How to make your own animated GIFs

[ShinNoNoir]

I like this guide alot, i did animated gifs a few years ago and well, after reading it, not only it's much faster, it's quite easier too. thx ^^

I have a question, is there a way when we loop and duplicate frames, 1-2-3-4-5-4-3-2 -to tell the gif file that frames 4-3-2 are repeats so the file size won't increase? since they allready exist in the file?

[Sylphid_snow]

Hi, I'm pretty new to the ImageReady...ok, 100% noob at it. Is there any way I can add text to the animation? And is there any way to make different texts appear at different parts of the animation? Thanx

[felix]

@ ShinNoNoir
No, GIF's are old crap that's still around..
Hmm.. Just imbed the frames in a .swf file, that way they should be treated as single instance no matter how much they repeat.

To do this use Adobe Flash or Adobe Illustrator CS2 (CS should also have this feature...)

@ Sylphid_snow
Yes add a layer and make that layer visible on all the frames.. (just lock visibility, style and position)
For the other part of your question, create 2 layers make one visible xx frames and the other visible yy frames.

Rememeber to lock style and position...

[Sylphid_snow]

Thanx BlackCat, although I have absolutely no idea how to do all those things you said...how to make a layer visible on a certain frame and not on the others?

[Sylphid_snow]

lol...I kinda stumbled upon how to make certain layers visible on certain frames...It worked great. THANX!

[drakenblader]

Hi there!
I'm like abit new here so yeah I'm not very sure but will Photoshop do?
And if it does could tell me step ny step for Photoshop (though I have a feeling it wont do 0_o).
thanks
^_^

[iamtheSOUND]

Man, I didn't feel like getting that Adobe thing since I'm so used to PSP already so I just used SnagIt, Animation Shop, and PSP and put this together. I'm trying to improve the quality but I think it looks fine. And I love that cheesy effect. Here it is...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v153/PunkUbi/Ebisu.gif

[felix]

@ Sylphid_snow - Cool ^_^
@ drakenblader - yes, and if you got it you have ImageReady too, read the FAQ in the other stiky thread in this forum.
@ iamtheSOUND - People have been known to make them in gimp and irfanview too.

[mrclastro]

whenever I try to open the file, it says it does not read XVID and it has to be VFW type of files...can someone explain to me how to remove this error?

[Green²]

whenever I try to open the file, it says it does not read XVID and it has to be VFW type of files...can someone explain to me how to remove this error?

Install XviD-1.1.2-01112006 (http://www.koepi.org/xvid.shtml). Or if using ffdshow, reconfigure its VFW video encoder configuration, that within its Decoder tab/Codecs, set format Xvid to decoder = libavcodec (Drop-down menu for this selection can be found by clicking on the word, likely the current being word "disabled" in this case.).

Latest Virtualdub: http://virtualdub.sourceforge.net/

[drakenblader]

@ Sylphid_snow - Cool ^_^
@ drakenblader - yes, and if you got it you have ImageReady too, read the FAQ in the other stiky thread in this forum.
@ iamtheSOUND - People have been known to make them in gimp and irfanview too.

Oh ok thanks ill try having a look! ^_^

[drakenblader]

Hmmm I'm not sure if its against the rules to ask this but anyway i'll ask anyways please tell me if this is against rules or not as I am quite new here.
Where do I download or get Adobe ImageReady? because I can't find it anywhere in my computer.

[felix]

It comes with Photoshop.

[Jinto]

I like this guide alot, i did animated gifs a few years ago and well, after reading it, not only it's much faster, it's quite easier too. thx ^^

I have a question, is there a way when we loop and duplicate frames, 1-2-3-4-5-4-3-2 -to tell the gif file that frames 4-3-2 are repeats so the file size won't increase? since they allready exist in the file?

You can save 1 frame in your chain. There are several disposal methods for a frame, you just need to be able to set them for each frame...

No disposal specified
Do not dispose
Restore to background color
Restore to previous

Frame 4 needs to be "Do not dispose".
Frame 5 will be "Restore to previous" so it disposes to frame 4. Then you can have an monocolor frame for the second frame 4 (with transparency set to the monocolor), so you can time how long this view shall be visible. This monocolor frame can be bicolor, so it is very small (almost like no frame). Then you'ld proceed normal with frame 3 and so on. (okay its only alomst 1 frame saved... but I can't think of a more effective way now).

edit:

Maybe you can do the same with the 1st frame (so thats almost 2 frames less). But the gif wont loop right in the very first run after load then. You can however manipulate this a little if you shift your chain ( 2 1 2 3 4 5 4 3, 2frames less: 2n 1d t 3 4n 5d t 3 -- n = do not dispose, d = restore to previous, t = transparent bicolor frame)

[Thedreamer]

Well first sorry if a thread already exist, if so please give me link (didn't found it)
Like title say i'd like a programm who can convert divx to giff for make an avatar.
Premiére don't want work with divx so...(or maybe mine too old, and i don't think he can do gifs anyway.)
(i'd like to do the scene coming from Utawaramono special when we see the girl (evenrkura ?) from face with blood on hand...well you see if you know this anime lol

[NightWish]

Well first sorry if a thread already exist, if so please give me link (didn't found it)I've moved your post. Check the first page of this thread, it talks about using "Virtual Dub" and "Image Ready", which should do what you want. If you don't have "Image Ready", you can probably adapt the instructions to your preferred application.

[chen2]

Exactly what i want. Thanks for giving an answer.

[Green²]

Usually I don't mind creating avisynth scripts myself, but for those that often use the directshowsource function so as to open mkv/mp4 video files into virtualdub, I found this old program, AVISynthesizer (http://tangentsoft.net/video/asynther/), which to quote the readme:

"Right-click on a media file in Explorer, and say "Send to | AVISynthesizer". A small window will pop up listing the available Avisynth script templates by description. Pick one, and hit the Generate Script button. AVISynthesizer will spit out a script named after the first file name on the command line and the file name of the template you selected. If there is already a file by that name, a number will be appended."

Or in short, it's a program that will create an .avs script file of the selected video file.

How To:

Once installed onto your computer, right-click on the desired media file that you want to open into virtualdub, select from the Sent To menu: AVISynthesizer. On the pop-up window, select: Simple DirectShow reader. Then click on Generate Script. A generated .avs script file should then be found in the like directory as the video.

There is no option however to force the video fps, should virtualdub or avisynth ever give you a fps problem while opening the video/script into virtualdub. Thus if ever needed:

(If you run into the fps error when opening the .avs script into Virtualdub: )

Open video file with Media Player Classic and go to File/Properties. On the Details tab within the pop-up window, make note of the fps value with the video line within the box below. (Might be something like 23.98fps)

http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/866/clipboard01fpsus4.th.gif (http://img90.imageshack.us/my.php?image=clipboard01fpsus4.gif)

To modify the already created .avs file, right-click on it and select Open With, and select Notepad from the pop-up menu.

Once it opens up with the notepad program editor, add to the existing code:

DirectShowSource("C:\Documents and Settings\User Name\My Documents\Video New\[group]_video_1a_[942567899].mkv", fps=23.98)

...where fps=value as to what you've noted of the video file through Media Player Classic. And then resave the file: File/Save.

(Continued from previous guide.) (http://forums.animesuki.com/showthread.php?p=431070#post431070)

[Nagato]

Capturing frames problem.
Read Uzumaki tutorial (http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=8579&postcount=1 )and try to capture frame with virtual dub. have selected scene from video (with mark in and mark out). But when I save image sequences it save all of the video frames. So, I just saved the video(avi) in uncompressed(RGB) (from my experience, IR can only open this file type) that always give me more than 50 MB.

Any method to capture frames in smaller file?
Zehi oshiete kudachai!
Help please! I see many expert here.

[felix]

Your obviosly doing something wrong... here's another guide with pics...
http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=715538&postcount=199

[Nagato]

Your obviosly doing something wrong... here's another guide with pics...
http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=715538&postcount=199

My silly:heh: . I used virtualdub mod and there isn't jpeg for image sequence output format.

