How to create a GIF animation with photoshop?

Malte279 · **on:** August 24, 2009, 07:08:15 PM

I meant to post the next part about the journey to Scandinavia today, but my total failure at attempting to create a GIF animation with some of the images taken during the journey. Using Photoshop and having the images in different layers on a single file I am utterly at a loss on how to make any but the last image appear in the animation window. The "Help" on Photoshop respectively Image Ready which I also tried was not exactly helping either telling only that one should use the "layer palette" to change the content of a frame, but no matter what I did (drag and drop, CTRL C + CTRL V included) to the layer palette or the animation window all I ever got was a long row of the same image in the animation window. I checked out google for solutions too of course but none of the pages I ended up with told me what I need to do to have the other images appear in the animation window. Can one of our animators tell me what to do?

landbeforetimelover · **Reply #1 on:** August 24, 2009, 07:14:04 PM

I don't make GIF images from scratch using Photoshop. I edit GIF images all the time using image ready, but as for making them from scratch I use a program called "Easy GIF Animator". It just compiles the pictures and allows you to choose advanced options and finally export a perfect GIF image. Then I can compress it significantly with Image Ready CS2. I personally use Photoshop CS4 for all my still image editing needs.

Mumbling · **Reply #2 on:** August 25, 2009, 12:54:20 AM

Photoshop is not the perfect program for GIF animations. It will take a very long time from my experience.

I think you'd better use a program as said by austin

landbeforetimelover · **Reply #3 on:** August 25, 2009, 01:06:08 AM

I remember trying to make a GIF in photoshop and thinking "this is just ridiculous when you can have a nice custom GIF done in mere seconds with Easy GIF Animator!"

I've never successfully created a moving GIF image in photoshop. I use photoshop to edit still images and such. Nothing more.

Mumbling · **Reply #4 on:** August 25, 2009, 01:49:46 AM

I made a gif in photoshop. My deviantart avatar which was in my signature for a long time. It's just buneary blinking but it's quite hard! It took me at least half an hour

Malte279 · **Reply #5 on:** August 25, 2009, 05:12:32 AM

Is there any program (preferably freeware) which you can recommend me?

landbeforetimelover · **Reply #6 on:** August 25, 2009, 05:38:15 AM

There are a couple of freeware applications but they're just not advanced enough to do much of anything. Easy GIF Animator is just so easy and has so many advanced options while being simple to use at the same time. I really can't recommend any freeware GIF making software.

Malte279 · **Reply #7 on:** August 25, 2009, 02:22:40 PM

Thank you Iris for the youtube video you send me. The program Animake worked out quite well

Mumbling · **Reply #8 on:** August 25, 2009, 02:55:45 PM

Not a problem.

Wasn't my video but I guess I could always give it a shot.