Blocks
by kim@pixelbit.com

Open a new transparent image 1000 X 200
Use your preset shapes set to square.
Set the foreground color to black, then background color to the color of your choice.
Place a square in the lower left comer of your image.

Apply a decorative tube to your square. Remember to keep it light.
In the image below, the original flower was dark so I lowered the opacity.

Apply the inner bevel of your choice.
Copy and paste as a new layer for each letter of your text.
Line them up evenly along the bottom of your image.

In your layer palette, click on the bottom layer (your first square).
Click on the text tool and add the first letter.
Click on the next layer up and add the second layer.
Continue until you have a letter on each block.

I will refer to this image, from now on, as your working image.
On your layer palette, merge > flatten.
Copy and paste as a new image.
This new image is your finished image.

Back to your working image. CTRL + Z to undo
Use your mover tool and click on the first letter.
If you are using PSP 9 or X, hold your CTRL key and press your UP arrow 2 times.
PSP 7 must manually move it.

Merge > flatten.
Copy.
Back to the finished image, paste as a new layer.

Back to the working image.
CTRL + Z a couple of times until all of the letters are in an even row again along the bottom.
With your mover tool, click on the second letter.
Move the second letter up the same way you did on the first letter
in the previous step.

Merge > flatten, copy
On the finished image, paste as a new layer.
Back to the working image.

CTRL + Z until all of the letters are even along the bottom again.
Move the third letter up.

Merge > flatter. Copy.
On the finished image, paste as a new layer.
Back to the working image.
CTRL + Z a few times until all of the letters are even along the bottom again.

Continue this process until you have completed all of the letters.
You can close your working image.
On the finished image, turn all layers except the bottom off.
Make the bottom layer active.
Right click and select convert to layer.
Use your magic wand tool, tolerance set to 10.
Click on the white area outside the letters, press delete.
Remember to also click and delete the area under the raised letter.

Repeat for all layers.

*HINT for advanced PSPers.*
With all of the transparent area above the letters,
you can add some pretty decorations
Keep in mind, though, that this will increase the byte size of your image.

When the last layer is completed, save your image in psp format.
For psp 9 and X be sure you save as psp 7 compatible.
Open Animation Shop.
File > Preferences > General Program Preferences > Layered Files.
Keep layers as separate frames is checked. Click ok and open your image.

Select all (CTRL + A)
Press ALT + ENTER and change the animation speed to 25.
Double click ok on the crop tool to open the crop options window.
Click on surround Opaque. click ok.

Click the cop button above the toolbar
Save and you're done.