Thanks Cats. Now the out put file is under 10 MB

[panzerfan]

Something very silly to ask. How do I go about to play around with fonts in Photoshop? What I mean would be to use graphic effects on things such as names, that is... beyond merely transforming them.

[felix]

Have you checked Kina's latest tutorial in the thread in Fan Creation...

[Alisha]

how can I save the image sequence

i cant find it whenever i go to file its not there

[felix]

Your using a newer version of VirtualDub...
Go to Export... etc.

[discombobulated]

Hello :)

I've been trying to follow this tutorial here > http://forums.animesuki.com/showthread.php?p=460905 to add a border to my animation but everytime I go to select to select my new layer I only have the select all layers option which highlights all my frames so I can't stroke them. Anyone know what I might be doing wrong? I used this same tut ages ago and it worked for me then :(

[ubat]

First of all, thanks to everyone who contributed to this thread.

My problem is that the playback speed is always faster in ImageReady than it is after the gif is saved. About 1-2 seconds faster. Is there a setting I'm missing that will make the speed of my final gif match the speed displayed within ImageReady?

[felix]

@ disco
Diffrent tools will give you diffrent options in your menus. Change tools.

Edit: Expansion
In your case you need to select the tool pallet or the image window instead of the layer pallet.

@ ubat
It's your browser, some browsers display the speed correctly.
Mmm. Try using .01 for the timing instead of 0

[ubat]

Irfanview and firefox both display the .gif at the same speed, but if I re-open the .gif with ImageReady it displays at the original speed.
I did try using .01 for the timing - no difference noticed from using 0 seconds.

Here's the .gif in case anyone is curious: http://img104.imageshack.us/img104/9879/rikkitikkitaviea6.gif
It was about 1.5 seconds faster before I saved (file > save optimized as), which was the speed I wanted. Weird.

[felix]

Firefox 2.0 and Opera 9 should display properly.
If not you can account for this by deleting frames to make it run at that speed.

[juggen]

How do you speed-up the animation?

[NoSanninWa]

How do you speed-up the animation?
By reducing the time for which each image is displayed.

[felix]

Or by cutting frames in-between key frames.
-------------------------------------------------------------
NSW can you add a link in the first post to the Index (http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=411218), most questions here have been answered a half a dozen times already. Also in the Vb section faze 7) of the guide can you add a lil' mention that in newer versions of Vb the option is located under the path: File ---> Export ---> Save Image Sequence... ;)

[juggen]

By reducing the time for which each image is displayed.

Can you teach me how to do that?

[felix]

Can you teach me how to do that?

Read the seccond guide. The info is there. (http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=715538) :)

[NoSanninWa]

NSW can you add a link in the first post to the Index (http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=411218), most questions here have been answered a half a dozen times already.
Seems like a good idea. How's that?

[felix]

Nice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
There's also the version compatibility thing I mentioned, but it only got mentioned once so no biggy...

[Shortysdohdoh]

My very first .gif that works

except it's still a little slow. i gave it a 0ms delay when i saved it in Gimp, but Gimp says "Delay inserted to prevent evil CPU-sucking animation" or something like that.

anyway, it's like slow mo, which isn't horrible. but full speed would be optimistic, without havign to buy any products like adobe.


http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e198/shortysdohdoh/Haruka109.gif


edit: i'm on a .gif spree now. my 2nd one turned out a little choppy first couple frames.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e198/shortysdohdoh/Asa000.gif

[felix]

Good work. :D
Now try making them into 50k avatars or sigs.. :heh:
Trust me your delay worries will dissapear.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To make them fast set the delay to .01 . To make them even faster delete duplicate frames. To go even faster then that, delete frames even if the frames aren't duplicates, just make sure to delete them in order e.g. only the 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th etc.

[velvet nightmare]

for virtual dub i get the error :

VD requires video for windows compatible codecs to decompress video. directshow codecs such as windows media player are not suitable



can anyone give me suggestions as to which codecs i need to open my files, and the steps to fix this

im thinking once i install the correct codecs the thing should run properly

[Nagato]

You have to install the codec you need.
If you have ffdshow installed, enable the codecs from its configuration window.


EX (CCCP):
Start==>all programs==>Combined Community Codec Pack==>FFDShow VFW codec configuration.

[velvet nightmare]

so if i want to be able to open xvid files for example this is what the settings are supposed to look like?

http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/2656/samplepx0.png


still no good with this, i think xvid is activated but still cant open those file types

[Nagato]

Ah, that's for playback.
Like I said above, FFDShow VFW codec configuration. Select codecs you want to use. There isn't h264 for encoding yet, though ( In FFDShow Installed in my PC). Check the latest CCCP here (http://www.cccp-project.net/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page#Latest_CCCP_.28aka._Down load_Here.21.29)

Good luck!

[velvet nightmare]

whoops, my fault, read your post wrong

it solved the problem

thanks for the help

[demonsheep87]

Here's my first attempt, I think it's a bit choppy though. It's when Yourichi is fighting Yami. Any ideas on how choppiness can be reduced?

http://www.imagehosting.com/images.php/i9151_YourichiKick.gif (http://www.imagehosting.com)

[Green²]

Here's my first attempt, I think it's a bit choppy though. It's when Yourichi is fighting Yami. Any ideas on how choppiness can be reduced?

http://www.imagehosting.com/images.php/i9151_YourichiKick.gif (http://www.imagehosting.com)

Cut every odd or even frame in the sequence.

[demonsheep87]

Cut every odd or even frame in the sequence.
Thanks I'll give it a try!

[4th Tomoe]

I'm trying to follow the instructions on the first page but here's my situation:

I have the latest version of Vdub that is stable but the options for the file type when you save the image sequence are only BMP, JPEG and TARGA. Now, last time I checked you could only use GIF files for animated images.

I've tried all 3 file types and when I try to save the file in ImageReady, it tells me that all 3 of those file types can't be saved as a gif and it will only save the first frame.

I am using ImageReady 7, could this be the problem? Does the newer version allow you to make animated GIFs out of JPEGs? Someone please help...
:confused:

[Riker]

I'm trying to follow the instructions on the first page but here's my situation:

I have the latest version of Vdub that is stable but the options for the file type when you save the image sequence are only BMP, JPEG and TARGA. Now, last time I checked you could only use GIF files for animated images.

I've tried all 3 file types and when I try to save the file in ImageReady, it tells me that all 3 of those file types can't be saved as a gif and it will only save the first frame.

I am using ImageReady 7, could this be the problem? Does the newer version allow you to make animated GIFs out of JPEGs? Someone please help...
:confused:

It doesn't matter what file types you're using as source for the animated image. What's important is to choose the GIF format when you're saving the image in ImageReady. I hope this isn't confusing. :3

[4th Tomoe]

It doesn't matter what file types you're using as source for the animated image. What's important is to choose the GIF format when you're saving the image in ImageReady. I hope this isn't confusing. :3
I've made GIFs before but this would be my first time using a source different than GIFs. But here's my steps:

http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/5300/step01sj7.th.jpg (http://img174.imageshack.us/my.php?image=step01sj7.jpg)

1. I've uploaded the JPEG files from using Vdub and I'm ready to save the file.

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/5041/step02md6.th.jpg (http://img294.imageshack.us/my.php?image=step02md6.jpg) http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/8002/step03tc9.th.jpg (http://img294.imageshack.us/my.php?image=step03tc9.jpg)

2. I'm ready to save my file so I go to "Save Optimized As". The file type is already set to JPG in the first image and then I change it to .GIF in the second one.

http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/1051/step04ta0.th.jpg (http://img174.imageshack.us/my.php?image=step04ta0.jpg)

3. Once I do that though, this is the message I get.

What am I doing wrong in these steps? And thanks Riker for answering my Qs. I thought this topic had died or something since the last post was a long time ago. You said to choose the GIF format but that isn't in my dropdown menu. The only options are 1) HTML and Images - 2) Images Only and 3) HTML only....
:)

[Riker]

Choose the GIF format in the optimize tab. (circled in red)

http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/9650/step03tc9cn6.th.jpg (http://img255.imageshack.us/my.php?image=step03tc9cn6.jpg)


:x

[4th Tomoe]

lol, thanks Riker! Man... guess it's a little too late to be making gifs... that was too easy to miss. Thanks again.

