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HOW TO: Make A Custom Scrolling Platinum Card


Metdevil

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Hey guys, first off, if you're not already a member, click here to join ;)

 

Recently, there has been a lot of interest in my signature platinum card. I have received both, private and visitor messages asking me various questions like “Where did you get it from?” and even “Will you make me one?”

Truly, I would like to make them for people (That way my name would be on all of them :p) but there are a series of issues with that plan. I simply don’t have the time, in between work, study, wife and child, I hardly have the time as is to play PlayStation let alone write this. All things aside, I have decided, out of the love for my fellow gamers :angel: (But mostly for fame, I won’t lie :devil:) I have decided to write this: A newbie-friendly guide on how to create your very own Platinum Signature Card! *Fireworks and victory fanfare*

 

I would just like to point out that I have close to no skill on Gimp, so there is probably a much easier way to do this. But this is the way I figured out myself, through screwing around. Thus, proving that anyone can do this! Also, this guide was written in about 2 hours and far past my bedtime, so I apologise if it doesn’t make sense, please point out any errors you notice and I’ll fix them.

 

Things you will need:

 

Step One:

First you’ll want to make your background. This will have the bare essentials, nothing on this will change, so don’t put in anything that will change from slide to slide (eg. No game names etc)

 

http://i1107.photobucket.com/albums/h384/metdevil678/PS3T/How%20To___/Template.jpg

 

Here is what my background consists of: My name, a platinum trophy image, ‘ps3trophies.org’ (Represent, ya’ll), and ‘Created by metdevil678’

 

If you’re really new to this kind of thing feel free to steal my background:

http://i1107.photobucket.com/albums/h384/metdevil678/PS3T/How%20To___/background.jpg

And just add your own name and stuff

 

Make sure to merge down all layers.

 

Step Two:

Now create the ‘platinum name’ ‘game name’ etc, these will NOT be merged down so that they can easily be edited later.

 

http://i1107.photobucket.com/albums/h384/metdevil678/PS3T/How%20To___/002.jpg

 

Notice how, by selecting the ‘text tool’ and a text layer and then double clicking into the yellow box, you can edit the text? Just keep this in mind. Now 'Save As' this image into an easily distinguishable folder (‘Sig card’ or something) as “Template.xcf”

 

http://i1107.photobucket.com/albums/h384/metdevil678/PS3T/How%20To___/003.jpg

 

Step Three:

Input all information for your trophy (Game name, platinum name, difficulty, etc)

The best way to get the image in is to open it in a new window, resize it (I resized it to 120x120) and then copy and paste it in to your card. (It will automatically place the picture in the centre, if you move it, remember EXACTLY how far you moved it otherwise your frames will tend to jump back and forth. I moved mine DOWN by 3 presses of the down key, just to show a black line above the picture)

 

http://i1107.photobucket.com/albums/h384/metdevil678/PS3T/How%20To___/004.jpg

 

Now save this image into your ‘sig card’ folder as “001.xcf” or something along the lines. Next edit (using the method I pointed out above in step Two) the ‘Game name, platinum name’, etc to match the next trophy You may need to delete (just use Ctrl+Z, it's much easier than editing it) the previous platinum image because some plat images have transparent backgrounds (like LittleBigPlanet) and will show the previous one behind it. 'Save As' that frame as ‘002.xcf’. Repeat this for all of your platinums, these are all of your frames.

Edited by Metdevil
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Step Four:

Once you have all of your frames done, open your FIRST frame in a new window. Following this, click ‘file’ and ‘open as layers’ and select ALL of your frames. You should have all of your frames in your ‘layers’ window, your first being at the bottom, second frame – second from bottom etc. If not, rearrange them so they are.

 

http://i1107.photobucket.com/albums/h384/metdevil678/PS3T/How%20To___/005.jpg

 

***See below for a tip on how to overcome the .GIF Quality Issue***

This part is where you actually make the animation. Click ‘Filters’, ‘Animation’, ‘Optimize (for GIF)’

 

http://i1107.photobucket.com/albums/h384/metdevil678/PS3T/How%20To___/006.jpg

 

This will open a new window and rename all of your layers (Feel free to close out of the other window). Now click ‘Filters’, ‘Animation’ and ‘Playback’ another window will appear.

