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How to Make a GIF in Photoshop
  • By Design Bundles
  • 12 Mins
  • Photoshop Tutorials

How to Make a GIF in Photoshop

In this tutorial we will walk you through the steps on creating a GIF in Photoshop. By using the timeline window, you can quickly create animations.
For this tutorial, we are using Last Dream which is a layered font, as well as fireworks clipart and a sunset color palette.

Step 1: Create your document


In Photoshop, create a new document. Size it to fit your needs, but keep in mind that if you are going to use it on Instagram, it is better to make it square.
New document in Illustrator
Ours was 15 x 15 cm @300 dpi.
New document in Photoshop

Step 2: Import the color palette


We will be using a color palette. To bring it into Photoshop, click on the small menu on the top right side of the Swatches panel and choose import swatches. Navigate to the location where the color palette file is stored and select it.
Import swatches in Photoshop
Now, it should appear as a folder inside the Swatches panel.
Color palette in Photoshop

Step 3: Add the background color


To unlock the background layer, double-click on top of its thumbnail and click OK on the pop-up window.
Unlock layer in Photoshop
Select one of the colors as foreground and with the Paint bucket tool (G).
Paint bucket in Photoshop
Click on top of the background layer to color it.
Added color in Photoshop
Step 4: Add a decorative clip art element
To add a clip art element to your design, just drag the file onto your canvas, resize it if needed and, click enter (or the small checkmark on the top menu) to commit the changes.
Import smart object in Photoshop

Step 5: Add your text


With the Type tool (T) selected, click on the canvas, choose the font, size, and alignment you prefer (we used Last Dream with an 80 pt size and center alignment).
Add text in Photoshop
If you have one, add the second line of text. We chose to keep our text in separate layers.
Add text in Photoshop
Since our font is layered, we duplicated our text layers (command/control + J).
Duplicate layer in Photoshop
Next we changed the font (Last Dream Extruded) and font color.
Add more text in Photoshop

Step 6: Add the final details and changes to your design


Fix the text


Check if you need to change the placement and/or size of your text.
Free transform in Photoshop
You can use the Free transform tool (T) for that and, click enter (or the small checkmark on the top menu) to commit the changes. We also repositioned the layer so the words and font types are in order.
Commit transform in Photoshop

Fix the graphic elements


To change the color of the clip art element, right-click on top of its thumbnail and choose rasterize layer.
Rasterize layer in Photoshop
Go to Select > Load selection.
Load selection in Photoshop
Choose the correct layer in the pop-up window, and click OK.
Load selection in Photoshop
Go to Select > Modify > Feather and choose a 1 pixel feather radius.
Modify feather in Photoshop
Use whatever tool you prefer (paint bucket, paintbrush, etc.) to recolor the selected element.
Finished text for animation in Photoshop

Step 7: Prepare the frames


Select all the elements you want to include in your frames and group them together by dragging their thumbnails onto the folder icon at the bottom of the Layers panel. Rename the group Frame 1.
Group layers in Photoshop
Create as many duplicates of the frame 1 folder as you may need for the animation (we made 7 copies).
Duplicate groups in Photoshop
Rename them properly.
Rename groups in Photoshop
Now, in each frame folder hide/delete, change, move and/or recolor the elements you want to change during your animation.
Objects in grouped layers in Photoshop
For example, we made the first word (Fonts) appear letter by letter in the first 4 frames.
Show and hide objects in frames in Photoshop
Layers in group in Photoshop
Next, with the second word (Bundles), we first made background text appear in frame 5.
Layers in group in Photoshop
And the foreground text in frame 6.
Hide layers in group in Photoshop
In frame 7, we left all the elements out.
Frames group in Photoshop
And finally, in frame 8 we hid the clip-art.
Frames group in Photoshop
 

Step 8: Create the animation


Go to Window > Timeline.
Timeline panel in Photoshop
When the Timeline panel is open, make sure that the create frame animation is selected in the center button.
Create a frame animation in Photoshop
Reorder the frame folders if needed (frame 1 on top and frame 8 at the bottom). Select your frames and click the create frame animation button.
Change layer order in Photoshop
You will have a small tile in the timeline panel, make sure that just the frame 1 folder is visible (small eye icon). Change the delay value to 0.2 seconds or more (small arrow on the bottom right of the tile). Then, drag the tile to the small square with a + sign to duplicate it and make the frame 2 folder visible this time.
Cgange delay of frame in Photoshop
Repeat this with the rest of the frame folder. You should end up with 8 frame tiles. Remember to change the visibility of the correct folder for each tile.
Frames in Photoshop
If you want (and don’t plan to edit your folder content any further) you can flatten them and then, instead of manually creating the frame tiles, click on the small menu on the right side of the Timeline panel and choose Make frames from layers.
Make frames from layers in Photoshop
 

Step 9: Test the animation


Once you are happy with your frames, click play to test the animation. If you need, make changes and test again.
Play animation in Photoshop
 

Step 10: Save your animation as a GIF


Once you are happy with your animation, go to File > Export > Save for web (legacy). If you have an older version of Photoshop, this option may be found under Save as.
Export in Photoshop
Choose one of the larger GIF settings as the preset and make sure the resulting image won’t be too heavy checking the size on the bottom left side of the window. You can also adjust the image size
GIF settings in Photoshop
If you plan to use the animation in WordPress, remember to make it the exact size you want it to be or you may end up just seeing the first frame.
To share your GIF on Instagram, make sure it is at least five seconds long. If it’s shorter, just make some copies of your animations until you reach the desired length.
Duplicate animation in Photoshop
 

Save as mp4 instead


If your animation ends up being too large for the GIF format you can save it as an mp4 video file. Just go to Export > Render video.
Render video in Photoshop
Adjust the settings and save it.
Save as mp4 in Photoshop
Here’s our GIF.
Animated GIF in Photoshop
To test it, drag it to a browser window and check it out.
If you liked this tutorial, make sure to check out how to content aware crop and how to change the color of an object in Photoshop.

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