[sasuke13]

I haven't made GIFs for awhile, but I have a question that I need answering. If u want to make a Gif out of a certain scene or event that happened in the anime, how can you cut and shrink the clips to that extreme minimum size without making it all staticy? All of mines are always over 100kb and they're still full of static. I don't know how to adjust them right.

[felix]

Define Static.
---------------------
Oh and.. (http://forums.animesuki.com/showthread.php?t=26533)

[Mischala]

instead of useing virtualdub i just use the snapshot feature on VCL player

[felix]

And if you had to capture, say.. 100+ frames..

[sasuke13]

Static as in "white scratchy stuff" that covers the whole gif. And more like 20-40 frames.

[felix]

When your optimising it?!.. are perhaps over using the loosy feature.

[sasuke13]

when it's optimised and when I'm tweaking with the resolution and stuff (am I supposed to tweak it?)

[felix]

What do you mean by resolution...
If your talking about resolution as that in Image Size then you're wasting your time. That only effects printed versions.

I think I know what you're refering to.. it's normal, gifs can only have (most of them at least) 256 colors. the can not capture detail. You shouldn't have problems when working with anime, since well... it's mostly solid stuff, unless of course you somehow find one with lotz of color gradients.

[sasuke13]

I tried to tweak it down to 128 colors cuz anything I create that's 256 or higher is always 100kb or higher, even though it's still scratchy, but it gets less at that lvl.

Here's an example, and its free btw http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h155/yuensan/Animated%20GIFs/Suzumiya-Haruhi-Cheer.gif

[felix]

Too much motion.

[sasuke13]

btw, how do use the tween effect and when is it nescessary?

[felix]

http://xs414.xs.to/xs414/07164/Piece-3.jpgYou use it in a animation.. to "tween" is a animation term.
Basicly it means you take Frame A, Frame B and then fill in the gap between them. (that's in animation)
--------------------
http://xs414.xs.to/xs414/07164/Piece-2.jpgDon't get the wrong idea, it's not that smart in PS. Basically, say you have some text, if you crate another frame in PS, move your text to the left then you can tween it so the text won't just snap to the left but slide to the left.

Well you can do crazier things with it.

http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/7418/mashirohime26cl.gif

[rbird1985]

not too bad for a first try. At least it works. I'll have to try a longer and more complicated animation next time.

[Zelric]

Nice work Uzumaki626

[Nadesiko]

Make animated GIFs is too difficult for me http://bbs.feizl.com/emot/59.gif. Can you guideline me about " How to make your own animated GIFs " by pictures ? http://www.in-fzl.com/bbs/images/smilies/yct06.gif

[felix]

See Guid 2 in the Index (http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=411218&postcount=1), but I think its more complicated.

[djlemon]

Hi there, sorry for going off topic, but how do you rip the audio from a video? I want the audio part of Byakuya saying his bankai as my hp msging ringtone. Tried using virtualdub and saved the frames as WAV, but upon playing it on my winamp, it doesnt work.

If this isn't proper to ask, just delete the post and refer me to somewhere else if possible?

Many thanks in advance! :D

[dahilig007]

wow!!! thanks for the Tutorial!! You really helped me out

[Murtagh426]

hey. is there a program i can use instead of Virtual Dub for saving the screenshots? one that lets me use videos that aren't AVIs?

[felix]

You can use VirtualDub with videos that aren't avi's.
See the F.A.Q. section in the Index (http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=411218&postcount=1)

[Nicholi]

If you want to steal a scene straight out of a video, a rather simple method would be to use mplayer. If compiled with GIF support you can output an animated GIF over a certain framerange. You would just pass what frame (or rather times I believe it uses) to start on, and what frame to stop on. Likewise you should be able to tell it to resize to a lower res and whammo. You have an animated GIF. As I recall it has some parameter for the GIF's framerate as well.

Simpler to do in my mind than mucking about capturing 1 frame at a time. But I'm lazy and don't care too much about animated gifs :).

[felix]

The are several issues,
#1 You won't be able to tweak the colors and are left to whatever wash the video had.
#2 You won't be able to tweak it to perfection: timing, size etc.
#3 It could be very hard to get a perfect loop, on some scenes you don't just take the frames(which is the simple part) and save it as gif, you have to grab some frames from the middle, delete some of them, reverse their order and then tweak the timing bla bla bla bla bla
#4 Then you got issues with the border and shape, need I say that 90% of people out there are block lovers, if it aint square it ain't good. A normal video resized to avatar dimensions is something like 100 x 75, it's noticeable. And trust me they hate it. I personally love non-square shapes, I'm sick of squares, and they usually just have a lot of filler content that could have been croped out in favor of maxing out quality.


You can always go mass production by using processing, actions etc to make hundreds, with border, proper dimensions, somewhat optimized etc. But I think that's just too sloppy and random :p

[Nicholi]

The are several issues,
#1 You won't be able to tweak the colors and are left to whatever wash the video had.
#2 You won't be able to tweak it to perfection: timing, size etc.
#3 It could be very hard to get a perfect loop, on some scenes you don't just take the frames(which is the simple part) and save it as gif, you have to grab some frames from the middle, delete some of them, reverse their order and then tweak the timing bla bla bla bla bla
#4 Then you got issues with the border and shape, need I say that 90% of people out there are block lovers, if it aint square it ain't good. A normal video resized to avatar dimensions is something like 100 x 75, it's noticeable. And trust me they hate it. I personally love non-square shapes, I'm sick of squares, and they usually just have a lot of filler content that could have been croped out in favor of maxing out quality.


You can always go mass production by using processing, actions etc to make hundreds, with border, proper dimensions, somewhat optimized etc. But I think that's just too sloppy and random :p

MPlayer has an enormous manpage which does cover quite a few of those. Maybe you should go read it :p.
As I said it would only be useful for directly taking scenes from a show. Not creating your own magical world in GIF format.

[Cheerful]

Erm how exactly do I keep my character "running forever."

I have this:

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i319/R1C3YYN00DL3Z/Kanon.gif

But I want this:

http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/1788/runningseqcleanerli0.gif

[felix]

I don't understand, it simply has to do with the animation, if you can match the last and first frame just right, it would seem like it runs forever.

Of course there are always little snags, for example in the second one were Ayu's running in the snow, if you look at the ground, you'll notice it shakes as the animation loops back to the first frame.

[Cheerful]

I was hoping that wasnt the case. Because trying to loop this one well is very difficult >_<.

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i319/R1C3YYN00DL3Z/Kanon.gif

[felix]

What you have to do is, using transparency settings, move the layers on each frame so the outlines of the character are align, tricky~
I did it a few times it's not that hard, but it sure is annoying >_< If you're trying to make it seem she moves, that's impossible unless you make her move back and forth or add a message frame in between loops, which would be kind of silly.

BTW, I think you should tweak the levels since as it is now the snow is invisible.
Good Luck ^_^

[Riker]

What you have to do is, using transparency settings, move the layers on each frame so the outlines of the character are align, tricky~
I did it a few times it's not that hard, but it sure is annoying >_<

It also depends on the degree of panning.
Sometimes, it just doesn't allign exactly.

For example:

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a25/riker7702/shuffle%20gifs/kaede-ava4.gif


In the scene this avatar was taken from, the camera was panning from left to right. I've tried to align the frames, but there's always a teeny weeny part thats out of place. Thus, the end result looks jerky. There might be a way to correct this, but I didn't try this method yet. That is, to use a video editor to pan the video in the opposite direction, so that your subject stays still.

