Animation??

[Ameila]

I have intalled a program for editing on my computer, called PhotoPlus 06, and im not sure how to do animation. If you could inform me on how to do animation on any editing studio, I would apretiate it. Thank you.

[AR_FiberNeoPirate]

what kind of animation! im not very far but im still learnin myself




(JAG,E.D.M.)


Guide to the Unknown


Tamale

[Ameila]

Im not sure.. lol
See, the stuff on my animation doesn't seem to make much sense..
basicly, how to you animate two photos?

[Dr. Zeppers]

Well, most animated graphics files on websites are either "GIF" or "Compuserve GIF" files. The "GIF" format (created/introduced by Compuserve), can contain multiple 'frames' each with a set of instructions as to how to display itself, how long to display itself, and what to do next.

Havent had a need to make to many animated graphics in some time, so its been awhile, I dont know the more current applications. But im going to check out this PhotoPlus and see if I can help out. Hoping the "PhotoPlus 6.03" I found is the same thing you have.



You mentioned animating two photos. Do you mean just changing back and forth between one and the other?





"How" will vary alot on the application used to create them.

[Ameila]

Well, really I just wanna animate them from one to another now, so , yeah.
I mean I don't really know how to put the two photos to start the animation.. I tried, didn't work.

[Dr. Zeppers]

Before I figure too much, does your application look something like this when you choose option for new animation?

http://pirates.teamofx.us/ss/temp/photoplus.jpg


Want to make sure im looking at the same thing, although it may be a different version of the same thing.

[Ameila]

That is EXACTLY it!

[Dr. Zeppers]

Well im not sure if its the freebie copy I have, but it doesnt seem to have the option to "Export" like the instructions indicates. However, they let me preview it in my browser, and I can right click and save it as a gif that way lol.

You lookin to do something like this? You can control the timing, with different pictures obviously, and this is with 3 pictures alternating.

[Dr. Zeppers]

Click File > New > New Animation

Determine the size, background, etc. Click ok.
This would give you something similar to what I have in the previous interface screenie.

You should have the window showing frame one, and another window with "untitledX" (X being a number).

Use the button with the + sign under the frames to add a second frame (assuming you want 2 pictures/frames), if you want to add more, add more!

Open the other graphics you wish to use for frames, using "File > Open". They will open in other windows in the application.

Select the graphic for the first frame, click edit/copy.
Click back on the "untitledX" window to get back to the animation.
Select the first frame in the window showing frames, and then click the "untitledX" box again.
Click Edit > Paste > As new layer.

Select the graphic for the second frame, click edit/copy.
Click back on the "untitledX" window to get back to the animation.
Select the second frame in the window showing frames, and then click the "untitledX" box again (which now shows the first graphic).
Click Edit > Paste > As new layer.

The second graphic will now appear in the "untitledX" box, but if you look at the frames in the window below, the first frame should still be the first graphic.

You can adjust the time each is displayed by selecting the frame, and setting the "Frame Delay".

The instructions indicate you should click File, and then Export, and use the Export Optimizer to export a GIF file, but I couldnt do that in my version. It DID let me "Preview in browser" which then allowed me to right click the previewed file, and save to my system.

My review of this application would rank it pretty low in animation editing capability (the version I have anyway, which is a freebie and appears to be missing some features). I've seen much easier applications to combine multple images into an animated gif file. Most cost money though, as the "GIF" file itself is specially licensed usually requiring those that author applications that create the format to pay some royalties.

[Dr. Zeppers]

If you want your 2 pictures to appear to morph/change from one to another like Chris's avatar. (I hope he doesnt mind being my example)

Example:

Unless you draw each 'frame' of the transition on your own and put them together (as demonstrated in previous post), you'll require a software that will perform that process (usually called "Morphing") but might be referred to as a transition as well.

I havent done alot with "morphing" so someone would have to pick up on that if possible.

[Ameila]

Thank so so much, but I cannot seem to get it to work..
It won't let me paste pictures..
Maybe I dont fully understand it.

[Dr. Zeppers]

Let me see if I can find you something that will work better/easier.

Although it may be a 'trial' version of some kind.

[AR_FiberNeoPirate]

yayyy im glad someone could help you
lol well, im just gonna go away now....lol



(JAG,E.D.M.)

[Dr. Zeppers]

Well, I sought out the latest and greatest of two GIF animation tools i'd used in the past.

So far we had this from PhotoPlus:




Now some other applications......

Gif Construction Set Pro
Ulead GIF Animator

Both are trial copies, dont know what happens when they 'expire' but appear to be 100% functional (other than Ulead crashed) in the meantime.

Gif Construction Set Pro was easiest for me to get going with, however it is a bit more basic than the Ulead application. Within 15 minutes I had the following (compare to the above) using its built in "Transition" function (it generated the transition frames for me). However building a graphic like the one before would have even been simpler.



Ulead GIF ANimator - I was able to something similar in the Ulead program in about the same time using a function called "tween" (which Im familiar with from Flash), however it locked up on save.. (a sign? I dont know.. I gave up..) The Ulead application appears to have alot more functionality in it overall. It blew up on me though, so I dont know could be my system which is running multiple applications. It worked fine until I attempted to save my work.

Both products have fairly easy to use animation wizards to quickly put together basic animations like the first one I posted here.

I am in no way affiliated with any of the aforementioned products, just an old pirate thats been creating my own web content for 13 years.

There has to be some other graphics geeks out there, what tools do ya'll use?

[Ameila]

Thank you so much!
Are they free, or do ye have to pay?