Detailed steps in designing and animating of GIF images

Detailed steps in designing and animating of GIF images

Hi Lester, animating an image nowadays is such a simple process unlike before during the days of sketch animation. To create a simple gif image, we must use an image processing software like a freeware called gimp. Upon program loading, create a new image by going to File then Create. The image that we will select will be a 200 pixel width by 20 pixels height.  Now, go to the Toolbars, and go to the Layer tool. Each layer will be the master frame of your gif image. From the layers tool, now select the icon called Bucket tool. This will act as a background layer for your animated image. Now click Filters, then select Render, and then pick Pattern and finally grid. Now unlock the horizontal and the vertical pattern by clicking the icon with a little chain and enter the numeric value of 3 for the horizontal width and then 5 for the vertical width then choose 0 for the intersection and 22 for the horizontal spacing and 18 for the vertical spacing. Click the red color for the vertical and the horizontal grid spaces lining and finally click OK. Then when you’re done go to the Layers tool icon and right click on the background layer and select Duplicate layer. Use the same method to duplicate this frame for 16 times for a complete total of 16 frames as your background frame. Now save the work and try to make sure that your internal format should be .xcf. Then click the unshow all the frames by clicking the eyes icon. Then select the Frame 1 and show Frame 1 and fill the leftmost portion of the grid box with whatever color you select for example blue. Now, unshow Frame 1 and then show frame 2 and select Frame 2 and now fill the next box also with another color of your choice let’s say green. Next step is to fill up all the frames until you reach the last grid box. Now, this time Delete the background layer and select save as any name you wish with the extension of gif. Then gimp will ask you what option would you like to save the file just select  save as animation.