Like I said, I didn't try this before, so don't sue me if it doesn't work. :3

[felix]

There was a piano scene in Haruhi, same issue, to crack it just set some guide lines and use clear cut, clearly marked focus points. Anything that stays focused and is on most if not all of the frames.

http://img487.imageshack.us/img487/7377/tehpianosigyv23ww.gif
Wasn't aware of the jagged edge issue back then. xP

[KNETTER2000]

It also depends on the degree of panning.
Sometimes, it just doesn't allign exactly.

For example:

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a25/riker7702/shuffle%20gifs/kaede-ava4.gif


In the scene this avatar was taken from, the camera was panning from left to right. I've tried to align the frames, but there's always a teeny weeny part thats out of place. Thus, the end result looks jerky. There might be a way to correct this, but I didn't try this method yet. That is, to use a video editor to pan the video in the opposite direction, so that your subject stays still.

Like I said, I didn't try this before, so don't sue me if it doesn't work. :3


If you are willing to put in the time and effort to make such a scene work, there's maybe another way to prevent or mask theslight movement such a scene has besides video-editting .
In panning scenes where moving hair is involved and the rest of the scene needs to remain still I usually just take and edit one frame as a background and overlay the moving parts on with other overlaying parts that have to remain still to mask other moving parts, for the scene to work..

As an example:

http://xs114.xs.to/xs114/07160/ichiholloweye2.gif

This scene panned from right to left too and if I'd had left his head all intact, the scene would have a mild left to right sway about it..
I found that with hair you can mask that for the most part if you leave the rest of the scene still, and only move the hair. You don't really notice the swaying movement in the endresult since the main part of the scene remains still with organic movement from the hair.


http://wtforum.nl/knetter2000/AS/AVA/xample.jpg
After making this I found that the part where the hair was overlapping near the ear showed the swaying movement,
so I took the ear from the bottom layer, pasted that into a new layer and put that in on top of everything else to mask that show of movement..


Or this one I made long time ago.. didn't edit the background then since I wasn't at that level yet.
This might even be the first one I used this on. Back then I was only starting with Imageready and hadn't even heard of switchng to Photoshop to edit the frame
so I only used the rectangular selection in IR :D
http://wtforum.nl/knetter2000/AS/AVA/hairstone.gif

The scene panned from up to down.. if you look closely, you can still see the movement the scene would make around her bangs. all the other parts of the hair make this same up and down movement only you don't notice it since the top of the head is still, the hair already moves in an organic way and the rest of the body remains still too.


http://wtforum.nl/knetter2000/AS/AVA/xample2.jpg

Everything that needs to be still is cut out and only the moving parts remain

In the end Cyz meant another scene so I did all the work for nothing...


I don't really know if I explained it right, and it might be a stupid way, but this is how I do it. :)

[Cynor]

Hi, i'm sorry if this has been asked before, but searching didn't really yield anything.. probably because i'm not too sure what to try to search for lol. Anyways, I have my own set-up for capturing images which is actually very flexible in terms of settings... Although the virtual dub method in this thread may work better, I haven't tried it yet and still would like to know the answer to this question:

Basically, what i'm wondering is if anyone has a suggestion for how many frames to capture? Obviously if you want to capture a short sequence then capturing every frame is ok, but what if you want to capture a longer one? My current set-up captures every frame, which can yield a ton of frames which all aren't really needed likely. So, it's easy enough to modify that to capture say every other or every third, or even a larger gap. But, obviously, too large a gap and everything becomes jerky and doesn't look as good.

Thank you for your time.

[felix]

You can't tell ~ Something like every other frame for normal sequences and everything when it comes to action scenes, or so I've found out from experience.

But I think grabbing every frame and removing them one by one is best.
Even if say you were to remove all the duplicates by calculating the diffrence in size for example ( if it's within X then they are considered duplicates ) what would you do about the timing.

[Cynor]

Yea, I messed around and found some settings that worked for me and would keep things within a reasonable size for long sequences. Thanks for your reply though.

[Alchemist]

Can anybody help me here...? :(

I have Ulead Gif Animator 5 and at first it looked easy to import videos and make a gif but there are a few problems...


1- All gifs are very slow, no matter how much I mess with framerate and whatever.
2- there seems to be lag or something between the top half and bottom... I'm not sure.. >_>
3- does it have problems running on 64 bit vista? it crashes every time I exist...


I would appreciate any links to turorials, everything I find on the web is made for either 5/6 programs to use, and all for a simple avatar..., or cover different subjects.

[RNKxBoA]

I also use Ulead Gif Animator 5 and my gif also turned out slow!
I removed the delay, but its still moving slow.

check:
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b280/Rajibu/final.gif

I previewed it in the prog, where it played normal >_<"

[SeijiSensei]

I'm hardly an expert on animated gifs, but perhaps having 268 layers in the image is more than a normal browser can handle efficiently? What happens when you throw out some of the intermediate frames?

The frames are all different enough that when I ran the animation filter in the GIMP (http://www.gimp.org) on the image it only threw out four of them.

This is just a wild guess; I defer to Cats on this subject.

[Jinto]

I'ld say one of the problems is, that loading 1.6 Mbyte from imageshack in 15 seconds (approximated length of the animation) is quite an optimistic thought.

The second thing is, that gif was never really meant to be optimized for the playback of long animations with lots of frames at high frame rates. This is something video codecs are optimized and meant for (usually decoding a video stream is less demanding then encoding it... with most gif-animation techniques -excluding the optimization calculations of ImageReady - this is not the case, means encoding and decoding are equally performance demanding).
Gif uses, except for the reduction to a lower set of colors, a lossless compression of content. What makes the situation even worse, is that e.g. internet explorer shares the computation time for all the HTML media objects equally and allows only small amounts of processing power to be wasted for animated gifs (usually under 1% of the CPU performance).

But still even such a long sequence can run okay when certain optimizations are applied:

http://www.digital-soul-drift.de/final2.gif

I killed 75% of the frames and used the lossy compression feature in ImageReady (which utilizes the transparency color and sets only such pixels non-transparent in a successing frame that are more than x% different to the according pixel of the frame before... I used 5% in this example)

[RNKxBoA]

OMG...75% O_O"
I thaught with removing like 30 frames it was enough >_>
Many times thnx...I'll try to work on it next time~!

[kanancom]

Hey! I need help on something.

I made this GIF from the FREE HUGS campaign video, and I want to add text at the end saying: FREE HUGS: Spread the Love

Now I know how to add a frame with text, but I want the video at the end to fade into the text, and then fade out of the text frame to the beginning. Problem is, I don't know how to do a fade looping technique, can anyone tell me how? (I am using VirtualDub and Imageready)

Here is the GIF:

http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/9101/freehugsfb3.gif (http://imageshack.us)

[felix]

Copy the frame and tween to a white text on black.
Set some delay for the frame, so it shows for a little while.
Now, copy the first frame and tween from the black frame with white text to it.

If you want you can set it to loop once, so you don't have to do the last part.

[Cheezy]

http://xs218.xs.to/xs218/07320/dn-ep-37.gif (http://xs.to)
I made a test avatar with the tut but i've got a question

How come the avatar played much slower when i saved it? In ImageReady it is in standard speed, this is slow motion.
EDIT: ah, it's been asked before, but i still haven't got my answer

[felix]

Because of the browser. They'll show differently on different browsers.
BTW, set the speed to 0.01 it's usually faster then 0.

[teachopvutru]

My 1st attempt:
http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/4650/mainr5.gif (http://imageshack.us)


And my 2nd attempt at this:
http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/3760/hinagikufe1.gif (http://imageshack.us)


Feedback please? :)
Questions: for the 2nd one, it was 11 frames but I could barely get it below 50kb. Usually how large is the filesize you usually make with the same amount of frames?

Also, for this guide: http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=521570
How do I erase the static part? Do I use the eraser tool? And how do I make "the 1st frame shows up for the rest of the frames"

[Gundam Zero Force]

So when you get your animated gif done and the image sequence is in the folder do you just upload the folder like you would a normal avatar image??

[felix]

Zero, no, the folder with frames is only for making the .gif file which you upload as a avatar.
Tiach, you select and press DELETE.

