The Tree Stump : Background Animation Loop (part 1)

Animation

27th March 2007

Part 1 : Cut!

We start off by cutting the picture up and then chopping it in half. Strange as it may sound, this is a good move!

Using the Crop tool, select a section of the picture 400 x 100 pixels. Crop the image.
Set a 50% vertical guide to indicate the exact middle of the picture: View » New Guide and amend dialogue choices. Click OK.
Make sure the snap utility is on: View » Snap and make sure it is checked.
Use the Rectangular Marquee Tool to select half the image from the edge up to the vertical centre guide.

Cropping the image and selecting half of what's left.

Now cut the selection by pressing Ctrl-X and then paste the cut part back in by pressing Ctrl-V.

Result after cutting and pasting half the image.

Now swap the two halves of the image over by moving the different layers with the Move tool.

Select each layer in the Layers Palette in turn to do this. Make sure that they stay within the frame of the whole image by holding down the Shift key as you move the two halves.
Select the top layer in the Layers Palette and merge the top layer down by pressing Ctrl-E.
Finally clear the vertical guide to end this first part of the tutorial: View » Clear Guides

The image after merging down the top layer.