Create 10 GIFs in photoshop
Budget: $10 – $30 USD
1. Select/download source image to open in PS. Choose an image that you can separate the subject from the background or you can use separate images for your subject and background.
*You need at the minimum a background (a place for the action to happen) and a subject (to do the action).
2. Create a new project in PS. 5 inches by 5 inches and 150 dpi for sharing on social media, but you are welcome to deviate.
3. Set the PS workspace profile to MOTION in the top right corner–(by default it is set to ESSENTIALS).
4. The animation window will appear at the bottom of the workspace and with it a button in the center that says either
"Create Frame Animation” or "Create Video” be sure to choose "Create Frame Animation” (the text for this is the button to create it).
5. Place an image to manipulate in your project. Isolate the part(s) of the image that you want to work with and separate them from the source image.
6. Depending on the type of animation you are attempting, position your subject at a starting point in the composition.
7. With the Move Tool, you can option-click and drag out copies of your original subject to arrange a path of movement for the main part of your animation.
More images spaced closer together = smoother sense of movement.
Fewer copies further apart = quicker and jerkier sense of movement.
As you make copies you can also transform each layer (resize, change orientation, rotate, etc).
*Arrange your layers in sequence FIRST, before you convert layers to frame animation.
8. When you have your layers arranged in sequence, click the icon in the top right hand side of the animation window at the bottom of the screen and choose "make frames from layers.”
***This by default will also make a frame from the background. Delete this frame by dragging it to the trash can icon in the animation window. Notice that the background is still in the layers panel.
Now click on the first frame of your animation, hold down the shift key and then click the last frame to select all of the frames (the whole sequence will be highlighted).
With all frames selected, move to the layer window and click the visibility icon (? ) for the background. This will make the background visible in all frames.
Set the loop control in the animation window to "Forever ” and push the spacebar to play the animation.
Make adjustments as needed. If you need to make significant changes it is often more straightforward to delete all of your frames (it will automatically save one frame and this is okay) and then re-adjust your layers and use the “Make Frames from Layers” command again.
9. Save as an animated GIF by going to FILE and then choose EXPORT>SAVE FOR WEB (LEGACY).
In the menu that opens make sure that GIF is the file format selected (not PNG, JPEG, or WBMP).
*MAKE SURE THE SIZE OF THE GIF IS LESS THAN 15MB
*You need at the minimum a background (a place for the action to happen) and a subject (to do the action).
2. Create a new project in PS. 5 inches by 5 inches and 150 dpi for sharing on social media, but you are welcome to deviate.
3. Set the PS workspace profile to MOTION in the top right corner–(by default it is set to ESSENTIALS).
4. The animation window will appear at the bottom of the workspace and with it a button in the center that says either
"Create Frame Animation” or "Create Video” be sure to choose "Create Frame Animation” (the text for this is the button to create it).
5. Place an image to manipulate in your project. Isolate the part(s) of the image that you want to work with and separate them from the source image.
6. Depending on the type of animation you are attempting, position your subject at a starting point in the composition.
7. With the Move Tool, you can option-click and drag out copies of your original subject to arrange a path of movement for the main part of your animation.
More images spaced closer together = smoother sense of movement.
Fewer copies further apart = quicker and jerkier sense of movement.
As you make copies you can also transform each layer (resize, change orientation, rotate, etc).
*Arrange your layers in sequence FIRST, before you convert layers to frame animation.
8. When you have your layers arranged in sequence, click the icon in the top right hand side of the animation window at the bottom of the screen and choose "make frames from layers.”
***This by default will also make a frame from the background. Delete this frame by dragging it to the trash can icon in the animation window. Notice that the background is still in the layers panel.
Now click on the first frame of your animation, hold down the shift key and then click the last frame to select all of the frames (the whole sequence will be highlighted).
With all frames selected, move to the layer window and click the visibility icon (? ) for the background. This will make the background visible in all frames.
Set the loop control in the animation window to "Forever ” and push the spacebar to play the animation.
Make adjustments as needed. If you need to make significant changes it is often more straightforward to delete all of your frames (it will automatically save one frame and this is okay) and then re-adjust your layers and use the “Make Frames from Layers” command again.
9. Save as an animated GIF by going to FILE and then choose EXPORT>SAVE FOR WEB (LEGACY).
In the menu that opens make sure that GIF is the file format selected (not PNG, JPEG, or WBMP).
*MAKE SURE THE SIZE OF THE GIF IS LESS THAN 15MB