Here's something simple and fun to play with.

Breath Life into Me Tut.

1 Open an Image in PSP

2 Use your Freehand Selection Tool to select the area that you want to add movement to. I set mine with Feather at 3.

3 Go to Layers Duplicate.

4 Repeat step 3, so that you have 3 Layers.

5 Click on your first layer to Select it.

6 Go to Effects - Distortion Effects - Pinch - Put your Strength % to 6 Click OK

7 Go to your top layer - Copy (2) of Raster 1 and Select it
[We have purposely missed the middle Layer]

8 Go to Effects - Distortion Effects - Pinch - Put your Strength % to 8 Click OK

9 Go to File and Save as PSP Animation Shop.psp

10 Open Animation Shop and Browse to your Saved Image and open it.

11 Go to Edit - Select All

12 Go to Animation - Frame Properties and set to 50.

13 Go to File and Save As and save as a .gif File.

14 To View your Animation, Click on View click Animation

You can have a lot of fun with the Pinch Effect.

Gosh, you can have a lot of fun with PSP.

Happy PSP'ing

Thanks for an great tut Pam!  I've tried doing this before, but deformed it the hard way to move the highlited part some... your way, using the pinch effect, looks soooo much easier and faster!  I'll be trying it the way you show'd us, for sure!   You have the best ideas!!  Thx so much for sharing them with us!

Hugz, Suzie 

Hi Pam,

Just wondering, I tried to follow your steps but couldn't find the effects distortion you mentioned. Could it be because I am still using PSP version 6? Also, do you think it would be worth it to upgrade to a newer version? I didn't know if there was that much difference in the newer versions.

Helen in New Jersey

Hi Helen, I just wanted to let you know, I have version 7 and I have to get to my pinch effect a bit differently... I'm thinking your version 6 may be the same?   I have to go to Effects, Geometric Effects, and Pinch.  Hope yours is located similarly so you can use that effect. 

Suzie

Thanks Pam for this wonderful little tip.....sure sounds easy to do this!!

Hugs ElizabethH.

Hi Helen, Suzie may have the solution as to where Pinch is situated in PSP 6.

It seems that with each new version of PSP, they add new and move the old Tools and Effects around. Just to confuse us I'm sure. lol

Upgrading would be a wise move Helen.

I have PSP X2 and love it. If you do upgrade to X2 and Animation Shop came with your PSP 6 .... leave PSP 6 on your Computer. It just enables all of the links between Animation Shop and PSP X2 to remain active.

With Corel taking over from Jasc, the later versions of PSP are not linked with the old Jasc Animation Shop program, which most of us love to use. Of course, both can be used independently and you can get a download of Animation Shop if you don't already have it.

Suzie, my simple mind, luves simple techniques.

Elizabeth, I hope that you get the time to do a little 'pinching' too.

Dianne,  Image - deformations, isn't on my PSP X2 or 9 (though I do have the Deform Tool) so this may be on  earlier versions also. Which PSP are you currently working with?

I'm off to get another coffee and to read some of the new posts, all part of my lazy Sunday plan.

Have fun Everyone.

Hi Pam and the rest of you!

I put a little breath into my first grandson. That was fun! I have PSP8 and there the effect is in the right place.

Hugs,

Margareta

Oh Margareta, now your Image takes my breath away.

Your little Grandson is adorable and I love the complete Tag that you've created around him.

I'm glad you enjoyed testing my Tut.

Hugs ... Pam.

I made this for Lyn (lyndy) of her new puppy. He's a cutie, isn't he?

Margareta

Oh my gosh, Margareta!  That is the most darling tag of your grandson.  Awwwww, and the puppy is so sweet, too!!!  Wonderful job on your 'breathing' technique.  I love how yours turned out.  And I'm just giggling here, thinking you were about ready to give up on animations and psp!  Would you have believed just weeks ago, you'd be doing what you are now?!  (Well, we were all sure you would.!) 

So all of you who are new to PsP and animating... Please don't let the programs intimidate you, okay?  You can do it!  It's just a learning process, a step at a time.  (or for a few rare individuals... leaps and bounds at a time)... but however you get there doesn't matter -- The joy IS in the journey!!   (And getting to the destination is a feeling of accomplishment!)

Way to go, Pam, for teaching even this old dog new tricks!  :)   I'm looking forward to trying it soon... been too busy to work on psp this week, but hoping to find time soon.  I hope mine turns out half as well as Margareta's did... mine will probably look like someone is being given CPR, lol.   But I have to try that one for certain!

Yes, he IS a cutie and you did a nice job on the animation!  (Not that HE looks too animated at the moment!  LOL  He probably just finished a very tiring round of play!)  Aren't you glad you're learning these new techniques in PSP?