Step Nine

Zoom in on the text graphic 2:1 to make it easier to work.

Select the dropper tool and pick the background color as the foreground by left clicking and the shadow color of the text as the background by right clicking.

Step Ten

Click the copy button then click the "Paste After Current" button .

This will paste the new frame after the currently selected frame.

The newly pasted frame becomes the selected one.

Step Eleven

Change the Display Time on the second frame to 60 - 100 seconds. This will be the last frame in the animation and will show the full name so we want it to display the longest.

If you want to have the writing tool resting finished next to the name, click on the Arrow tool then drag the selected frame of the pen into the last frame of the text. You will see the pen appear. Place it next to the name.

Step Twelve

The most important thing to remember when doing a pen signature is that you will be working backwards. This is the easiest way and gives the best effect.

I sometimes find it useful to trace my cursor over a letter to work out which part is written last and which first. Writing comes so naturally to most of us that knowing how a letter is formed takes a little thinking about.

You must also remember that we work on the first frame always, then copy that changed frame and paste it after the current (first) frame to add the pen.

At the moment we have two frames:

The first working frame and the last frame of the animation when the name is written.

Click on the first frame again to select it, copy and paste after current.

Place your pen on the last point of the last letter.

To keep the file size of the graphics at a reasonable level I will only show the first two frames of each step.

At this point you should now have 3 frames.

Step Thirteen

Click on the first frame to select it then click on the paint tool setting the width to 4 pixels.

Paint over the last part of the last letter. Paint to the nearest natural curve or stop of the letter. If this is a point where the pen would rise from the paper (such as the letter l) leave a couple of pixels at the end of the letter as a marker to yourself.

Remember to paint out the shadow too. If there is an area where the letter crosses (such as a t) you will paint in shadow instead of background color.

Much of this part of the creation is judgement. How much to paint over and how much to leave will determine how smooth a result you obtain. Do not have to many frames per letter as this will make the letter jerkier.

At this point you may want to read ahead and look at the screenshots given to get a better idea of how to form the letters.

Step Fourteen

Copy the frame and paste after current.

Drag a pen image to the second frame and place the tip of the pen at the last point on the last letter.

Step Fifteen

Click back on frame 1, paint over a little more of the letter and shadow, copy and paste after current. Be careful not to paint over the shadow of the adjacent letter.

Place a pen at the last point of the letter.

Step Sixteen

Continue painting over part of the letter, copy, paste after current then placing the pen.

When you get to the end of a letter leave a few pixels as a marker to yourself for the pen placement.

Paint over those last few pixels, copy the frame, paste after current then place the pen at the last point of the last letter. This is now the penultimate letter of your name.