Need help with animated gifs

2-21-02, 08:38 AM

Does anybody know a good animated gif program download. Also, how exactly do you make them?

If anybody can volunteer to help make my animated gif (i do you need 3-d letters) i would truly like it. Please e-mail me at Fladryn@hotmail.com

2-21-02, 03:55 PM

If you have Flash you can build animated GIFs using Flash and publishing it as animated GIF

alphadesk · 2-21-02, 04:02 PM

Axhelm,

Try this site. Free trial download and very easy to learn.

swishzone.com

Ddr · 2-21-02, 04:02 PM

Hi Axhelm

Animated gifs are great, but can be a lot of work to create. If you are taking frames from an mpeg movie that already exists, then it is as simple as cutting and pasting the sequence. If you are drawing something from scratch, then you can be into a big job. I have hand drawn the cells, scanned them into my computer, edited them, and then assembled the final animation. That is a lot of work. The number of individual pics, or cells, that make up the animation can be large if you want smooth animations. There are applications that will let you make "key frames" and then by using a "tweening" tool create smooth transitions between the keyframes for you.

In theory, the process is simple. You create a series of images that are saved in gif format. The animation tool compiles them into a single file. During the creation process you set the length of time each individual cell or frame shows, and whether the animation runs perpetually or a specific number of times. The application will then create the code and generate the animation in gif format, as well as compress the file to a size that is usually much smaller than the sum of the individual cells.

There are gif animation tools packaged with Photoshop (Image Ready) and Paint Shop Pro (Animation Shop). These are handy because you obviously have all the image manipulation, drawing, and compiling tools in one place. With standalone gif animation tools, you generally have to import artwork from other sources. The standalone tool I like is Ulead Gif Animator 5. Check out their products at:

http://www.ulead.com/runme_js1.htm

While you are there, also look at Ulead Cool 3D. That is their 3D title generator. I use that a lot. It is versatile and easy to learn.
One that is rated higher than Ulead's Cool 3Dfor 3D lettering is Xara 3D, though I have never used it.

Other place to look is at CoffeeCup Gif Animator (I think most of their apps are simple to use and inexpensive). I did a search on www.download.com and found a few free gif animation tools, also. One that seems to be rated highly is Unfreez 2.1. Read about it at:

http://www.whitsoftdev.com/page.php?id=11

Ok, so did that answer any of your questions? Come on back if you have more specific troubles and I will try to help.

Dale

2-21-02, 04:38 PM

Well, thanks for answering my questions

. Just a couple more. If I have imageready 3.0 should I use that instead of Ulead, Xara, Coffeecup, and/or unfreeze? I will probably download one of the 3-d text ones tho. TTYL

Ddr · 2-21-02, 08:06 PM

Axhelm

I dont use Image Ready, but if you have it, go for it. Why spend money if you have the tool already? Since UnFreez is free, that is a no-brainer. If you do try it out and like it, why dont you write a note here about it for others?

ImageReady is a little harder to learn than the others because it links into that really deep library of Photoshop tools. But if you can get that, you can do any of them, except the Flash based ones. They are a little different and you will have to adjust for them.

Hope this helped

Dale

2-21-02, 08:21 PM

How I would I make something like this? If any of you guys know how to, if I gay you some specifics do you think you can make me something like this? how long does it take just wondering? If you do a couple for me maybe a little $$$ can be involved

.

what about this?

PLEASE respond, doesnt matter whether your giving me basic instructions on how to make one these things or if your offering to help. Thanks

Ddr · 2-21-02, 08:38 PM

The first one looks like it was created using a full 3D modeling app. I know that is beyond the capabilites of Ulead 3D. Maybe the other one I recommended, Xara 3D can let you create those unusual fonts and methods, but I just don't know.

I suspect it was created with something like 3D Studio Max, which is an incredible app. Dont go there. Retail for it is about $3000 US dollars. I have been teaching myself that app for almost a year now and I still know very little. It makes Photoshop look like nursery school.

There could be another easier app to create that kind of thing, but I dont know it. Maybe someone else does.

The second one looks like a Flash animation that has been saved as a gif. See the reply from Alphadesk regarding SWISH.

I would offer to help you out, but I am buried here for the next couple of months as I develop my own projects. Sorry

Dale

2-21-02, 08:45 PM

well, i already have flash, ur just dont how to do it hehe. O well. ttyl

2-21-02, 10:54 PM

I use Imageready for all of my animation needs. The AKElogo2.gif image looks like it was made in something like Xara3D. I have this program, if you let me know what text you want to animate, I can give it a go.

3-2-02, 08:52 AM

i don't know how to make animated GIFs, but i often use some from http://www.animfactory.com
they also have a free 3D text generator. it's worth checking out if you don't need custom made GIFs.

