Basic PSE 6 Blinkie Tutorial --Warning, very large images in post--

[Jennifer]

Alright, here is a very basic PSE6 blinkie tutorial. I made mine super simple, but you can make yours as fancy or as plain as you like, with as many frames as you would like. Each movement will be its own frame.

Step One
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e25/BelleElephant/Tutorials/9c7ee5a9.jpg
Open up several windows at 150 pixels by 50 pixels at 72 ppi

Step Two
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e25/BelleElephant/Tutorials/6c5b0af4.jpg
Apply background and consistent elements to all windows(frames). Add things that will be to each individual frame of the blinkie and when complete, merge layers on each frame.

Step Three
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e25/BelleElephant/Tutorials/e12eeed6.jpg
Put all layers into one file, with the first frame on bottom and final frame on top. Hit Save For Web

Step Four
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e25/BelleElephant/Tutorials/8c7e245d.jpg
Select save as GIF, and check the animate box. At the bottom, ensure that the loop button is checked and choose your frame delay. the larger the number, the longer the delay.

This is the final result:
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e25/BelleElephant/Tutorials/73dcded4.gif

[jeepmama]

Oh, Jennifer...this is GREAT! :bow2:

Even without my PSE in front of me (it is at home) this makes perfect sense. I can't wait to get home and try it tonight.

Thanks again and again and again!!!!

:loveshower: :thankyou: :stars:

[jaye]

Those are great instructins Jen! Very easy to understand.

[Hummie]

Also, note in the bottom right hand corner there is a little world icon with "preview in" before it---if you click on that it will open up a preview in your browser so that you can make sure it is correct before you save. This is most helpful for setting the frame delay time.

[jaye]

Thanks Hummie for the add on. Next question...............does all this work with PSE 5.0?
I'm not sure if PSE 6.0 will be waiting for me when I return to work or not. Heard conflicting things about it............should I 'move up' if I can or stick with 5.0? Don't tell me CS2 or 3 unless someone has the $800.00 to give me LOL.

[Jennifer]

Jo, I think it should be similar in PSE 5, I learned it from a site that was just teaching animation for PSE in general. I don't know what the big differences are between 5 and 6, someone who has used both could probably tell you better.

[jeepmama]

:hyper:

Here is my first-ever blinking blinkie.... :toot:


http://i516.photobucket.com/albums/u326/jeepmama_nc/my-blog.gif

Obviously not the snazziest thing you've ever seen (is snazziest a word?!?!), but not too awfully bad for a first shot. Next time, I hope to get the flower to spin. Don't have the time or attention span for that tonight...LOL!!!

Thanks for the great tut, Jennifer!!

:stars:

[Jennifer]

Awesome Job!

[sansan]

GREAT JOB! I don't know if I can follow this with PS7...maybe when my desk is cleared I will give this a shot...Unless Jeepmama wants to make another. LOL!!!

:wink:

[jeepmama]

GREAT JOB! I don't know if I can follow this with PS7...maybe when my desk is cleared I will give this a shot...Unless Jeepmama wants to make another. LOL!!!

:wink:

LOL!!!!!
I just opened a new one last night and instead of seven layers I now have about 30!!!! I'll have another one done sometime, but it may be Christmas..LOL!!!

[chellebelle]

Awesome tut and great job jeepmama!

Yup it's the same in PSE5, (had that before CS3) but I haven't seen PSE6 so I can't tell you how they differ from eachother.

[DJarrett1266]

Jennifer I finally figured it all out. When I was putting all the files into one I didnt have them all open in the one screen I had them in my bin, if that makes sense. Anyway I've figured it out and I appreciate all your help. THANKS!

[Jennifer]

glad you got it figured out!

[TNgal22]

Just found this tutorial and Thank you!!! It is super easy to do!

Now for a question...how do you make things look like they are falling or moving on each layer? Do you just reposition it on each diffferent layer?

[Jennifer]

yup, just move it a little bit and make a new layer. sometimes blinkies will end up with 30+ frames to get that effect, but its totally worth it

[TNgal22]

Thank you!! I made a 4 layer blinkie last night to just figure it out. I assumed you just moved the element a litte on each layer. Thanks again!!

[graciesgram]

I am having trouble getting my layers all into one file. I opened a new file for each one. Now I only see the files in the pallette on the right one at a time. When I try to save them I only get the top one. I made one from your directions the other day,but not sure what I am doing differently. Help? Anyone?

[Jennifer]

Copy and paste all images into one file, so you can see them all in the pallet at one time. Then hit save for web, and make sure you change the save type to gif and check animate, then you will be able to flip through your images and see the different layers.

[KyRainbow]

I did the "yes I'm addicted" blinkie for SO, and it was over 47 layers, so sometimes it does take LOTS of layers, but they're worth it, and so much fun to make!

[jupiter394]

I've made my first blinkie and I'm really quite pleased. The hardest part was adding the background to each frame (41 of them). Does anyone know if there is a way to have a background layer that doesn't cycle? Or is the some easy way to get the background separate from the animation.

Thanks, Judy

[Jennifer]

Judy, I just duplicate my background for each layer to keep it consistent