How to Create Glitter Backgrounds
Glitter backgrounds are typically tiled animated GIF images used as backgrounds for personal profiles on websites. Glitter backgrounds can be created in programs such as Paint Shop Pro, Photoshop, Flash, and other similar graphics and animation software. They take only about thirty minutes or less to create, depending on how many details are added to the background.
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Instructions
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Creating Glitter Backgrounds
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Start with a blank document in your graphic program. The new document should be approximately 200 x 200 pixels with a white background. This will allow for the tiled image to be a decent size, which is important because it is going to be repeating when used as a background image. Do not use a transparent background, as this might cause formatting issues later in the design process.
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Choose a solid background color that is safe for the web. In Photoshop versions CS2 and up, click the "set foreground color" box and then check the box that says "only web safe colors." If you're using other graphics programs, search the web for a web-safe color chart. Find the hexadecimal number that corresponds to the color of your choosing. Copy the hexadecimal number and paste it into the "color picker" box. Use the "paint bucket" tool to fill the entire canvas. Save the document.
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Create a new document that is 100 x 100 pixels with a transparent background. The transparency allows for more flexibility when combining two or more canvases. Use the pen tool or line tool to create a white shape that looks like the north star. Be sure the shape has a white fill and white stroke. The final image will not turn out correctly if this is not done.
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Select the image that looks like the north star and copy it. Paste it onto the document with the solid fill. Resize the image so that it is approximately 1/30th of the entire canvas size. The image can be resized in Photoshop by using Alt + Ctrl + I. In other graphics software, it should be located in the toolbar under "Edit." Copy the resized image and place copies randomly throughout the canvas. The canvas should have plenty of small white stars. Save the document.
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Animations can also be created in Photoshop. Paint Shop Pro should come with a software for animation known as "Jasc Animation Software" or something similar. This example will explain the Photoshop method. On the toolbar go to Window > Animation. Under the canvas there should be a small window that has the animation frames. Click "duplicate selected frame." On the first frame click the black arrow on the bottom. Then select "2.0." This will add a two-second delay. In the second frame move a few of the stars around very slightly, but randomly so that there is a noticeable change. Click "duplicate frame." Select a delay of "1.0." Repeat ten times. Test the animation. Go to "File" and click "Save for web and devices." Choose the "4-Up" tab. Select "GIF." Then click save.
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Tips & Warnings
Sometimes animations might differ from how you originally pictured them. Play with the animation settings until you achieve the desired results.
