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1. Re: Gifs<layers
Silkrooster Jan 3, 2013 8:56 PM (in response to Hipsta_Please)whether you save as a gif or psd, depends one what you want to do with it. However I do recommend that you keep a copy as a psd file in case you want to edit it later. Much easier to edit.
To make a gif animate,
{assuming you are using frame mode not timline mode} you must transfer the layers to the animation panel ( upper right hand corner of animation panel - click that icon then select make frames from layers.
Then use save to web or devices.
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2. Re: Gifs<layers
Hipsta_Please Jan 5, 2013 1:50 PM (in response to Silkrooster)thank you
the 'make frames from layers' is not able to be clicked though. I'm not exactly sure why.
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3. Re: Gifs<layers
Silkrooster Jan 5, 2013 9:09 PM (in response to Hipsta_Please)If your version is one of the newer versions CS5 maybe CS4 and higher then it has a timeline mode besides the frame mode. The animation panel must be in frame mode for the make from layers option to work.
Reason is the timeline mode does not require it. In timeline mode each layer consists of a single object, whereas in frame mode eash layer consists of a frame.
Therefore the latter can contain several layers containing the same object with some attribute slightly changed. For example it position could be slightly different in each layer.
Whereas the former the movement for example can be set via time using keyframes on the timeline, by moving the object and applying the keyframe sets that location for that specific time. This is also how AfterEffects and Premeire Pro both alter object properties via a timeline and keyframes.
Example:
Lets say you have an icon that you want to fade out that is on top of a background layer.
In timeline mode: At the start of the timeline you set a keyframe for the opacity, then move the timeline head to how far in time you want the change to occur. Change the opacity of that layer to 0 and set new keyframe.
In frame mode: (Option 1) Create a layer, add icon at 100%, create a new layer add icon at 90%, etc. until icon is at 0%, then make frames from layers.
(Option 2) use tweening which allows photoshop to create the inbetween frames for you, which means you need a frame at 100% and another at 0% and photoshop does the tweening.
Finally select all frames in the animation panel and adjust the frame rate until it looks like its the right speeds.
Timeline mode is the example needs 2 layers 1 for the object and 1 for the background
Frame mode require anywhere from 3 layers using tweening to 11 layers with option1.
That being said not all properties can be set via keyframes and frame mode can take up creation time.
In the end it up to you to decide what is best for that project and should you switch between the two modes in the middle of the project and if you do what are the consequences.
And if you have a version that is older that only supports frame mode, then all the above that has to do with timelines is moot.

