Creating an animation

An animation is a sequence of images, or frames, that is displayed over time. Each frame varies slightly from the preceding frame, creating the illusion of movement when the frames are viewed in quick succession.



You use the Animation palette and the Layers palette to create animation frames. In ImageReady you can also use the Web Content palette to add an animation to a rollover state. Each frame represents a configuration of layers in the Layers palette.

1. Add a frame to the animation palette.
   
   
2. Select a frame and edit the layers for that frame.
   You can do any of the following:
   • Turn visibility on and off for different layers
   • Change the position of layers to make layer content move
   • Change layer opacity to make content fade in or out
   • Change the blending mode of layers
   • Add a style to layers
   
   For some types of animation, such as changing the color of an object, or completely changing the content in a frame, you need additional layers with the new content.
   
   Photoshop and ImageReady also provide tools for keeping characteristics of a layer the same across frames. See To unify layers for rollovers and animations.
   
   
3. Edit layers for additional frames as needed.
   The number of frames you can create is limited only by the amount of system memory available to Photoshop or ImageReady. You can generate new frames with intermediate changes between two existing frames in the palette using the Tween command. This is a quick way to make an object move across the screen or to fade out an object.
   
   
4. Set frame delay and looping options.
   You can assign a delay time to each frame and specify looping so that the animation runs continuously.
   
   
5. Preview the animation.
   Use the controls in the animation palette to play the animation as you create it. Then preview the animation in your web browser. In Photoshop, use Save For Web to preview in a web browser.
   
   
6. Optimize the animation for efficient download.
   
   
7. Save the animation.
   You can save the animation as an animated GIF. In Photoshop, use Save For Web. In ImageReady you can also save it in the SWF format. See Saving files in SWF format (ImageReady). You can also save the animation in Photoshop format so you can rework the animation later.