How to create a BLINKIE

[ScrappyGuy]

I just discovered how to do this and I wanted to share with everyone!!

First you will need to create the background or stable part of your blinkie. This is the part that won't change throughout your entire slideshow. Remember to make it 150 x 50 pixels. Keep it Small Sweets.

Here's mine:

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y67/frynsg/ScrapBlinkie.jpg

I wanted my blinkie to spell out the word, "Scrap" one letter at a time. So I created a duplicate layer of the stable one. Leave the first layer alone but above the second one is where you want to start inserting your first piece of text. I typed in the letter S above the second stable layer. Next I clicked on the the little box beside the eye to 'link' the second layer and the S layer. Then I merged the two by clicking on Ctrl>E.

Duplicate this layer and type new text abvove that. In this case it was the letter C. I built the layer like this one letter at a time until eventually the entire word Scrap came together. Then I just duplicated the final layer and typed the word "This" above it and linked them. Next I went back down to the first stable layer and duplicated that. I dragged this new layer all the way up to the top and typed my crop times on it.

Tip from Flutterby (Lynne S): if you want one or more parts of your blinkie to stay on longer, simply duplicate, or triplicate (or more) that layer, so that when it animates, it shows the same thing longer.
Check out VegasChristina's challenge blinkie.....
"gotta" "be" "quick"....only one layer of each were made, but the other layers, I made 4 of each, then animated it at .2

Now for the fun part. Go to File > Save for web and change the mode from JPG over to Gif using the pull down window. You'll see a new radio box for you to click in called Animate. Click inside of this and you will be able to alter the rate of speed that your layers change. Stacy reminded me that the slower the speed, the easier it is to read your message. I chose a 2.0 speed for my Blinkie.

Make sure you check the LOOP choice!!!

You can preview your Blinkie by clicking on the globe with a red question mark on it that is sitting down by your zoom box at the bottom of this save screen.
Here's what I ended up with:

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y67/frynsg/GaryFryns_gottapixel_042606.gif

[sparky_mom]

Ok that is awesome. Will it work with PSE 4? I have to try it! I have been wanting a no piracy blinkie! I have to try it! Thanks! You did a great job on the blinkie!!

[ScrappyGuy]

Yes, I am MOST certain it will work with 4.0. They didn't change too much when they updated.

[sparky_mom]

You are fast at responding! You must be browsing the forum to! LOL Thanks I will try it!

[sparky_mom]

ok one question. What size did you use to create this?

[Sara_Wise]

It really is EASY to do!! AND I love that you can control your speed. I was using another gif program to make one and OMGoodness. It looked like my blinkie was on drugs!!! It was going so fast!!

Gotta love ELEMENTS!!!

[Sara_Wise]

150 x 50

[Sara_Wise]

The one I have in my siggy is smaller than that though. BUT you can change the size right there in the save for web area as well.

[sparky_mom]

cool thanks! I will work on it now that my carpets are clean!

[sparky_mom]

Ok I must be really blonde!! I caant do this! LOL I will work on it later to try to figure it out! Great TUT though Gary!

[sparky_mom]

file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Monica%20McGill/My%20Documents/blinkie2.gif

Ok here is my test blinkie!! I think I did it! I will change it up some! COOL!! Thanks for the tut!! LOVE IT!!!

[sparky_mom]

oh dang forgot cant attach them there!

[sparky_mom]

Ok well I made one and now I cant figure out how to attach it! LOL any help?

[loofah]

Go up to UserCp and then click on Edit Signature

Place the link in there and click preview to test it out.

[sparky_mom]

Thanks Loofa I will try that!

[sparky_mom]

Ok didnt work! LOL I know I am doing something wrong so i am going to try again tomorrow! Thanks for the help!

[sparky_mom]

file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Monica%20McGill/My%20Documents/blinkie-one.gif

Ok Look I think it works now!

Ok never mind! I went stupid again!

