Champion : unit 9

Frame by Frame

In this technique we are using Photoshop, but instead of animating using the layers and tweening, we are going to make a simple frame by frame animation. Those what made the gif animation will find this very similar.

!MAKE SURE YOU SAVE YOUR WORK EVERY FEW MINUTES!

1. Set up the Photoshop file as below.

Set up file correctly

2. Open the Timeline panel from the Window menu and open the Layers Panel.

3. On the Timeline Panel click the Create Frame Animation option.

4. The Timeline should look like the picture below. There is one frame on the Timeline. Note the 0 sec. and arrow at the bottom of the frame.

Frame Timeline

5. One the page, draw a simple stick figure.

6. On the Layers Panel, select the Make New Layer icon to make a new layer. It is at the bottom left of the Panel next to the Trash Can.

7. On Layer 2, draw over the figure you drew on Layer 1, but NOT the arms and legs. Draw the arms a little higher and the legs a little higher. It looks a little odd, but you are seeing through the top layer to the bottom. I should look something like the one below.

Two layers with the eye turned off on layer 1

!!!Check your drawings different and you have not drawn two sets of legs or arms!!!

Timeline Panel Drop down menu

9. On the Timeline select the menu on the top right. The picture above shows it surrounded by red.
Click and select Make Frames From Layers.

Make frames from layers

10. Look at the Timeline and play the animation. There are only 2 frames so it is very quick at the moment. Stop the animation.

We are going to improve it now. You need to click on the frames to make them active. ALSO click on the corresponding layer on the Layer panel.

11. Click on Frame 1 of the Timeline AND layer 1 on the Layers panel and slightly move the figure down to the bottom of the frame.

12. Click on Frame 2 of the Timeline AND layer 2 on the Layers Panel and move the figure up to the top of the frame.

Figure moved down

Figure moved up

LET'S ADD MORE FRAMES!
1a. Select both frames. Go to the menu at the right of the Timeline (the one circled in red you used before) and select Select All Frames.