 

http://i1107.photobucket.com/albums/h384/metdevil678/PS3T/How%20To___/007.jpg

 

Click play, the first thing you’ll notice is that it’s WAY too quick. Go back to your new frames window you’ll notice that they’re called something along the lines of “###.xcf(100ms)(combine)”. That “100ms” is the time it will stay in frame, 1000 is one second, so 100 is 1/10th of a second. Simply rename all of your frames to the time that you want (If you have a lot of frames I would suggest quicker frames otherwise people will get bored of watching) Use your best judgement in selecting a time.

Remember to hit ‘Enter’ after changing the time or it will just change back.

 

Now that you’ve changed the timing, preview it again by following that path again, ‘Filters’, ‘Animation’ and ‘Playback’ another window will appear. When you’re happy, continue to the next step.

 

Step Five:

Click ‘Filters’, ‘Animation’ and ‘Unoptimize’. This will open yet another window (Close the previous one). Notice the frames have changed name again, this time from (combine) to (replace), I don’t know what this means except you’re doing well following my vague instructions.

 

http://i1107.photobucket.com/albums/h384/metdevil678/PS3T/How%20To___/008.jpg

 

Now, click ‘File’, ‘Save As’ and now you can name it by the name of the finished product. Mine? “Finished Product”. At the bottom it says ‘Select File Type’, choose ‘GIF’ and click ‘Save’. You’ll get a pop-up saying ‘Export File’ click the ‘Save as Animation’ button before hitting ‘Export’ and finally, ‘Save’

 

http://i1107.photobucket.com/albums/h384/metdevil678/PS3T/How%20To___/009.jpg

 

Now you should be done! Just upload your finished .gif to photobucket or something and then add it to your sig!

 

http://i1107.photobucket.com/albums/h384/metdevil678/PS3T/How%20To___/FinishedProduct.gif

 

FINISHED!

Don’t forget to thank me, and if you feel that there is something that I need to be more specific on, let me know and I’ll add it in.

 

NOTE: When you obtain another platinum, all you need to do is open your "Template.xcf" insert the details for your new platinum (see Step Three) and 'Save As' the next frame number (if your last frame is '021.xcf' save it as '022.xcf') And then all you need to do is repeat steps Four and Five!

 

 

Thanks for your patience guys!

Edited by Metdevil
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Tip Regarding .GIF quality issues:

 

It is a known fact that .GIF images have much worse quality compared to other formats like .JPG or .PNG. This is due to the fact that .GIF are limited to so many colours (256, I think), so colours don't blend in too well.

This can't be 'fixed' but can be remedied using a simple method called 'Dithering'. Here's what you do.

 

Follow these steps BEFORE selecting "Optimize (For GIF)" in STEP 4

 

  • Click Image -> Mode -> Indexed
  • Tick the "Generate Optimum Palette" circle
  • "Maximum Number Of Colours" set to 256
  • Under 'Dithering' options, Select "Floyd-Steinberg (Reduced Colour Bleeding)"
  • Finally, click "Convert"

 

Once you have done this, you can continue on with the guide.

 

 

Notice the difference?

 

NOT DITHERED

 

http://i1107.photobucket.com/albums/h384/metdevil678/PS3T/How%20To___/GF2NotDithered.gif

 

DITHERED

 

http://i1107.photobucket.com/albums/h384/metdevil678/PS3T/How%20To___/GF2Dithered.gif

These are both the exact same image. The only difference is the Dithering option. Doing this while all of your frames are in the image (So, before optimizing them) dithers all of your frames, you can't dither some but not the rest. Just keep in mind that SOMETIMES doing this to images that are more complex may make them look slightly grainy, and may actually look BETTER without Dithering.

 

I hope this helps ;)

Edited by Metdevil
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Hey davy, did you download some of that gimp stuff on my computer. and when i get my new PS3 ill get you to help me out with one of these srcolly mcbob thingy amajig

 

Geez, I do my best to write an idiot-proof tutorial, but you still want me to do it? :facepalm:

 

kira;1737798']Wrong place to post this bro. Actually' date=' you shouldn't have posted. Should have left him a Visitor Message or a PM. :)[/quote']

 

Dude got owned :applause:

 

YES! Thankyou dude! Ima give this a wirl later!

 

make sure you show us how it turns out ;)

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You provided a great tutorial on how to do this, thanks alot man :D My question is, if we took your idea (the static background image, alternating plat images, platinum trophy image etc,) and used something other then gimp can we still post it in here? I've never liked using gimp and I want to post what I have when i'm done, but if it's not ok because it wasn't made with gimp I would just like to know before I post it.

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