A Help Page by Mary
A swinger is made up of four frames. Number One is in the center; Number Two is to the left; Number Three is in the center; and Number Four is to the right. I used the Webbywarehouse to animate and these images were labelled frame01.gif, frame02.gif, frame03.gif and frame04.gif. There is no need to make a separate directory. The server chooses only the images labelled as above.
I made my name first on a transparent blank 400x150. I used #1a0c13 for the fill color and a point size of 65. Scale set at 1.0,1.5. The font is Pretoria. (http://www.wtv-zone.com/Kitkat3l/fonts/Pretoria.ttf.)
I have already attached a chain to a Ballerina Bear but you can use any other chain, rope, rod, or whatever. Here is the bear. (http://www.wtv-zone.com/Kitkat3l/Help_Pages_2/bear_chain_keep.gif)
Use the white base gif at your image center and resize it to 500x500. Composite this chain using +0+100 North.
Composite this bear using +20+217 North.
Upload this image twice and rename it frame01.gif and frame 03.gif.
Take this image to Image Magick. You will be getting the offset numbers for the remaining two frames which are to the left and right.
Composite this bear and tweak it so that the top of the chains meet as exactly as you can. Use 35 in rotate. Write down your numbers. My numbers were +77+85 Northwest. DO NOT click composite---your object is just to get the placement numbers.
Composite the same bear and tweak it so that the top of the chains meet as exactly as you can. Use -35 in rotate. Write down your numbers. My numbers were +270+60 Northwest. DO NOT click composite---your object again is just to get the placement numbers.
This is the example only.
NOTE: Tre made an excellent example of the placements and numbers and graciously gave permission to include it here--
Tre also is sharing this heart swinger. You just need to annotate your name at the top of the swinger. The url is http://www.wtv-zone.com/Kitkat3l/Help_Pages_2/heart_blank_keep.gif.
Using the base gif in your image center, make a 500x500 white blank. Composite the bear, with the chain, to the left using the numbers you got above. Make another blank and composite the bear, with the chain, to the right using the numbers you got above.
Upload each of these images and name them frame02.gif and frame04.gif. So you should have frame01.gif, frame02.gif, frame03.gif and frame04.gif in your directory. Scroll down and click animate. I used a delay of 50 but you might want to try other numbers. The higher the number, the slower it will swing.
NOTE:On each of my images, I composited my name in exactly the same place and then animated it. Marlene annotates the name after she has animated. Either way is fine.
After animated, take the image to Gifworks and smartcrop and optimize. You may resize, also.
My finished Ballerina Bear swinger
Please share this Help Page with whomever or wherever you choose. No permission is needed. Just enjoy and have fun with it. Find other images to swing from a name or tree limb or whatever.
Click here for more Help Pages by Mary.
If you have problems, you can e-mail me at Kitkat3l@(remove)webtv.net or you can find me here.
Dated this 15th day of June, 2007.