[teachopvutru]

Tiach, you select and press DELETE.

:confused:Errr, Can I have a clearer instruction, please? I don't understand what you mean because when I press Delete a layer disappears...:heh:

[Gundam Zero Force]

:confused:Errr, Can I have a clearer instruction, please? I don't understand what you mean because when I press Delete a layer disappears...:heh:


I think Cats means that by deleting the layer you make the file size smaller. the less layers, the less space . . . . smaler the file size . . .

[teachopvutru]

I think Cats means that by deleting the layer you make the file size smaller. the less layers, the less space . . . . smaler the file size . . .

But I was asking for the clearer instruction regarding the last step for the Advance Optimizing tutorial, and I'm sure it isn't about deleting layer

[felix]

You select using the lasso tool or marque or any other tool that gives you the ant-line. You then press delete for that part to go away.

[teachopvutru]

You select using the lasso tool or marque or any other tool that gives you the ant-line. You then press delete for that part to go away.

Thank you. Would eraser tool do the same, too, btw? Also, afterward, how do I make a frame shows up for other frames? The step after I erase them, I mean

[felix]

Yes, But the concept of a eraser tool is outdated. Erasing just sums up to: brushing with transparency/background-color.
They could have just let us do that with the brush tool, but oh well...

Everywhere except for kinder garden and graphic programs, the "eraser" is used for anything but erasing.

[teachopvutru]

Yes, But the concept of a eraser tool is outdated. Erasing just sums up to: brushing with transparency/background-color.
They could have just let us do that with the brush tool, but oh well...

Everywhere except for kinder garden and graphic programs, the "eraser" is used for anything but erasing.


Does that mean I'll be able to reduce more filesize using the method you mention instead of using the eraser tool?

[felix]

No, you aren't saving space.

[kanancom]

Wow thanks, that was great help!!

But on this Kingdom Hearts sig I'm making, I want it to fade IN too but it won't tween...

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r187/kanancom/kairi_nami.gif


I want it to fade into namine, but I can't get it to tween IN, just tween out....

[guest]

I asked this on another thread but a wrong one. So...how do you save a GIF (animated sig/avatar) from this website (or any website)?

[Cheezy]

I asked this on another thread but a wrong one. So...how do you save a GIF (animated sig/avatar) from this website (or any website)?

same way you save pictures
right click->save

[felix]

( there can be a few Save something... depending on your target )

In all browsers it's Right Click » "Save Image..."
In Opera (http://www.opera.com/) you can just Ctrl+Click any image to save it.

~ kanancom -- That sig is too big to be used on this forum.

Duplicate the transition Layer of the other girl (hereafter girl 2) and place it on top. Create a frame where girl 2 is visible along side girl 1, and set the transparency of girl 2 to 0%. Create another frame where it's 100%, then Tween between those two to get your effect.

[Nyura Kousen]

I have a problem with VirtualDub.When I try to open a video file,it says:
"Couldn't locate descompressor for format Divx (Divx 4+) VirtualDub requires a video for Windows (VFW) compatible codec to descompress video.DirectSow codecs,such as those used by Windows Media Player,are not suitable."
I know the problem was solved in page 28,but I don't have ffdshow,I have MediaCoder and I don't know what I have to do.

[felix]

See the Faq, in this thread: http://forums.animesuki.com/showthread.php?t=26533

[GogetaSS4]

How do I eliminate duplicate pics with Virtual dub mod. Or modify the speed at which it take screen shots?

[Torchied60]

When I open a video in virtualdub, it says, "cannot detect file type of C:\documentsandsettings......" how do you fix it?

[felix]

Torchied, see: http://forums.animesuki.com/showthread.php?t=26533.

[AegisReborn]

I can't seem to get mine to start. It's a gif image, but it doesn't seem to be moving... :eyebrow:

Edit: actually, it seems to be happening only on this forum...

[elusive]

I found a super easy way to create gifs using VDub, Microsoft Gif Animator, and Gimp.

-i get the image sequence w/VDub
-use a batch converter to make those jpegs into gifs (MGA only recognizes gifs)
-add each image/frame to MGA (it lets you press play to preview the animation)
-save it
-open it in Gimp to crop/resize/edit etc

for a newbie like myself, this method was easier then using Gimp or Image Ready to create the actual animation. all i had to do in MGA is click an icon to add each image one by one, preview, and save. no adding layers or transparencies.

[panzerfan]

I am starting to wonder whether or not if people can make flash that fits all the criteria set for the signature. Having just been introduced to Flash, I am finding this tool to be much more powerful than using Imageready.

pondering hard about that right now...

[Sephi]

I am starting to wonder whether or not if people can make flash that fits all the criteria set for the signature. Having just been introduced to Flash, I am finding this tool to be much more powerful than using Imageready.

pondering hard about that right now...

It is. I have done 2 of them myself.

http://sephi2k7.free-site-host.com/index.html

first signature (26kb)
Snow is randomized. Direction of snow changes depending on the mouse movement.

Second signature (50kb)
Once again the randomized snow. And light glowing, and lighten up the faces.

But to get that working as a signature HTML has to be enabled. But giving users HTML and Flash actionscripting can make it harder to keep the site safe.

Though i would love to use a Flash signature here :)

[panzerfan]

Well, i suppose an a cross-site scripting attack would then be possible, or injecting malicious codes through actionscript...

I don't remember if you can do the same with *.gif, but I know that *.jpg can have malicious payload as well. It will take a bit more work on the part of the admins to devote resources onto antivirus scan for all submitted signatures...

[Silencers]

Is there a way to do this with Fireworks CS3, which replaced Imageready in the CS3 package?

[felix]

Photoshop merged with ImageReady, sort of. Fireworks didn't replace Imageready, it's been there for some time...

[panzerfan]

I can add to the Imageready issue. Photoshop's "merge" with imageready isn't great... for that once you save as *.gif, you cannot open it with photoshop for touch-up work, for it will show only the first frame. The compression and the palette mapping leave artifacts behind over gif files which you must use Fireworks to clean up.

This means that one is better off working on your original image as a photoshop psd, and then have Fireworks on hand to open it and manipulate it. Honestly, Fireworks is superior to Photoshop at the job, but it's still not perfect for the task of making *.gif, plus that I suddenly ask myself as to 'why on Earth am I not doing this through Flash already?'

[felix]

I too would like to do with in flash. There 's no real security risk or anything silly like that, and it could probably be implemented with inline-frames to prevent oversize, the only issue is with detecting the size. Some of the mods might find it troublesome... but for what it's worth I wouldn't expect too much flash being used.

[Rhyel]

I use Beneton Movie GIF

Link to main site (http://software.benetonfilms.com/Beneton_Movie_GIF/)

Its if free, easy to use, You only need to optimize frames in gif first. :)

[SeijiSensei]

I can add to the Imageready issue. Photoshop's "merge" with imageready isn't great... for that once you save as *.gif, you cannot open it with photoshop for touch-up work, for it will show only the first frame. The compression and the palette mapping leave artifacts behind over gif files which you must use Fireworks to clean up.'

The GIMP opens animated gifs as a series of layers. You can edit each of them separately.

@Sephi: I really like your signature demos. They are both smaller than I expected at less than 50K. How hard would it be to make the second one an animated gif? I'm also concerned about the security implications of Flash animations, though I admit I haven't read up on the issue in some time.

[Sephi]

The GIMP opens animated gifs as a series of layers. You can edit each of them separately.

@Sephi: I really like your signature demos. They are both smaller than I expected at less than 50K. How hard would it be to make the second one an animated gif? I'm also concerned about the security implications of Flash animations, though I admit I haven't read up on the issue in some time.

It's possible, but it requires a insane amount of frames. And you would have to do it without the random snow. The Lucky Star one is a combination of snow being randomly generated. And the star glowing and lighten up the faces.