[loofah]

what did it tell you? Maybe you have too much in your siggy to add anything else -there is a limit :)

[Flutterby]

A tip....
if you want one or more parts of your blinkie to stay on longer, simply duplicate, or triplicate (or more) that layer, so that when it animates, it shows the same thing longer.
Check out VegasChristina's challenge blinkie.....
"gotta" "be" "quick"....only one layer of each were made, but the other layers, I made 4 of each, then animated it at .2

Also, don't forget to check on "loop".....

[sparky_mom]

what did it tell you? Maybe you have too much in your siggy to add anything else -there is a limit :)


It didnt tell me anything. I put the blinkie in there and it showed up but when I click save it put the code for the blinkie instead of the blinkie itself. I am sure I am missing something! I will play again with it tomorrow.

[sparky_mom]

Ok Now when I insert it I tried taking everything else out of my signature but it just gives me a little red x in a box. Any clues why?

[ScrappyGuy]

Monica, I went and saved it into my photobucket account and then cut and paste the image link from there into my siggie line.

HTH

Hey, btw, thanks for sticking with this! You are a real trooper.

[sparky_mom]

Thanks gary! I guess now i have to go get a photo bucket account! LOL One more thing to try before I give up! I did remake the blinkie and it is cool now! Ok maybe it is plain to those that you have cause I havent figured out how to make it fancy yet but I like it! Off to find photobucket! LOL

[sparky_mom]

LOOK It works!! WOO HOO!! Thanks for all your help Gary!!! Now to just make a really really good one! This was just a test one. Just wanted to share it!

[ScrappyGuy]

Awesome!! Whooo HOOOO!!

[sparky_mom]

Thanks Gary! For the comment and the help!

[GinnieS]

I have used your tutorial to make my blinkie. Thanks so much for a great tutorial! Is there any other way to get my blinkie on here besides using the photobucket site? They say they use your info to send you stuff. I don't want to start getting alot of junk.

[ScrappyGuy]

I can't recall anything in particular that I've gotten from Photobucket. I do know that they have free access to use your images anyway they please. That's kinda scary.

[Flutterby]

I have used your tutorial to make my blinkie. Thanks so much for a great tutorial! Is there any other way to get my blinkie on here besides using the photobucket site? They say they use your info to send you stuff. I don't want to start getting alot of junk.

If you are on the internet, and have not already started getting a lot of junk mail, u are very lucky...lol.

Photobucket would be no different from most other places u give your e-mail addy to....once u sign up for something, u will start getting the junk mail.
Thank goodness for my yahoo e-mail account...it puts all my junk mail in it's own folder, and I can just delete it without having to open them up. :D

[scrappygirl]

WooHoo!!!! That was fun...it is so neat to be able to do this...THANKS GARY!!!!!! ;D

[scrappygirl]

LOL...oops...let's try this again....

[tklarsen]

I'll give it a try

[ScrappyGuy]

Amy I love your blinkie, great job!

[nanstomom]

Blinkie's drive me nuts! LOL

[teutza_ghost]

erm....:-ssss....the images dissapeared :(

[*Jill*D*]

Thank you for the great tut! I just finished making a blinkie for a team I'm on... testing...

[*Jill*D*]

OH MY GOODNESS!!! LOL! It's a bit LARGE!! LOL! How do I make that smaller??

[*Jill*D*]

trying again - hopefully I've got it re-sized better...

[*Jill*D*]

I'm having so much fun I had to make another one!! LOL! Thank you again for making this easy for someone like me - a NON-techie!! LOL! :D

Jill

[MelindaH]

Your tutorial was very easy! Thank you! One question ... maybe I made it harder than I needed to. I made an initial layer, and then I duplicated it a few times. I went in and added text to the 1st layer, and then I went to MERGE DOWN the layers so that the text would be on the layer. I did this each time. Is that necessary?

Thank you!
~Melinda

[2BoysMom]

I have PSE, but rarely use it. I'm a Digital Image Suite addict. I wonder if I can translate the tut to that software. I'll have to give it a whirl. Thanks!!

[ScrappyGuy]

let me know Josie

[Paulett]

Great Job. You are verrrrry informative.

[KAPOH]

Oh I Love It!!!!!

[Idgabella]

Thanks!

[angmag55]

gotta check this out.

[newtty]

Okay I am going to have to try this tomorrow.

