Buzz
October 3rd, 2000, 06:41 AM
Someone asked me a question about how to create animations with Photoshop and where to begin learning the application. Well I typed this way long reply and want to get full use of it. So just in case there is anyone out there just learning Photoshop and doesn't knw where to start I thought this might add a bit of insight.
—————————————————————
Check out www.adobe.com (http://www.adobe.com) browse their support pages.. they even have a discussion forum open to the public for help — "User to User" forums. They also have a "Tip" section that will offer free tips and walkthroughs about how to do stuff. Another option is you may want to spend a couple bucks at a local bookstore for a book. The Photoshop Bible is a good one that comes to mind. ($40-$50 I think). I've been using Photoshop for over 8 years for both print and web design and I still feel as though there is tons more to learn about it. Try not to feel to overwhelmed by it though. Once you get the hang of things it becomes fairly intuitive. Photoshop is by far the most complex and versatile program I've ever seen. Anything you want to do is possible with Photoshop and you can do it at least 3 different ways and get the same results.Once you get familiar with it you will be amazed at how you ever got along without it. And you'll be able to dump all those little gif and photo apps that just won't do exactly what you want.
The animation for gifs is done in ImageReady..... In the same folder as Photoshop. ImageReady operates almost exactly like Photoshop except it has an animation pallette for animating and for creating rollovers and slicing up images for the web. Imageready is pretty much the web side of Photoshop 5.5. Basically I work in Photoshop and then jump to ImageReady when I'm ready to finish an animation for the web. Don't worry about Imageready until you are ready to make things move. Do your creating and editing in Photoshop.
Set up frames for your animation in Photoshop.... Get to know the layers pallette (Window > Show Layers). That pallette will be more benficial than any other. Basically all you do is create a layer for every frame you want in your animation. Think of layers like sheets of tracing paper. Whatever you put on a layer will not affect another layer unless you specifically tell it to do so. So you can use the layers to experiment without messing up anything you've already done. Create new layers by clicking the little icon at the bottom of layers pallette that looks like a piece of paper.
Try something simple first. Walk through a couple of the tips at adobe.com, they will take you through things step by step and you'll get a better feeling for Photoshop.
———————————————
Did I leave any thing out? Is there another question someone might have? Just let me know, I'll be happy to help in any way I can.
————
Buzz
—————————————————————
Check out www.adobe.com (http://www.adobe.com) browse their support pages.. they even have a discussion forum open to the public for help — "User to User" forums. They also have a "Tip" section that will offer free tips and walkthroughs about how to do stuff. Another option is you may want to spend a couple bucks at a local bookstore for a book. The Photoshop Bible is a good one that comes to mind. ($40-$50 I think). I've been using Photoshop for over 8 years for both print and web design and I still feel as though there is tons more to learn about it. Try not to feel to overwhelmed by it though. Once you get the hang of things it becomes fairly intuitive. Photoshop is by far the most complex and versatile program I've ever seen. Anything you want to do is possible with Photoshop and you can do it at least 3 different ways and get the same results.Once you get familiar with it you will be amazed at how you ever got along without it. And you'll be able to dump all those little gif and photo apps that just won't do exactly what you want.
The animation for gifs is done in ImageReady..... In the same folder as Photoshop. ImageReady operates almost exactly like Photoshop except it has an animation pallette for animating and for creating rollovers and slicing up images for the web. Imageready is pretty much the web side of Photoshop 5.5. Basically I work in Photoshop and then jump to ImageReady when I'm ready to finish an animation for the web. Don't worry about Imageready until you are ready to make things move. Do your creating and editing in Photoshop.
Set up frames for your animation in Photoshop.... Get to know the layers pallette (Window > Show Layers). That pallette will be more benficial than any other. Basically all you do is create a layer for every frame you want in your animation. Think of layers like sheets of tracing paper. Whatever you put on a layer will not affect another layer unless you specifically tell it to do so. So you can use the layers to experiment without messing up anything you've already done. Create new layers by clicking the little icon at the bottom of layers pallette that looks like a piece of paper.
Try something simple first. Walk through a couple of the tips at adobe.com, they will take you through things step by step and you'll get a better feeling for Photoshop.
———————————————
Did I leave any thing out? Is there another question someone might have? Just let me know, I'll be happy to help in any way I can.
————
Buzz