ZOOOM

Z O O O M

This tut was written on July 02, 2010.
It is written using PSPX; I'm sure the same effects are available in other versions.

SUPPLIES
An image or a tube, resized to 250x250.
I'm using the work of Keith Garvey. You need to purchase a license to use this work at MPT.

The following filters:
Xero - Fritallary
VM Stylize - Zoom Blur

Font of choice (I'm using "Eaglefeather Formal Light")

Let's begin!

Pick two colors from your tube, a lighter color for the foreground and a darker shade of the same color for your background.

Open a new image, 600x250.

Make a background gradient - Radial, Angle = 90, Repeats = 10.
Floodfill the image with the gradient.

Add a new layer.
Selection Tool - Custom Selection using the following setting:

Floodfill the selection with the darker color.
Selections - Select None.

Xero - Fritallary using the default setting, but change the Variation to 10.

Effects - Edge Effects - Enhance.

Duplicate this layer twice.

On the top layer, VM Stylize - Zoom Blur using the default setting, but change the Amount to 38.
On the middle layer, VM Stylize - Zoom Blur using the default setting.
On the bottom layer, VM Stylize - Zoom Blur using the default setting, but change the Amount to 40.

Highlight the top layer and add a new layer.

Selection Tool - Custom Selection using the same setting as earlier.

Floodfill with the lighter color
Add your tube as a new layer, moving into position.
Selections - Invert.
Hit DELETE.

Selections - Select None.

Make sure you have the top layer highlighted, then Layers - Merge - Merge Down.

Adjust - Add/Remove Noise - Add Noise - Gaussian, 12, Monochrome checked.

Duplicate this layer.

On the top layer, repeat the Zoom Blur you used earlier.

Effects - Edge Effects - Enhance.

Selection tool - Custom Selection using the same settings.

Selections - Invert.

Hit DELETE.

Selections - Invert.

Selections - Modify - Select Selections Borders using Both Sides, 1, antialias unchecked.

Add a new layer, and fill the selection with the darker color.

Selections - Select None.

On this same layer, add a 2pixel selections border using the dark color.
(Selections - Select All; Selections - Modify - Select Selections Border using Inside, 2, antialias unchecked; fill with the dark color.)

Add your name and all necessary copyright information.

Animate as usual, change the Frame Properties to 30.

For the avatar:

Duplicate your tag (Shift + D.)

Crop to 150x150.

Remove all layers containing art.

Add your 2 pixel selections border.

Add your name (or initial.)

You may, if you wish, choose to animate your avatar.

Here is another example, using the work of Ismael Rac: