except Flowers 4, Candlestick 4 and Flame 4, you can also
see that in this screenshot

Make sure one of the visible layers is the active layer
Go to Layers...Merge...Merge Visible...

Hide the merged layer and make Flowers 3, Flame 3 and
Candlestick 3 visible.
Make one of the visible layers the active layer
Go to Layers...Merge...Merge Visible...

Hide the merged layer and make Flowers 2, Flame 2 and
Candlestick 2 visible.
Make one of the visible layers the active layer
Go to Layers...Merge...Merge Visible...

Hide the merged layer and make Flowers 1, Flame 1 and
Candlestick 1 visible.
Make one of the visible layers the active layer
Go to Layers...Merge...Merge Down...
You should now have 4 layers.

Go to Layers...View...All...
Go to Effects...3D Effects...Drop shadow...
These were the settings that I used, but you
can use your own settings if you prefer :-

Vertical= minus 3 (-3)
Horizontal=7
Opacity=47
Blur=10
Apply the same drop shadow to the other 3 layers.

Step 6.
The image needs to be saved as a psp7 compatable file
Go to File...Save As...
To make sure Animation Shop will be able to open the file
click on the 'Options' button and in the 'Versions' section
of the dialog box choose PSP 7 Compatable file

If you are just making the candle animation go on to step 7,
but if you are doing the 'Keep A Candle Burning' tutorial,
keep the image open and go back to This Page

Step 7.
Open Animation Shop
First check the preferences you have
Go to File...Preferences...General Program Preferences...
Look at the Layered files tab and if necessary change to these settings

Go to File...Browse...(you can use 'open', but I prefer 'browse')
Navigate to the folder that you saved your candle
image in and open the image. Your animation should have 4 frames

Because of the semi-transparent area around the flame and the
drop shadow that we added, the candle will not save very well as
a transparent image, so it's best to add a background colour.
Go to Edit...Select All...
Animation...Animation Properties....Opaque...
Click on the colour box and choose the background
colour that you want

Step 8.
Your candle is ready for saving.
Go to File...Save as...
In the 'Save in' box at the top navigate to the folder that
you want to save your animation in.
Give it a name and click 'Save'
On the next dialog box click on the 'Customize' button

Create palette by Optimized Median Cut, or by Optimized Octree
Then just keep clicking Next until your animation is finished

To see my other tutorials click Here

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial.
Thankyou to my great testers

To see my other tutorials click Here

If you wish to contact me you can find an email address to use included on my Site Map