2-21-02, 08:38 AM	#1
Axhelm Posts: n/a	Need help with animated gifs Does anybody know a good animated gif program download. Also, how exactly do you make them? If anybody can volunteer to help make my animated gif (i do you need 3-d letters) i would truly like it. Please e-mail me at Fladryn@hotmail.com

2-21-02, 04:02 PM	#3
alphadesk Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Gulfcoast, TX Posts: 6,911 Reputation: 102	Flash Axhelm, Try this site. Free trial download and very easy to learn. swishzone.com __________________ Thanks, AlphaDesk Those who can read and don't are no better off than those who can't. - Sam Clemens

2-21-02, 04:02 PM	#4
Ddr Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 949 Reputation: 5	Animated gifs Hi Axhelm Animated gifs are great, but can be a lot of work to create. If you are taking frames from an mpeg movie that already exists, then it is as simple as cutting and pasting the sequence. If you are drawing something from scratch, then you can be into a big job. I have hand drawn the cells, scanned them into my computer, edited them, and then assembled the final animation. That is a lot of work. The number of individual pics, or cells, that make up the animation can be large if you want smooth animations. There are applications that will let you make "key frames" and then by using a "tweening" tool create smooth transitions between the keyframes for you. In theory, the process is simple. You create a series of images that are saved in gif format. The animation tool compiles them into a single file. During the creation process you set the length of time each individual cell or frame shows, and whether the animation runs perpetually or a specific number of times. The application will then create the code and generate the animation in gif format, as well as compress the file to a size that is usually much smaller than the sum of the individual cells. There are gif animation tools packaged with Photoshop (Image Ready) and Paint Shop Pro (Animation Shop). These are handy because you obviously have all the image manipulation, drawing, and compiling tools in one place. With standalone gif animation tools, you generally have to import artwork from other sources. The standalone tool I like is Ulead Gif Animator 5. Check out their products at: http://www.ulead.com/runme_js1.htm While you are there, also look at Ulead Cool 3D. That is their 3D title generator. I use that a lot. It is versatile and easy to learn. One that is rated higher than Ulead's Cool 3Dfor 3D lettering is Xara 3D, though I have never used it. Other place to look is at CoffeeCup Gif Animator (I think most of their apps are simple to use and inexpensive). I did a search on www.download.com and found a few free gif animation tools, also. One that seems to be rated highly is Unfreez 2.1. Read about it at: http://www.whitsoftdev.com/page.php?id=11 Ok, so did that answer any of your questions? Come on back if you have more specific troubles and I will try to help. Dale Last edited by Ddr : 2-21-02 at 08:08 PM.

2-21-02, 04:38 PM	#5
Axhelm Posts: n/a	RE: No Subject Well, thanks for answering my questions . Just a couple more. If I have imageready 3.0 should I use that instead of Ulead, Xara, Coffeecup, and/or unfreeze? I will probably download one of the 3-d text ones tho. TTYL

2-21-02, 08:06 PM	#6
Ddr Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 949 Reputation: 5	as many as you need Axhelm I dont use Image Ready, but if you have it, go for it. Why spend money if you have the tool already? Since UnFreez is free, that is a no-brainer. If you do try it out and like it, why dont you write a note here about it for others? ImageReady is a little harder to learn than the others because it links into that really deep library of Photoshop tools. But if you can get that, you can do any of them, except the Flash based ones. They are a little different and you will have to adjust for them. Hope this helped Dale

2-21-02, 03:55 PM	#2
Dragon Posts: n/a	If you have Flash you can build animated GIFs using Flash and publishing it as animated GIF

2-21-02, 08:21 PM	#7
Axhelm Posts: n/a	How would I do...this How I would I make something like this? If any of you guys know how to, if I gay you some specifics do you think you can make me something like this? how long does it take just wondering? If you do a couple for me maybe a little $$$ can be involved . what about this? PLEASE respond, doesnt matter whether your giving me basic instructions on how to make one these things or if your offering to help. Thanks

2-21-02, 08:38 PM	#8
Ddr Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 949 Reputation: 5	What you want The first one looks like it was created using a full 3D modeling app. I know that is beyond the capabilites of Ulead 3D. Maybe the other one I recommended, Xara 3D can let you create those unusual fonts and methods, but I just don't know. I suspect it was created with something like 3D Studio Max, which is an incredible app. Dont go there. Retail for it is about $3000 US dollars. I have been teaching myself that app for almost a year now and I still know very little. It makes Photoshop look like nursery school. There could be another easier app to create that kind of thing, but I dont know it. Maybe someone else does. The second one looks like a Flash animation that has been saved as a gif. See the reply from Alphadesk regarding SWISH. I would offer to help you out, but I am buried here for the next couple of months as I develop my own projects. Sorry Dale

2-21-02, 08:45 PM	#9
Axhelm Posts: n/a	well, i already have flash, ur just dont how to do it hehe. O well. ttyl

2-21-02, 10:54 PM	#10
VBman Posts: n/a	I use Imageready for all of my animation needs. The AKElogo2.gif image looks like it was made in something like Xara3D. I have this program, if you let me know what text you want to animate, I can give it a go.

3-2-02, 08:52 AM	#11
americanhome Posts: n/a	i don't know how to make animated GIFs, but i often use some from http://www.animfactory.com they also have a free 3D text generator. it's worth checking out if you don't need custom made GIFs.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search