Experience of making GIF animation with photoshop time axis

Source: Internet
Author: User
To the users of Photoshop software to elaborate on the timeline to make GIF animation experience.
Experience:
In general, making an animation does not select a pixel layer because its action attributes are too small to be manipulated, as we do when designing the UI without directly drawing in pixels. If we need to make an animation that includes rotation or scaling, we can only convert the layer to a smart object, and the text layer is an exception (but not absolute) because it already has a transformed action attribute, but simply changing the color or moving the position directly with the shape layer.

The PS timeline does not have a motion trajectory like Flash, but its movement is also a regular, that is, follow the recent principles, such as we do a rotating animation, the first frame of the angle of 0°, the next frame of the angle of 360 °, in fact it or 0°, also will not produce animation; The angle of the first frame is 0°, the angle of the next frame rotates 270 °, and the resulting animation is inverted 90°, so we need to add more keyframes between the start and end frames if necessary. Color changes are more so.

Copy and paste of key frames
Most of the time we do the animation is circular, so at the start frame (first frame) and end frame (last frame) are the same, so we first copy the first frame and then drag the timeline to the last and paste. Operation: Right click to copy the key frame → Drag the timeline to the desired location → Right click on any key frame → paste (warm tip: This will again generate a new keyframe at the point where you drag the timeline, instead of replacing the keyframe you are currently right-clicking on, unless the timeline is just on this keyframe.
Layer Copy with animation
We all know that a quick copy of a layer is simply by pressing CTRL+J, which cannot copy its animation to the timeline, which means that the action properties on the timeline cannot be copied (the copy group can copy its animation to the timeline). Another operation is to press ALT + mouse movement on the current layer, you can copy the action properties on the timeline, and even if you copy the layer after the mouse to move to any position, again back to the timeline panel to drag the timeline it is still the original position, in fact, this is a benign bug ( Warm tip: If you do not drag the timeline to export the animation directly, there is a frame position is where you drag.

Make a sort of a swish animation
First of all, the analysis of animation by the ring from a small size and slowly disappear, if we directly in the circle minus the way to make the ring, then the width of the ring can not be consistent, so the layer style method, operation: With the shape tool to draw a large enough circle (why big enough?) A few years ago, I had a rough idea of layer styles and smart objects, here again, is the current shape size into a smart object, it is the largest shape is currently fixed, if converted to smart objects and then magnified, it will be distorted, so it is better to draw a bit larger, converted smart objects after shrinking again will not be distorted, The picture is more so) → convert to smart object and then shrink it → fill its layer with 0→ add layer style → stroke.
Next go to the timeline to make the animation. The circle occurs by scaling the action properties that belong to the transform, so open the keyframe switch next to the transform, and then drag the timeline to the specified position to enlarge the circle again. The ring also has the vanishing movement, then opens the key frame switch next to the transparency, sets the opening frame the transparency to 100, the end frame transparency is 0, a circle movement already completes. We need a lot of rings to follow the rhythm, so according to the above animation of the layer copy, ALT + mouse movement (copy n), generate the same action, and then adjust each Layer animation preview position staggered time followed by rhythm, animation production finished.

You can also use it in other animations.

Making Fuzzy animation
If PS can have a filter animation like Flash, that's something to be happy about, it's a pity PS is PS, it makes the function of animation can not be compared with professional animation tools, and I wrote this article is not to do professional animation, because it has been shown is easy to make a simple GIF animation. But to say is simple, also need practical only, this is still in line with my three basic principles of writing tutorials, simple, practical, original. All right, it's X again.
Create a new text layer and blur it, ctrl+j copy a layer, and it's estimated that everyone here already knows what to do. Let the text fade from Blur, convert one of the layers into a smart object and add its Gaussian blur filter (which is why the text layer does not have to convert the smart object, if necessary). Then start the frame transparency setting 100, end frame setting 0, another layer start frame transparency setting 0, end frame setting 100, parameter in turn set is not blur become blurred, finished. The picture blurs the same way.

Make a rotating clock
I still have to spit. PS Animation No trajectory is really a pity, this makes many animation needs skills, if there is really no way to do the action suggested or use professional tools. But a lot of action can be done, and more movements are related to the rotation, such as the swinging hands and feet, the rotation of the clock.
It is worth noting that when we ctrl+t change the center point of the graph, only in the current operation, and the next time ctrl+t again, the center point position will return to the original central position. And the rotation is related to this center point. Since the center point cannot be animated with ctrl+t changes, we need to use the technique. Because the center point is fixed in the center of the vertical image, if it is only rotated on the current graph, it must not be the animation we want, so we need to add additional content padding.
Take the clock for example, rotate the pointer around the center of the clock: Draw a pointer with the shape tool → convert its pointer to a smart object → Double-click the Smart object to resize the canvas's height/width size 200% (the parameters are set depending on the center point you want to convert to the Smart object), OK, and then press CTRL+T, We can see the center point or in the middle position, just add the extra content hidden.

Next is to rotate the pointer, go to the time axis panel, open the transformation of the key frame switch, the above has said that the motion law is following the recent principle, so each frame rotation amplitude not more than 180 °, otherwise will not rotate clockwise.

Making changes to the moon
The previous action attribute, which has no description of the layer mask position, is now finally in use.
Draw a positive circle with the shape tool, add a layer style, add a layer mask and pull a black and white gradient, and this time the action properties of the timeline have changed, with the layer mask position and layer mask enabled. Click to cancel the link between the layer and the layer mask

(otherwise will move together), return to the timeline, open the key frame switch of the layer mask position, drag the timeline to the specified position, go back to the Layers panel, press ALT + click the layer mask

Go to the preview and move the gradient position with the move tool

Press ALT + click on the layer mask to return to the screen, the change of the moon finished. Next you can add a moving action in the vector mask position, open the key frame switch of the move mask position → Drag the timeline to the specified position → Drag the layer to the specified position, the moon's movement is finished. Finally, you can add the layer style of action, the entire animation production finished.

Well, the above information is small compiled for you photoshop This software users of the detailed timeline to produce GIF animation experience sharing all the content, you see the users here, small knitting believe you now very clear, hope to bring you useful help.

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