Post by: InmemoryofRomeo on July 14, 2009, 08:08:48 PM
First of all you will need some programs (the ones listed below that I use are free!):
Paint.Net available here: www.getpaint.net (this needs to be installed on your computer to work)
and
unFREEz which is available here: www.whitsoftdev.com/unfreez (this runs without installation by double clicking on the unFREEz icon)
Now you are ready for the fun part :)
Step 1
First of all design your 'frame' this will be the constant part surrounding your pictures that doesn't change. To do this open up paint.net and go to image>canvas size change the size to whatever is comfortable, however remember that 700x100 is about the largest you can go without being a burden to other internet users on a forum. No one likes to scroll past a line of enormous signatures trying to follow a thread :P (I will be using 600x150 in my examples however afterward I decided it was too large for me and I used Gimp (another free program) to resize it to a height of 100 pixels.)
A couple of tips on making the perfect frame:
Start by selecting the white background and delete it, this will give you a 'transparent' background.
Add every new element of your frame into a new layer, this allows you to move things around, adjust things and delete things without disturbing your other work.
NAME YOUR LAYERS! This helps a LOT. See example below :)
Experiment, move things around, try different colors etc etc etc.
Save often, you'd hate to lose your hard work.
Use google image search to help find that perfect... whatever it is you are after :P Or to find ideas.
Remember you can use the undo button an unlimited number of times.
Save your frame as a paint.net file.
Step 2
Once your frame is ready and you are happy with everything (and you have saved it) start merging the layers until you get one single layer. It is best to do this one layer at a time to avoid any distortion of a layer. If you have changed the opacity on any layers then you MUST merge them down a layer before merging any layers on top of them. (Otherwise they will all end up transparent as well :P)
When you have your final layer, save it again, but name it something different and save it as a .gif file. That way if you dislike something later on you can load your paint.net version with all the layers still there and make changes :)
Step 3
Almost time to start adding your photos :) But first we need to find them, and make them small. There are a couple of ways you can do this, you can paste them straight into your frame IN A SEPARATE LAYER! and then hold down shift and resize them. (Holding shift means that your pic will resize evenly.) You can also open them in a new document in paint and use image>resize option and enter the size you need, be sure to keep maintain aspect ratio checked so they resize evenly. I prefer the second method. I will resize all my pictures to a height of 120 pixels then paste them into my frame in a separate layer.
PUT YOUR PHOTO LAYER UNDER THE FRAME LAYER, this means you don't have to resize perfectly.
After you have filled the pictures in, save it as another .gif file. (it is easiest to just add a 1, 2, 3 etc to your original name this allows you to easily keep track of the order.) It will ask to flatten the layers, click ok, then undo the flatten layers, change the photos and do it all over again remembering to save it each time as a new file name.
Step 4
Finally its time to animate the layers :D Open up the location where you saved all your pictures, (the default is your pictures folder) then open up unFREEz. Drag your picture .gif files in order into the unFREEz window, set the speed at around 300 and click the animate button :) You will need to upload your picture to a image hosting site like photobucket to view the animation.
Post by: Crystal:. on July 14, 2009, 08:28:28 PM
Post by: InmemoryofRomeo on July 14, 2009, 08:40:31 PM
Post by: Burberry016 on July 17, 2009, 12:14:51 PM
Post by: InmemoryofRomeo on July 17, 2009, 06:55:46 PM
Post by: Burberry016 on July 18, 2009, 10:44:48 AM
Post by: InmemoryofRomeo on July 18, 2009, 04:52:44 PM
Post by: Burberry016 on July 18, 2009, 06:32:07 PM
Post by: InmemoryofRomeo on July 18, 2009, 07:28:47 PM
Post by: allosaurus on July 19, 2009, 05:55:17 AM
Saying 'that's ok' seems so... foreign to me :P Do you guys use the expression 'hunky dory'?
Yeah, occasionally. I like to go ahead and speak with Australian terms just for the fun of it.
Post by: Burberry016 on July 19, 2009, 06:12:16 AM
Post by: InmemoryofRomeo on July 19, 2009, 06:15:25 PM
Post by: mweed on July 19, 2009, 08:19:58 PM
(http://www.doryplan.com/images/dory3.jpg)
Post by: InmemoryofRomeo on July 19, 2009, 10:58:10 PM
Post by: Bumblebee on February 26, 2010, 09:02:03 PM
I've heard that one occasionally. Of course, I'm a farm chick and my family loves weird expressions. ;D
No offence, IMR ;)