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What are the basic steps in making GIF image in photoshop?

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This thread covers making both static and animated GIFs. Early decisions that drive final quality and file size are the pixel dimensions, how much of the image will move, frame count/timing, and an acceptable filesize target. As noted, set the canvas to the final display dimensions and work in pixels (not inches) when preparing images for the web.

  • Minimize the animated area: crop or export only the region that moves so frames are much smaller.
  • Animate deltas: keep a static background and change only moving elements; that lowers per-frame data and output size.
  • Palette and dithering: build a palette suited to the artwork. A single global palette usually keeps colors consistent across frames; adjust dithering to trade smooth gradients for smaller files.
  • Transparency caution: GIF supports only binary (on/off) transparency; antialiased edges can show halos. Either matte to the page background or use a format with full alpha if smooth edges are needed.
  • Trim frames and lower FPS: shorter loops and fewer frames reduce size dramatically. For simple loops, roughly 8–12 fps often looks fine.
  • Post-export optimization: command-line or batch tools (Gifsicle, ImageMagick) and online optimizers can recompress palettes and strip metadata without re-editing sources.

Photoshop, Fireworks and video-to-GIF converters were all mentioned in the thread (, , ). After exporting, check frame disposal and loop-count settings to control playback and sometimes save bytes. For photo-like, long or high-color animations consider animated WebP/APNG or short WebM/MP4 for much better compression and color; keep a GIF fallback only if legacy client support is required. Quick troubleshooting: color shifts — rebuild a custom palette and retest dithering; file still large — crop, remove redundant frames, or reduce FPS; transparency halos — add a matte or use a format with full alpha.

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Member Avatar for HI2Japan

If you want to save things in a GIF format, do File --> Save For Web then choose one of the GIF settings. That is the best way if you ware planning on putting it online because it will remove all extraneous information that is not necessary to allow the picture to display.

If you want to work in a GIF format while within Photoshop, you need to change the color mode (Image --> Mode) to Indexed Color. Remember GIFs can only have 256 colors.

Member Avatar for Jen0608

use the animation feature in photoshop by dragging the layers onto the animation bar. Choose the transition speed and save it using "Save For Web" under Files tab.

Member Avatar for christumaini

if you come across macromedia fireworks it is more easy
what you need to consider is whether you want to create:
1.animated gif(a picture with animation)
2. normal gif

for normal gif you have to open /create the picture then yo go to FIle-save as-(select gif) -save

for animated gif
you are supporsed to have more than one picture(eg 3 pictures)
then open all pictures with fireworks
then select the first picture then go to frame, then select duplicate the frame
and u will be given the option to add number of frames you need
example 3 then click ok
then the picture will have 3 frames
then u just copy and paste the other immages in those newer frames by selecting the frame then you add the picture
then you have to set time for each frame(it is allocated beside frame number)
then you have to follow the steps
file-save as - animated gif -ok

for more clarifications you can contact me via <EMAIL SNIPPED>

g.day!!

Member Avatar for shadowrun

photoshop difficult program, maybe u try more gently soft? I use Video Avatar tool for creating GIF from any video file.

Member Avatar for infotechland

I've tried messing around with photoshop, although, i find fireworks does what I need it too, and is much easier to use. Its like 400 I think for CS4.

Member Avatar for jbennet

Do you mean an animated GIF?

Member Avatar for bharanidharanit

Do you mean an animated GIF?

Yes sir,
Gif and also animated gif. What size to be initialized before starting up. That is image size, canvas size etc?

Member Avatar for MidiMagic

Yes sir,
Gif and also animated gif. What size to be initialized before starting up. That is image size, canvas size etc?

This is the size of the finished image you want. If you want a 2" by 2" image, then initialize it for that size.

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