rain tutorial

Step 1
Open the image supplied and duplicate, then close the original

Step 2
Increase canvas size by 30 pixels at the top; same if you use a different image - add 30 pixels at the top.

Step 3
set the foreground color to #dad8d8

Step 4
find your Airbrush and set the settings to:
size = 255
hardness = 100
step = 1
density = 1
opacity = 100

Step 5
add a new raster layer and apply a few clicks to cover the image as shown

Step 6
change color to #C0C0C0 and apply approximately same number of clicks

Step 7
now apply a motion blur, angle = 131, strength = 48, then rename layer 'Rain1' (you can use a different angle for the rain, but don't change the strength if this is your first time doing this)

Step 8
now to the 'Raster 1' layer and hide it; rename layer to 'image', then click on the 'Rain1' layer

Step 9
duplicate layer; rename new layer to 'Rain2'
duplicate 'Rain2' layer and name the new layer 'Rain3'
activate the 'Rain2' layer

Step 10
select all, select float, (if using PSP9, select defloat); using the selection tool, move all down 15 pixels
when you start to drag in PSP 8 or 9, a counter will show up (circled in red); you want it to read 0,15 - deselect

using PSP 5, 6 or 7, set your cursor to, click to drag down and the 0,0 (circled in red) will read 0, 15 when you have dragged the selections down 15 pixels and will resemble above right when you let go of the mouse button - deselect

Step 11
using the information above, click on the 'Rain 3' layer and move it down 8 pixels then deselect

Step 12
click on the image layer, unhide the layer . . .

Step 13
select all, select float, (if using PSP 8 or 9, select unfloat); hold down the 'Shift' key and tap the 'R' key to crop

Step 14
IF you choose to add a border or frame to you image, this is the time and place you would do it, but you can't 'add a border' to the image, you have to use 'resize canvas' . . . Original Dimensions is displayed in the top section. To add a border, you must add the same number of pixels to both the Width and Height . . . I added 50 to each resulting in the right hand image

Step 15
use the magic wand with antialias UNchecked and click in the border area then flood fill with your choice of color, pattern or gradient and apply a bevel if desired . . . then deselect . . .

Step 16
rename image layer to 'image', duplicate this layer twice; arrange layers as in the image below

Step 17
hide the top 4 layers, click on 'Rain1' layer and merge visible

Step 18
hide the merged layer and the top 2 layers, click on the 'Rain2' layer and merge visible

Step 19
hide the new merged layer and UNhide the top 2 layers, click on 'Rain3' layer and merge visible

Step 20
unmerge ALL layers and save as a PSP file . . . the basic image is finished . . . next is to animate . . .

Step 21
we aren't going to do anything fancy here, just a straight animation . . . from the File menu, to Jasc Software Products/launch Animation Shop, then open the saved psp file from the File menu - to see the image animated, click on the film strip icon I have circled in red

Step 22
Save as an animated gif