To create that you would first have to do the star glows with tweens. Which isn't a problem for Photoshop/Imageready. But than you have to do the snow manual one by one. Which is quite a pain and it has to match the glowing of the star for the loop. Overall i wouldn't recommend someone to try it in imageready. It's probably not a sane thing to do, and never possible to do it within 50kb.

To sum it up. It's possible, but never with the same size. And never with the same quality. Since flash doesn't suffer from a 256 color limit.

[Neaco]

I can add to the Imageready issue. Photoshop's "merge" with imageready isn't great... for that once you save as *.gif, you cannot open it with photoshop for touch-up work, for it will show only the first frame. The compression and the palette mapping leave artifacts behind over gif files which you must use Fireworks to clean up.
'


Actually.... YOU CAN.

Adobe will never tell you this but I figured out how to force Photoshop CS3 to open gifs with all frames.

First thing you do is open PS CS3 up and go to

File > IMPORT > VIDEO FRAMES AS LAYERS


Assuming you have some animated gif on your desktop already, well it doesn't show up in the LOAD Window right?

See where it says file name: at the bottom? (Where you are supposed to type the name of the file).

Type in *.*

Yes, just those three - asterisk, period, asterisk, no spaces between, and press enter.

Suddenly all the other files show up in the window above, including your gif, select it and click load.

A final screen pops up called Load Video to Layers. Just click Ok.

And the gif is opened with all frames.



If Adobe asks anything, I never typed this and you never saw this post ok?

[Utter_iMADNESS]

YES!!! I finally figured out how to make my own gifs after hours of experimenting!!!:D
Here's my first one i got it from Rozen Maiden Traumend:
http://img264.imageshack.us/img264/8859/rozenmaiden1oi2.gif (http://imageshack.us)

I used Photoshop CS3 Extended and virtualdub. And i find it weird that my gifs tend to work better on firefox cuz they seem to lag with IE. :confused:

[Dxon]

I dont get it. I want to save it. So I do save as.. (I use PS CS3)
I choose .GIF and safe into my DONE folder. But then I just get one frame saved!! O_o
How to make it complete into a moving GIF?? (Im just noob. :P )

[edit1]
I just finished my second moving avatar. Better or worse. I like it. ^^
First one is <- . :D

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj20/Dxon/GFX/Tenma-twitch.gif

[Mr Bland]

Hmmm, I don't see "Save image sequence"

nevermind, it was under export :heh:

[sasuke13]

Sometimes when I have my finished product, they show pink "snow" during it's actions. Why is that, and how can I prevent that? :confused:

[felix]

Pink snow..?! a example please...

[sasuke13]

I forgot to mention an important part that I used the GIFs on MySpace...:uhoh:

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h155/yuensan/Screencaps/1b19980c.jpg

If I show the GIFs here, they won't show the pink, but in MySpace, they do show them. This is just a still image of wut's happeneing. The 2 icons on the bottom just have a little bit of pink. Is that common? :confused:

[felix]

Uhh.. no. It's abnormal. I can only imagine that when it comes to MySpace your uploading them to the site or something and they are doing re-optimizing ~ in the process screwing the entire thing.

[sasuke13]

oh ic, that sux...

[RNKxBoA]

Hi everyone,

been a long time, since I last visited this topic.
But I got this problem, I encountered while making a new GIF.
It comes out all black!

Check:
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b280/Rajibu/WG-SNSD.gif

WTH?!

[felix]

Looks like it's been optimized to hell.

What were you using to create it?
Does it look like that in the optimization window?
Does this happen to others you make?

[RNKxBoA]

a. imageready. made a gif using virtualdub
b. no, it looked good
c. never...I made 2 other gifs today, they came out good

the only thing I did different then described in the tut, I first made it a gif.
instead of saving frames.
the gif virtualdub created was also fine.

[v717]

Just type MovToGIF in the google search bar, follow the closest link and Download "MovToGIF" Its a Freeware and it's size is only 82Kb.
You don't even have to install it.

[RNKxBoA]

no weird watermarks?

EDIT:
This won't work for me, since I need to cut a part from it that I want to see.
thnx anyway!

[Myname]

Question: How does one tween multiple images in FireWorks the way ImageReady tweens multiple images?

You know, how one image fades to another? It was easy to do in ImageReady but since Adobe discontinued it, I'm only left with FireWorks.

I've converted the frames that I want to tween, into symbols. Then I select the frames and go Modify > Symbol > Tween, but it keeps saying that I need to select different instances of the same symbol in the library. Yea, I don't quite get what that means and I've tried almost everything.

Thanks.

[fallin up]

when i resize a large image will it be distorted with this program?

[felix]

This program being?...

If you're talking about the programs in the guide, no.
Well, you can distort it intentionally if you say shrink only one dimension.

[portia_isabel]

wow i love the tutorials thanks a million

[AuditionEX]

Ei faffy can I ask a Q?

I just open a gif file. I want to know the easiest step by step procedure on how to add [3px black border, inside] and [2px white border, inside].

so it would be liek this http://www.imagehustler.com/0208/1202002950.gif

I tried that custom and I am confused. I tried my own research but failed...

[felix]

There's a entire Tutorial thread in Fan Creation. o.O

But anyway...
Open the file in ImageReady.
Add New Layer. Make sure it's on top.
Ctrl + A, meaning select all.
Go Edit > Stroke, set it to inside.
Add a 2 px white border.
Repeat, adding a 1px black border.

That will get you the effect in your example.
ps. You are allowed to delete your own posts. (Edit > Delete)

[AuditionEX]

oh ya. damn i forgot that teknik hahaha.

stupid me.

many thanks again ! :)

[Daikazekage]

Thanks a million! But there are still a few questions for me to ask you.

Where can I download ImageReady? I cant seem to find it anywhere.

[felix]

ImageReady comes with Photoshop. From Photoshop CS3 onwards it's integrated into the system.

Before you ask. You are not allowed to ask where to download it illegaly!

[Synria_]

Is there a possibility of updating this tutorial to fit CS3?

[felix]

There is no need to update that tutorial. There have been a duzen others posted already.
Hm. I'm guessing you haven't seen the Sig/Avatar tutorials by the makers [Index in First Post] (http://forums.animesuki.com/showthread.php?t=26533) thread.

[Synria_]

O wow... thats a nice help list. Thanks!

[teachopvutru]

If I have a 500x500 image with frames already there that I'm about to make a 100x100 animated gif out of, then which of the following would result in better quality:

1) Turn image into Index Mode then resize.
2) Resize then turn image into Index Mode.
3) Both will have the same quality or it isn't as noticeable.

[Daikazekage]

Is there anyway I can do without ImageReady? Gimp perhaps?

[SeijiSensei]

Is there anyway I can do without ImageReady? Gimp perhaps?

I use the GIMP on Linux to make animated gifs all the time. Here's my usual strategy:

1) Play the segment of the video I need to capture with mplayer using the options "-ao null -vo jpeg -ss hh:mm:ss -endpos nn" replacing hh:mm:ss with the starting time of the segment, and nn with the number of seconds to capture. This creates a sequence of numbered .jpeg files with each of the frames.

You can use whatever alternative method you have available as long as you end up with the frame sequence as individual graphic files that the GIMP can read.

2) Open the initial frame of the sequence in the GIMP. Then, in that frame's GIMP window, use the command "File > Open as Layers" to select all the remaining frames you wish to include. All the frames you have selected will be overlaid on top of the initial one.

3) Use Filters > Animation > Optimize (for GIF) to have the GIMP convert the sequence into one where only the frame-to-frame changes are preserved.

4) You can now crop or scale the new, differenced sequence as needed. Editing the layered images is much trickier since you'll need to make sure any changes you make propagate across the entire sequence.

5) Choose File > Save and give the resulting file a .gif extension. GIMP will ask if you want to flatten the layers or save them as an animation. In the following dialog, I usually replace the default 100 ms delay between frames with 40 ms, since that's approximately the length of time a frame appears on screen when shot in 24p.

