Photoshop Tutorials

Animations

Presented By: VectorToons.com

MAKING ANIMATIONS IN ADOBE PHOTOSHOP

What are Animations?

Animations are text/images combinations that are sequenced and grouped together to
form a moving frame creating motion. Adobe Photoshop has a feature wherein you can
create your own moving frames and make animations. In this tutorial, we will go through
a step-by-step guide on how to make a basic and simple animation using text and
images.
Note that Photoshop versions prior to CS3 do not have this animation feature.

Basic Animation Step-by-Step Guide

1. Create a new document by clicking on File->New or press (command+N) and supply
all necessary details for your image size on the pop up screen. In this sample, we are
using 1000 x 652 pixels with a 300 resolution. Hit OK.

2. Click on Window->Animation to activate the animation panel.

3. In the new document youve created, type in the text that you want and customize the font
and size according to your liking.

4. 4. To put color into our text, we have to rasterize it by clicking on Layer->Rasterize->Type. You
can now color and design individual letters to your preference by using the paint bucket tool.

5. For us to animate the letters properly, we have use the lasso tool to cut each letter to
its own layer. Simply highlight the rasterized layer as you cut every single letter using
the lasso tool.
Make sure that the
Feather rate is at 0
px.
Then press
Command+J to cut
and create a new
layer from the lasso
cutout letter.

Repeat the lasso cut

steps for each letter.

6. After cutting and creating a new layer for each letter, we will now place an image on top
of the text layers. Simply open any photo you like and drag it to your document. Resize
accordingly. We are using this Grinning Gold Star Cartoon vector from vectortoons.com

7. Hide the original rasterized text layer, then click your top layer and take a quick
composite snapshot of it by hitting Command+Shift+Option+E (this will create a new
layer called Layer 1 - your first frame).

8. Hide Layer 1 and select the move tool. Now you will have to move each letter layer to
a new position. Once youve moved the letter layers a bit to a new angle/position,
highlight the topmost letter layer again then take a composite snapshot by hitting
Command+Shift+Option+E. Repeat process until you reach your desired number of
frames/layers. In this sample, we will be using up to 5 layers/frames.

!
9. Make all layers visible again.

10. In the Animation Panel, you will notice that theres already a layer (this is Layer 1).

11. On the Animation Panel drop down menu, select New Frame.

We would now have to hide Layer 1 from the layers panel.

!
12. Repeat step 11. Only this time selecting New Frame will place the now visible Layer 2 as a
new frame on the animation panel. Repeat this step until youve added all 5 layers into the
Animation Panel.
13. Select All Frames in the Animation Panel and change the time/duration. In this sample, we are
assigning a duration of 0.20 seconds per frame and the loop option to Forever.

14.Test your animation by clicking on the PLAY button.

15.Once satisfied, you can now save your file as a GIF. To do so, just click on File -> Save
for Web & Devices. Select GIF and check the settings in the save panel and once
youre ok with it, hit Save.

16.Choose the folder youd like to save your animated GIF in. Type a file name, then click
Save again.

!
17. Thats it! Your Animation is now saved in the folder of your choice as a GIF file.

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