Thread: How to Build Animated Avatars in Photoshop using CS2 or above

Creative Tip: Build Animated GIFs in Photoshop.


If you’ve ever wondered how to create animated GIFs in Photoshop, we’ve created a simple tutorial with some example files you can download and try out.


A Simple Example

For a quick hands-on tutorial on creating animated GIFs in Adobe Photoshop, we’ll walk you through creating the following animation:

This simple animation combines the two most common animation techniques in Photoshop: Turning layers off and on, and using the Tween command to animate the movement of an object on a layer.
Step 1: Set up your layers.


The first step in creating any animation in Photoshop is to build a layered Photoshop file with all the elements you plan to animate. Our example document has 7 layers containing the text for our countdown, and layers for the rocket and flame.
You can download our example Photoshop file here:
ExampleAnimation.psd
Step 2: Create Animation Frames with Layer Visibility.


Chose Windows > Animation to show Photoshop’s animation palette.
On the first frame, turn off visibility for all layers you do not want visible at the start of your animation. Then add one frame at a time, and turn on the layers you want visible for each step in the animation.
Changing layer visibility one frame at a time is a classic Photoshop animation technique that covers a wide variety of needs.
In our example, continue this pattern to reveal the countdown and the flame at the bottom of our rocket.
Step 3: Create Animation Frames using Tween.




Now that the countdown is complete, we need to create the illusion that our rocket ship is taking off. Add one more frame, and this time select the group called “Rocket” in layers and move your rocket off the top of your image window.
Then choose “Tween…” from the Animation palette’s pop-out menu.

Set how many frames to add, and Photoshop spreads the movement of your layer across those extra frames.
Step 4: Adjust your Timing.


Finally, go back through and adjust the delay for each frame of your animation. That time is shown in seconds below each frame.
Tip: You can hold down the Shift-key to select a range of frames (such as the 9 frames we added for the rocket’s takeoff) and change them together.
Step 5: Export the Animated GIF.

Finally, to export your animated GIF choose:
In Photoshop CS3: File > Save For Web & Devices…
In Earlier Photoshops: File > Save For Web…

Make sure the image type is set to GIF, feel free to experiment with some of the other options, and save your file.
To test your resulting animated GIF, drag the file onto you web browser.
As a final reference, you can download our finished Photoshop file here:
ExampleAnimation-Final.psd

Keep in mind, most sites have specific guidelines on the max amount of pixels and the file size. TI's limit for avatars is 80X80 pixels or 19.5kb.(whichever is smaller).Also, if you need to add something to your file from the newest layer, it changes position of added item in all the other frames. You have to delete all frames but the first one, and clone it from there. That should keep the frame position where you want it in all the other frames. Good luck. I found this article in my travels at a site called "CreativeTechs" and posted it here. I hope it helps somebody.

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