Photoshop

Timeline animation workflow (Photoshop Extended)

To animate layer content in timeline mode (rather than frame mode), you set keyframes in the Animation palette, as you move the current-time indicator to a different time/frame, and then modify the position, opacity, or style of the layer content. Photoshop automatically adds or modifies a series of frames between two existing frames—varying the layer properties (position, opacity, and styles) evenly between the new frames to create the appearance of movement or transformation.

For example, if you want to fade out a layer, set the opacity of the layer in the starting frame to 100% and in the Animation palette, click the Opacity stopwatch for the layer. Then move the current-time indicator to the time/frame for the ending frame and set the opacity for the same layer to 0%. Photoshop Extended automatically interpolates frames between the start and end frames, and the opacity of the layer is reduced evenly across the new frames.

In addition to letting Photoshop interpolate frames in an animation, you can also create a hand-drawn frame-by-frame animation by painting on a blank video layer.

If you want to create a SWF format animation, use Adobe Flash, Adobe After Effects, or Adobe Illustrator.

To create a timeline-based animation in Photoshop Extended, use the following general workflow.

1. Create a new document.

Specify the size and background contents. Make sure the pixel aspect ratio and dimensions are appropriate for the output of your animation. The color mode should be RGB. Unless you have special reasons for making changes, leave the resolution at 72 pixels/inch, the bit depth at 8 bpc, and the pixel aspect ratio at square.

2. Specify the document timeline settings in the Animation palette menu.

Specify the duration and frame rate. See Specify timeline duration and frame rate (Photoshop Extended).

3. Add a layer.

Add any of the following:

  • A new layer for adding content.

  • A new video layer for adding video content.

  • A new blank video layer for cloning content to or creating hand-drawn animations.

4. Add content to the layer.

5. (Optional) Add a layer mask.

A layer mask can be used to reveal only a portion of the layer’s content. You can animate the layer mask to reveal different portions of the layer’s content over time. See Add layer masks.

6. Move the current time indicator to the time or frame where you want to set the first keyframe.

See Use keyframes to animate layer properties (Photoshop Extended).

7. Turn on keyframing for a layer property.

Click the triangle next to the layer name. A down-pointing triangle displays the layer’s properties. Then, click the Time‑Vary Stopwatch to set the first keyframe for the layer property you want to animate. You can set keyframes for more than one layer property at a time.

8. Move the current time indicator and change a layer property.

Move the current time indicator to the time or frame where the layer’s property changes. You can do one or more of the following:

  • Change the position of the layer to make layer content move.

  • Change layer opacity to make content fade in or out.

  • Change the position of a layer mask to reveal different parts of the layer.

  • Turn a layer mask on or off.

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.

Note: To animate shapes, you animate the vector mask not the shape layer, using the Time‑Vary Stopwatch for Vector Mask Position or Vector Mask Enable.

9. Add additional layers with content and edit their layer properties as needed.

10. Move or trim the layer duration bar to specify when a layer appears in an animation.

See Specify when a layer appears in a video or animation (Photoshop Extended) and Set a work area (Photoshop Extended).

11. 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. You can also preview the animation in the Save For Web & Devices dialog box. See Previewing video or timeline animations (Photoshop Extended).

12. Save the animation.

You can save the animation as an animated GIF using the Save For Web & Devices command, or as an image sequence or video using the Render Video command. You can also save it in PSD format, which can be imported into Adobe After Effects.