It can be a challenge to stay under AS's 50 kbyte file-size limit. The simplest solution is to scale the entire graphic down until it fits, but I've also used the approach of throwing away some of the intermediate frames. I've been impressed how much animation can be preserved in just a few frames.

I'll also occasionally duplicate the sequence in reverse order to improve the smoothness during looping. For instance, if there are 5 frames, I might duplicate the first four and create the sequence (1 2 3 4 5 4 3 2 1). Often I'll play with the times the frames appear on screen as well. You can add. copy, and delete frames, and change their timings, in the Layers dialog (Ctrl-L). To change a time, click that frame's entry in the Layers dialog, change the number, then hit enter. I usually keep the first and last frames on screen longer than the intermediate ones.

[Gotank]

I use GIF Construction Set Professional 3.

It's very user friendly, and configurations are very easy to make, be it croping or controlling the frames. The program also has a trial period, which is good.

After getting the program, it's just a matter of getting the frames. Usually, you can rip these straight out of the videos. Either by pausing the video, then traversing frame by frame and using screen capture, or slowing down the video and unpausing for small amounts of time for video players that don't offer the option of frame by frame traversal.

After getting all the frames for a desired animated sequence, it's just a matter of loading them into the program and let it compile.

All in all it's fairly simple.

[felix]

1) Turn image into Index Mode then resize.
2) Resize then turn image into Index Mode.
3) Both will have the same quality or it isn't as noticeable.

Late reply but, 3) is the closest to the truth.
Although in theory I think it's 2, I never actually got anywhere in practice. :heh:

[hannahkatreena]

do i still need to download the episode to make it a gif?:heh:

[felix]

Um. Not necessarily...

Random frames which were preferably in close to each other at some point will usually generate a eye-pleasing animation, which is to say it will look good enough to use. So downloading the episode is not necessary should you have access to a frame sequence.

[IHaveCrayons]

Wow thanks for the guide. And to think... I used to use ULEAD gif animator...

[Jill Valentine]

i am doing the same thing but i can't import the video what should i do please help me

[cicido]

I'm having some troubles with opening a mkv file in Virtual Dub, I tried AviSynth but it doesn't work, can somebody explain the procedure more clearly please.

(I am kind of stupid when it come to things like this so thanks to who ever tries to answer my question)

[felix]

http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=431070

There's nothing to explain, it doesn't get more idiot proof then that.
Please try to explain what you're doing so that we may guess what it is you're doing wrong.

[Jill Valentine]

it says it doesent exist i mean the video when i import it in imageready

[felix]

You don't import the video to IR. Please use VirtualDub as specified to rip the screens then import to IR the folder containing the frames. Just as you would for a normal one.

[cicido]

http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=431070

There's nothing to explain, it doesn't get more idiot proof then that.
Please try to explain what you're doing so that we may guess what it is you're doing wrong.

This is what my video.avs looks like:
DirectShowSource("D:\BitTornado\[SS-Eclipse] Kyouran Kazoku Nikki - 01 (XviD) [3AFFBD34].avi")

When I tried to open it with VirtualDub, it says something like:
http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/6461/vderrorcs0.gif

[felix]

Try installing XviD. (see: Index - shortFAQ (http://forums.animesuki.com/showthread.php?t=26533) for link)

[cicido]

Well, at least I can work my XviDs now!
Thank you!

[Jill Valentine]

oh lol how stupid i am and i dont have virtual dub can you tell me where to download it?

[felix]

Google (http://www.google.co.uk) is your friend. The alternative to google (when it comes to software) is Sourceforge (http://sourceforge.net/). A lot of projects call it home. (including VirtualDub (http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=9649)) Either are very efficient at finding things for you.

Have fun. And next time think before you ask. ;)

[Jill Valentine]

Google (http://www.google.co.uk) is your friend. The alternative to google (when it comes to software) is Sourceforge (http://sourceforge.net/). A lot of projects call it home. (including VirtualDub (http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=9649)) Either are very efficient at finding things for you.

Have fun. And next time think before you ask. ;)

lol ok i will next time thx for the help anyway:D
btw which one should i download vd win or vd experimental?and i dont know how to open zip files :(

[felix]

A .zip file is a Archive; a encoded version of the original meant to save space.
You can de-Archive it with programs like 7-Zip (http://www.7-zip.org/).

[Synria_]

<----------------

Ok made my first animated avatar. In any case I have some questions...

1. How do I save an animated gif so that I can open it again with all the frames in animation mode?
2. Is there a way to slow down the animation? Or do I have to choose carefully the fps when first opening the image sequence? Or it doesn't even matter, it only goes at playback pace. (you can't change how fast it is played)
3. I tried what someone said, File > Import > Video Frames to Layers and used "*.*" and picked the gif file, but CS3 crashed at this part, i'm not sure why... Does anyone know any way of opening a gif in photoshop with frames already there for you?
4. After I followed the tutorial on File > Scripts > Load Files into stack, I am able to crop one layer and it will automatically do the same to all the layers, but when I add a border, it only does it to one layer. How will I be able to add a border to one layer so that it affects the rest? Or is my only option is to follow the last portion of Uzumaki's tutorial where I have to make actions?

Thanks.

[felix]

Old CS2 & New CS3
As long as you open with ImageReady you will have your frames. If you want the non-optimized version then make sure to do a Save As..., and save it as PSD (PhotoShop Document)


In the animation window under each frame there is such a thing as a frame rate. You can choose whatever you wish. For the fastest do not choose 0 but 0.01 as it tends to be faster for certain programs which display GIFs. Each frame can be tuned individually. You also have a option at the bottom left (? if I rem member right) where you can choose weather the animation should loop or stop at the last frame.


(no idea)


The border must be on it's own empty layer which should be positioned in your Layer Pallet on top of all other layers. It should also be visible on all frames.

[sa547]

Thanks to this tutorial, and the trick to use the Grab function that came with FFDShow, this one below is one of my better products:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d135/soulassassin547/avatar/nanay-godzilla.gif

Sometimes because there's an instance in which there are duplicate images for two frames or more, causing the resulting GIF to look slow, so I had to remove the duplicate frames to "speed" up the animation.

[Jill Valentine]

i cant get it when i dl vd and i extract the zip files in one folder in my desktop i get 4 or 5 files and i cant open them can you explain how i should de archive?

[HayashiTakara]

Question... I upload an animated gif as my avatar but its not animated... is there a different format i need to use to make it animated?

[SeijiSensei]

@HayashiTakara
Your avatar has only one layer, so it wasn't saved in a format that permits animation. Perhaps you accidentally chose an option to flatten the layers into one while saving?

@soulassassin: Usually I remove all the duplicate frames and adjust the timings manually by changing the length of time each frame is displayed. If an animator wants to maintain a single image on screen for a duration of time, the easiest thing to do is to duplicate that frame as often as needed. With animated gifs you can set the timings of each individual layer. This enables you to minimize the size of the file, yet still vary the timings.

If you run a differencing filter on the image, it should throw out the duplicate frames itself and adjust the timings accordingly. The "Optimize for GIF" filter in the GIMP (http://www.gimp.org) does this, for instance.

[HayashiTakara]

nvm I figured it out!

[Aijou]

This is my first GIF avatar ever made ( 100x100 and less than 50kb, GIMP software ):
http://www.imagehustler.com/0408/1210088029.gif

I didn't realise it's that hard to make a GIF.:rolleyes:
Now I must try to figure out how to add border. I always mess up at those ( I'll just read the previous posts, i'm new at this ).

[kache]

Thank u very much for the tutorial, Uzumaki626! ^__^

[Magedark]

I second that. It was a really great tutorial.

However, my gifs end up slower when shown on the web than when I preview it in Imageready. Any tips?

[sa547]

I second that. It was a really great tutorial.

However, my gifs end up slower when shown on the web than when I preview it in Imageready. Any tips?

If you have the FFDshow filters installed (typically with CCCP), the Grab configuration panel includes the following:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d135/soulassassin547/misc/th_ss002.jpg (http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d135/soulassassin547/misc/ss002.jpg)

"Every frame" -- when selected, Grab will take every frame from pause to pause (or from play to stop) and write the captured frames to file (each numbered individually).

