Animating in Photoshop

January 14, 2013

Supa Mario!

Use the Mario files at the bottom of the page to get Mario through level 1-1!

• NOTE: Once you open the World 1-1 image, you need to go to Image --> Mode, and change the mode from 'Index' to 'RGB Color.'
• Next, make a blank photoshop document that is 1280x720 pixels, 72 ppi, RGB color.
• Copy and paste the level into this new document, and drag it until the left side (beginning of the level) is what you see on the canvas.
• Use a selection tool to select and duplicate Mario into his own layer.
• Get Mario through the level using your position animation capabilities by doing the following:
  • Move the canvas behind mario to simulate movement, while only moving Mario up and down when he jumps.

January 11, 2013

Saving Your Animations as Videos, and Working with Supa Mario!

When done with the project below, use the Mario files at the bottom of the page to get Mario through level 1-1!

• NOTE: Once you open the World 1-1 image, you need to go to Image --> Mode, and change the mode from 'Index' to 'RGB Color.'

However, before you do that, use the following procedure to save your movies as a video file you can take home and play:

• Go to the panel options at the top right corner of the animation panel and use the Document Settings to change your animation's frame rate to 60 frames per second. See the screenshot I posted the first day near the bottom of this page if you are unsure where to go to change the frame rate.
• Next, go to File --> Export --> Render Video
• Under the "File Options" box, check to make sure you have Named your file something relevant at the very top.
• Change the 'Quicktime Export' setting to 'MPEG-4,' and then hit the Settings button.
  • In the box that pops up, change the Data Rate to 4096 kbits/sec
  • Hit OK, and then hit Render at the top right corner of the first dialog box that had popped up.
  • Once your video renders, render it again as a different file name but first go to the Settings again and change the frame rate. Try rendering the video at 60, 30, and 24 frames per second, then notice the difference between each movie!

January 8, 2013

Basics of Photoshop Animation

Create an animation that meets the following guidelines:

• Must include at least three elements (example: text, text, photo)
• 1280x720 pixel dimensions for your photoshop document; 72 PPI, RGB Color
• Movement of at least one block of text across page
• Opacity change of at least one element
• Animated changing of layer styles on at least two elements that involve at least two different layer styles changing per element
  • For example, drop shadow and stroke on one, drop shadow and bevel/emboss on another
• Warping of Text occurs on at least one text element
• Must include at least one photograph, graphic, logo, or some sort of image that is animated by you.

Save your file as Animation Practice.psd