We will be adding text next so now is the best time to crop extra blank space and resize your image if you don't want it this large. Text does not always reduce well so it's always best to do any resizing prior to adding text.

• Use the Crop Tool and surround your shamrock to get rid of as much blank space as you wish. You can use the "Nodes" on the sides and corners to resize the cropping area. Once you have the tool set the way you wish, click the "Check Mark" in the tool ribbon to complete the cropping operation. The screen shots below show the process during and after cropping.
  
  
     
  
  
• Cropping has reduced the size of my image to 259 x 264 pixels. If you wish it to be any smaller, now use the Image/Resize function. However, make sure you leave it large enough for your name or text, especially if you have a long name.

The text we'll be using will be cut out of the green shamrock. I have found that most fat text makes a good cutout but you can try any text that you would like. The text I am using is "PerryGothicRegular". You will want a font that will not stick over the edge of the green area of the shamrock.

Using text to cut out an area of an image can be tricky if you haven't done it before and it's mostly a trial and error situation.

• Stay on the same layer that you just placed the green shamrock on.

• Choose the text you want and a color that you will be able to see once as you are experimenting with text placement. The color does not matter because once it is placed no color will show since we will be placing the text as a Selection. You will probably also need to experiment with the size of the font. When using the Selection setting, you CAN NOT move the text to a new location if you aren't happy with the positioning.
  
  
• The only settings that need to be used for the selection to work is:...Create as: Selection. I also recommend that you use the "Alignment = Center" because it might be easier to place the text. These are the settings I am using. Adjust size to your chosen text.
  • Create as: Selection
    
  • Alignment = Centered
    
  • Font: (your choice)
  • Size: 46 (your choice)
  • Stroke width: 0
  • Font Style: Nothing selected

• If you have chosen center alignment, hold your mouse toward the lower center area of the shamrock. (See A)
  
  

• Begin the text and you will have a preview of how the text will be placed. Most text will appear a bit above where you held your mouse and the spot you are holding the mouse will be determined to be the center. "B", below shows that where I had the mouse resulted in text that was not centered and was too far to the left. If this happens to you, just click "Cancel" on the text Entry Box and start again with a new positioning of your mouse.
  
  

• When you see that the text will be in the position that you wish, click OK in the Text Entry Box and your text will be floating and transparent. (See "C" below)
  Do Not Deselect
  
  

• With the text still selected, go to Effects/3D Effects/Cutout and use the settings below. You may wish to adjust the settings a bit depending on the particular font you are using.

• Keep the "eyes" on the Cutout Palette active ("Pressed Down") so you can see the result of the cutout on the actual image. The settings below are the ones I used. You may need to adjust them a bit if you are using a different font. Your result should look the one on the right with the gold showing through where you have cut out the text.

Vertical = 5 Horizontal = 4 Opacity = 50 Blur = 5 Shadow Color = Black Fill interior with color = Unchecked

• If you are happy with the result, deselect (Ctrl D).
• Save

Step 5: Duplicate and Move Layers. The last step is to prepare the image for Animation. Duplicate the "Shamrock 1" layer twice and rename the duplicates "Shamrock 2" and "Shamrock 3". Grab "Shamrock 1" layer in the Layer Palette and drag it down until it is just above "Gold 1". Then drag "Shamrock 2" to just above the "Gold 2" layer. "Shamrock 3" should already be at the top of the Layer Palette. If not, move it there. The Layer Palette should look like the one on the right with alternating Gold and Shamrock Layers. Right click on Each Shamrock layer and choose "Merge/Merge Down" from the menu. This will merge each Shamrock layer with the gold layer directly beneath it and only the names of the gold layers will remain (and your transparent background layer). Add a background color or pattern of your choice to the first "Raster 1" layer. I have just flood filled the first layer with white. You can use a color or pattern if you would like and we can go on to completing the Animation. Save Note: The animation tutorial on the next page may be a different technique than you are used to using. I have had difficulty with animations jumping in the past and have found that using this technique prevents that. Continue on to Animation Tutorial HomeTutorial IndexBack to Top