Script Summary:

The purpose of this script is to create a blinkie tag using a template included with the script.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Please keep the Script Output palette (SOP) open during the execution of this script. To open the SOP, choose View...Palettes...Script Output, or press the shortcut key, F3 (SHIFT+F3 in PSP9).

This script runs in the Pause Script format. The first thing the script does is verify that you have the valid template for this script open. If you do not have a copy of the FunBlinkie01-Template open, you will receive an error message and the script will terminate. The SOP will also contain more information on what the script found to be wrong with your template, such as "Wrong document - this template should have width of 300" or "Wrong document - the template should have 4 layers".

After determining that a valid FunBlinkie01-Template is open, the script prints specific instructions for the completion of the tag into the SOP. During the ensuing pause, the user must follow the printed instructions. When everything is in place, the script is started again to make the blinkie tag.

Be sure the script instructions are followed exactly. There is no limit to what you might do to create your blinkie during the pause, but you must end up with 4 layers before you restart the script. Specifically, the "blinkie" layer must be at the top of the stack, and it should not be altered in any way. The "text" layer must be the second layer in the stack, and it must remain in vector format. There is no requirement to add text to your blinkie tag, but the vector "text" layer must be left in place even if blank.

You can use any number of layers in the creation of your blinkie, but you will need to merge the added layers so that you have 4 layers when you restart the script.

See Notes and Tips below for some variations.

  Installation Instructions:

Place a copy of the ss-FunBlinkie01-Template in the folder where you keep your current work.

Place the ss-FunBlinkie01 script in your Scripts-Restricted folder, or run the script from this Quick Guide (see Running the Script below).

  Plugin Settings: N/A

  Running the Script:

Before running this script you must have a copy of the ss-FunBlinkie01-Template open in your workspace. If you do not, the script will warn you and terminate. Use a copy of the template to preserve the template for future tags.

To run this script, select the ss-FunBlinkie01-01 script in the scripts list and press play.
Run Script for me.

  Change History:

• 00 - original version
• 01 - inserted template-checker code

Notes and Tips:
	In choosing an image or part of an image for your tag, be sure it has an aspect ratio of 4.0000. Otherwise, the image may become distorted. You can see the aspect ratio in the lower right side of your workspace, on the status bar, as you use the Selection tool.
	You can add brush strokes, masks, tubes, or anything else to your image. When you have finished "creating", be sure to merge all the layers you have added with the "image" layer. The tag must have exactly 4 layers when the script resumes, as explained above.
	You can use any materials for your tag - the Foreground Material will be used for the frame of the tag and for half of the blinkies. The Background Material will be used for the other half of the blinkies. Note that if either Foreground or Background Material is set to transparent (null), the last used material will be used - and that's unpredictable!
	If you want to add your own finishing touches to your text, including personalized formatting and effects, add your text to a new layer above the "image" layer. When you have completed the formatting of your text, merge this layer with the "image" layer. As long as you leave the "text" layer intact as a vector layer - even if it is blank - the script will complete successfully.
	The finished tag is Animation-Shop ready. All you have to do is save as a PSP image in PSP 7 format and open in Animation Shop. Be sure your Animation Shop Preferences have been set to keep layers as separate frames. To check this, choose File...Preferences...General Program Preferences, click the Layered Files tab, and be sure the first radio button under "When opening a file containing multiple layers" is selected.
	To adjust the speed of the animation while in Animation shop, activate the Frames part of the image (rather than the Play part), select all layers (CTRL+A) and choose Animation...Frame Properties. Set the Display time to a higher number to slow down the animation - 15-20 seems to work well.
	If you find you have forgotten something you want to add to your tag after it is complete, such as your watermark, just add it on a new layer, and use the ss-BlinkieFinisher to prepare the tag for Animation Shop. You can find this script on my Scripts page HERE
	If you want to make the blinkie tag smaller, just use the Crop tool after the script completes. If you want to make the blinkie tag larger, after the script completes use Image...Canvas Size to resize the blinkie. Add a new layer and fill with the material (or image) you used on your bg layer. Move this layer to the bottom of the stack, and run the BlinkieFinisher script, responding NO to the "Is the added layer at the TOP?" query.