[slehc]

OK, I must be doing something wrong. I decided to try my first blinkie. I got to the part where I save it for web and I don't see anything anywhere that says anything about animate, or loop, or anything like that. I use Photoshop CS. What did I do wrong?

[Flutterby]

I have CS2...I don't know if it's the same for yours...BUT....
In CS2, u go to Window, and click on animation.
A little box will open.
Click on the little arrow that points sideways....
Click on Make Frames From Layers.
Put the little window layers in the order u want.....give each one a delay time.
Then do your "save for web"....

[MelindaH]

One other idea (though I don't use CS) ... did you change it to be a GIF file instead of JPEG? It won't animate as a JPEG. Just a thought!

~Melinda

[slehc]

I found a tutoral for creating blinkies in Photoshop CS by doing a Google search. I had to use ImageReady that comes with CS (seems more complicated than with Elements and CS2). Anyhow, I guess I need to get a Photobucket account too, but I got my blinkie done - I have to hurry because it's a Christmas one :)

[slehc]

Well, it worked!!

[tweetykl]

OK, I made a very simple one but am ready for a lot more fun when I am actually at my own house where all of my files are. Thank you Gary!!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v214/tweetykl/New-Year-Blinkie.gif

[Digital Dolly]

Testing my blinkie

[tweetykl]

You need to put it with image code. See photobucket for help.

[chelsie]

Oooh! I love this!

I have a question though...how do I give credit for elements on my blinkie?

[zryne]

help!!!! my blinkie is a hot air balloon taking off for flight.. why can't i make it smaller????

[zryne]

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r31/zryne/my-blinkie-made-with-J3-Feb.gif

[zryne]

seee i told you a hot air balloon!!!!

[zryne]

okay think i did it..
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r31/zryne/Zyrnes-DeZynes-Blinkie.gif

[ScrappyGuy]

i don't see a hot air balloon???

[PamB]

zyrne- this is sooo cool! Was it hard? I read Scrappy Guys first post and mailed it to myself. I wonder if it will work with PSP 10. . . .

[momofthecrazy4]

I've seen blinkie's with peoples scrapbook pages can you change the size without much problem. And what size would you recomend if you can.
Thanks,

Christina

[sweetlilysmom]

Oh thank you for posting this. I have been trying to figure out blinkie making in my PSE for months LOL and was getting frustrated. I will try this.

[ScrappyGuy]

Christina, as long as you constrain the proportions, it should look okay when you downsize the page. If the blinkie is only 640 x 480, you'll need to downsize a 12 x 12 LO pretty low, say to 3%??? Just play with it until you get a size you like.

[Suzs]

Call me blonde but where is the little box beside the eye to link the layers????

[kristmess]

Oh thankyou Gary for this tutorial!! I could not have made my blinkie without it!!!!

Suzs: In my version of PSE (4) the link button is on the top of the layers palette next to the delate layer button, it looks like a little couple of chain links. Hope this helps!

[Yvonne and Kids]

I have been waiting to get a blinkie! I think Im gonna make an original!

[ScrappyGuy]

Go for it, Yvonne!

[MonaLisa]

I finally tried this tutorial! The one I made is the one that says I won the Ultimate Scrapper Challenge June 2007.

Thanks Gary

[MelindaH]

Way to go, MonaLisa! Great job!

~Melinda

[MelindaH]

Call me blonde but where is the little box beside the eye to link the layers????

I made a little screen shot:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v28/melindarhanson/Untitled-1.jpg

Where you see the paint brush next to the eye symbol, if you have many layers and have one layer selected like this, and click on this box for the rest of the layers, it puts a little "chain-link" in the other layers' boxes.

Does that help?

Great job on trying this everyone! This tutorial is how I learned how to make blinkies! :D

[Flutterby]

CONGRATS Mona Lisa.. on BOTH accounts! GREAT blinkie, and on winning the challenge!

[ScrappyGuy]

Congrats Mona! That is an awesome blinkie.

[Sassy]

I'm gonna try this tonight :)

[shelbyck]

So I just had to check if this works...i'm crossing my fingers. thanks for the tutorial!