Put all the elements together and this is what you get. Almost! There are a few finishing touches that I added to heighten the effect. Select the background elements, (the sky and sun) and convert them to bitmap (Arrange menu, Create Bitmap Copy). Set the Color Depth to 24-bit, and the Resolution (Bitmap Size tab) to 96 dpi for screen resolution or 266 or 300 dpi for commercial printing. Place the bitmap behind the hourglass. Now here's the trick. Make a duplicate of the bitmap and place it in front of the hour glass and other bitmap. Apply a Flat, Stained Glass transparency to the bitmap, amount 70%. This adds a warm orangey glow to everything and creates the illusion of the sky showing through the glass of the hourglass.You might be wondering how the glow of the sun appears through the glass, and who could blame you? It's actually a large light yellow circle, about 200 pixels in diameter, with Circular transparency, type Mix applied. On top of this I placed a 16 pointed star burst made with the Quick Shapes Tool, filled with a pale green to white Circular Fill and with the Alt Rainbow option selected. A Flat transparency, type Mix, amount 20% was added.
And there you have it. Nice way to start the last year of the millennium, don't you think? As always, your comments, questions and complaints are welcome either in the Talk Room, or CLICK HERE to send e-mail direct. Publishers can CLICK HERE to send e-mail to my special publisher's hot line. Wishing all of you a healthy, happy and productive new year.
Your host,
Gary W. Priester
©1999 Gary W. Priester
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