Tutorial: Animating Water

Water drawn by me. Duck outline from Pixelkins.

This tutorial teaches a technique only.
DO NOT TAKE ANY GRAPHICS FROM THIS PAGE.

I start with a water base made of simple blue colors.

I add a new layer with the image I want to appear to be 'in' the water.

My layers palette:

Duplicate this image twice, for a total of three identical images.

On your first image, use the Freehand Selection Tool (Lasso Tool in earlier versions of PSP).

Selection type: Freehand / Feather: 0 / Anti-alias: NO!

Select an area similar to the one shown in the picture below:

You need to click inside the selected area to float it and then promote the selection to its own layer.
(Selections > Promote Selection to Layer)

Once it's on its own layer, lower the opacity for that layer. Mine's set at 60.

When you're happy with it, go to Layers > Merge > Merge Visible.

Do the same with the other two images. Select a slightly different area each time -- sometimes higher on one side, lower on the other, etc.

At this point, we want to add little waves. Choose a light blue color and use your Paint Brush Tool set at size 1 and draw some short straight and curved lines in random spots.

Do the same on the other two images, placing the waves in random spots.
Note - It's best not to add the waves on top of your other graphic (in my case, the duck).

When you're finished adding the waves, you should have three images...

From here, animate in Animation Shop as you normally would.
I use between 15 and 25 for the frame rates.

I hope this gives you some ideas!

Please, DO NOT link directly to this tutorial.
Instead, link to http://www.greatkris.com/purchaseware/
Thank you!

Tutorial © Kristina @ greatkris.com.

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