PS Animated Snow
1) Assuming you have Photoshop open and running, open the file Ctrl + O you wish to use. I will be using this doll I created at Sabrina's Candydolls.
2) Create a new layer on the top of the image by clicking the New Layer icon
in the layers palette.3) Now using the fill tool
fill the layer with black #000000 so that all you have now is a completely black image
4) Next you need to add noise so select Filter >> Noise >> Add Noise. You should see a pop box come up.
Set the Amount to 70% Distribution to Gaussian and make sure Monochromatic is checked. You should now have a black background with white dots like the above image.
5) Time to make this layer see through, so your original image is visible. So you need to change the layer mode to Screen. To do this click the drop down menu in the layers palette and change Normal to Screen like this
6) Now we need to apply a blur. Select Filter >> Blur >> Gaussian Blur set the radius to 1.5 pixels.
Note: My image is still black but your original image should be showing through at this point!!
7) Press Ctrl + L to bring up the levels dialouge box. Change the settings to Channel RGB Input Levels 90, 1.00, 120 Output Levels 0, 255
Your image should now have little clumps of snow on it!
8) Repeat Steps 2-7 making new layers increasing the Noise Amount by 1% on each layer until you have a total of 4 snow layers. IE Layer 2 will be 71% Layer 3 will be 72% and so on.
Note : DO NOT duplicate layers or your snow will look the same on each layer. Your image should now look close to this
9) Now we need to transfer this image to ImageReady. ImageReady is an animation program that should have come with your copy of Photoshop. Select the Jump To ImageReady icon
on the tools menu. Once ImageReady opens you should see your image and an animation bar that looks like this
If you do not see the Animation window you may need to click Window >> Animation from the drop down menu.
10) Now we need to animate the image. In the Animation Window you should see your first frame. Set the 0 sec. button below the image to 0.1 by clicking it and selecting 0.1 seconds.
11) In the Layers palette turn off all layers but the main image layer and the first snow layer by clicking on the "eye" icon
in the layers palette like this
12) Now in the Animation Window we need to duplicate the first frame. Find the duplicate frame button
and click it. You should now have a second frame next to the first one.13) Now in the Layers palette turn off all layers but the main image layer and the second snow layer just as you did in Step 11 with the first frame.
14) Repeat this process so that you have 4 frames one for each snow layer.
15) Now in the Animation Window click the Play button
to preview your finished image.16) It should now be snowing on your image! Under File click Save Optimized As... to save your image. Note these can only be saved as GIF files. Your finished image should look something like this!
