Neon Text Variation
This neon text tutorial has been written with the beginner to PSP in mind. It's very simple, requires using no layers or plug ins. All you need is PSP, and some imagination to use this tutorial.
"Flashing" Neon Text Graphic
Open your Paint Shop Pro. Select "new" image, transparent background, size 350X350. We can resize it later in Animation Shop.
Select the font you would like to use. Stay away from the lacy ornate ones, a plain block style font works best with this. The font I have used in this tutorial is "alba matter", bold style at size 48, set on "stroke" with "fill" not used.
To keep it simple for this tutorial, use one word at first until you are more familiar with this method. Your name is always a good choice. Place it as near center of your transparent background as possible.
In your left side menu bar, scroll down and select your shape tool. We will use this to draw an outline around your name. Leave space between your name and the inner edge of the outline so we have room for our "neon glow" effect.
Now, in your top menu bar, scroll over to layers, scroll down from the drop down menu and select "Merge Visible". Now duplicate this image by going to "Windows" and select "Duplicate" You now have two images.
Again, in your left side menu, select your "magic wand" tool. While holding down your "shift" key, left click on your outline. You will see a line of "marching ants" tracing the outline. Move to your second image, left click on the blue area at the top and repeat the action. You will notice that the line disappears on your first one, don't worry about that, it is still there, just that image is not "active".
Making the "neon" tubes
While your ants are marching, go to your menu bar across the top of your screen. Go to "Effects", scroll down and and choose "Eye Candy 4000" from the Plug In Filters menu. Select "Glass". When the window opens, choose your settings as follows:
Set your bevel profile on"hump" and in the "settings" Menu choose "Glass Tubing"