"Grab every x frame" -- You can adjust the grab rate here, x being the number of frames to skip. Usually 2 or 3 are good settings in order to match the frame rate (or "speed"), because if it's set to 1 the resulting GIF would be slow.

"Path" -- the directory where to save the frame grabs. Normally I set them to a Grab folder at My Documents.

------
Otherwise, another thing to do is to find duplicate frames (either in the folder containing the grabbed frames) and remove them, or delete them in Imageready at editing time.

[goombas]

can you tell me where i can download Adobe Imageready because I can't find it anywhere.

[SeijiSensei]

I'll reply to this, and you're probably not going to like what I have to say.

No one here will tell you where to "download" ImageReady because it's commercial software. A quick perusal of the forum rules would show that pointing to "warez" is forbidden.


What bothers me is that there is a large number of free, often "open-sourced" programs that anyone can download and use. Why not try the GIMP (http://www.gimp.org/), for instance? Why not look for the free alternatives instead of trying to pirate a program that's created for professional designers and priced accordingly?

The future of software is free and open, not commercial and proprietary. If you think you're somehow "sticking it to the man" by pirating commercial software, you should think again. The way to really stick it to the man is to switch to free and open alternatives and leave the Adobe's of the world with a small, and shrinking, marketplace.


How about browsing the Software (http://forums.animesuki.com/showthread.php?t=63805) thread in this forum, or perhaps spending some time at SourceForge (http://sourceforge.net/)?

[goombas]

well this is because the thread beginning said to use ImageReady, it isn't my fault they don't refer to using freeware =_='

[Jill Valentine]

well this is because the thread beginning said to use ImageReady, it isn't my fault they don't refer to using freeware =_='

uhmmm you cant even if there is ir on the web it is limited time just go and buy the ir cd or go to e-cafe and tell them to install it doesent cost too much:D

[miroku2192]

nvm i think i found the link where you can use photoschop cs3 with virtualdub

http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=1398342

i think thats the link if anyone else needs it

[Utter_iMADNESS]

i have adobe photoschop cs3 or something like that...can i use that program instead of image ready? i have all these "school administered programs" on my computer (a crap load of adobe programs, but no image ready (lol))...so can someone show me how to do it with vdub and something other than imageready?

thanks!!!

Adobe Photoshop CS3 comes with Imageready embedded into Photoshop itself. You can open the animation window by going to Window-->Animation.

[marksky]

Im still a newbiewhen it comes to making sig in photoshop and i just finished downloaded it, and i don't know if someone already asked this or not but, just wanna ask how to put text in your sig? Sorry if i ask this dumb question, its just my first time making, so please bear with me..:(

[Sephi]

The text tool. Hotkey for it is (T) The button looks like a big T to.

Btw, i think it's best if you edit/remove the part of your post where you say how you got your photoshop, just to be on the save side.

[marksky]

The text tool. Hotkey for it is (T) The button looks like a big T to.

Btw, i think it's best if you edit/remove the part of your post where you say how you got your photoshop, just to be on the save side.

The horizontal type tool? After that what button i should click so that i can type a text?

[Sephi]

Yes the horizon type tool. After selecting it, just press on any location on the sig and you can start typing.

[marksky]

Yay!! That's more like it.. can i put two pics in one sig? i mean, can i blend them?

[felix]

What makes you think you can't...

[marksky]

What makes you think you can't...

Uhmm, that's y im asking.. im so sorry asking these dumb questions, this is really my first time making one.. Anyone willing to help me making my first sig, i'll PM you.. :(:(

[Silver Soul]

As you can see with my avatar I 'm inneed of some suggestions, what went wrong I had a gif already made and I used Adobe Imageready and I may it as small as possible,49.7kb, so why doesnt look good, also can you tell me how yoy get such great qualtiy and the borders as well. so input would be nice on how I can save this mess

[royal007]

thanks for ll the help, my profile pic is the first one i have ever made, thanks

[royal007]

but i dont get why it wont come up?

[Riker]

but i dont get why it wont come up?

Because your profile picture only shows up in... well your profile (http://forums.animesuki.com/member.php?u=80783).
If you meant your avatar then you'll have to click the Edit Avatar (http://forums.animesuki.com/profile.php?do=editavatar) link in your user profile.

Take note that your profile picture is 52kb and you can only upload an avatar that is 50kb and less.

[royal007]

Because your profile picture only shows up in... well your profile (http://forums.animesuki.com/member.php?u=80783).
If you meant your avatar then you'll have to click the Edit Avatar (http://forums.animesuki.com/profile.php?do=editavatar) link in your user profile.

Take note that your profile picture is 52kb and you can only upload an avatar that is 50kb and less.

Thanks alot, its make me feel stupid to think i over looked something so tiny, much love, and thanks again

[Photonbeam]

Install Avisynth (http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=57023&package_id=72557).

Avisynth code:

Open notepad program. Then add:

DirectShowSource("C:\location to file\filename with extention")

Example:

DirectShowSource("C:\Documents and Settings\Admin\My Documents\Video Old\[Arienai_-_Conclave]_Ginban_Kaleidoscope_-_04_[H264_-_AAC][7DCB1A58].mp4")

Then: Save file /all file types/ save file as: video.avs

Now open virtualdub, and drag that video.avs file onto that virtualdub window to run the script.

Also be sure that if running ffdshow, that ffdshows' VFW codec configuration, has H.264 enabled to libavcodec within the Decoder\codecs option.

Can I ask some questions? I had opened Notepad and then typed DirectShowSource("DirectShowSource(C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\AviSynth 2.5"). After I dragged the video.avs file in the virtualdub window to run the script I get this error.

Avisynth open failure:
Script error: there is no function named "DirectShowSource"
(C:\Documents and Settings\JASON YUP\Desktop\VirtualDub-1.8\video.avs, line 1)



Another question, where can I find the Decoder\codecs option? Sorry for being so noob. :(

[Nagato]

Can I ask some questions? I had opened Notepad and then typed DirectShowSource("DirectShowSource(C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\AviSynth 2.5"). After I dragged the video.avs file in the virtualdub window to run the script I get this error.

Avisynth open failure:
Script error: there is no function named "DirectShowSource"
(C:\Documents and Settings\JASON YUP\Desktop\VirtualDub-1.8\video.avs, line 1)



Another question, where can I find the Decoder\codecs option? Sorry for being so noob. :(
Read again the post you quoted. It's DirectShowSource("C:\location to file\filename with extention")
You are using wrong syntax, and not directshowsourcing a (video) file at all.

For codecs settings -> "Also be sure that if running ffdshow, that ffdshows' VFW codec configuration,..."
Start->all programs -> ffdshow -> vfw configuration, for example.

[Photonbeam]

Read again the post you quoted. It's DirectShowSource("C:\location to file\filename with extention")
You are using wrong syntax, and not directshowsourcing a (video) file at all.

For codecs settings -> "Also be sure that if running ffdshow, that ffdshows' VFW codec configuration,..."
Start->all programs -> ffdshow -> vfw configuration, for example.

I typed it wrong here sorry.


DirectShowSource(C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\AviSynth 2.5")

This is what I wrote in there and I got this error.

Avisynth open failure:
Script error: there is no function named "DirectShowSource"
(C:\Documents and Settings\JASON YUP\Desktop\VirtualDub-1.8\video.avs, line 1)


Another question. When I open Start->Programs->List of programs here, all the text which should be visible (the text of the programs listed) is color black and all I can see are the icons of the programs. Help please

[Usami Haru]

Syntax problem. Nagato is right.
Have an example:
DirectShowSource("C:\Documents and Settings\Litxita\Escritorio\Tengen_Toppa_Gurren-Lagann_23_V2_BySilver.mp4")
lol spanish

Are you sure you typed something like this? Because from what I see, and it is obvious, you put AviSynth 2.5 as the video file. Check that. ;)

And if is not that, what kind of file are you trying to open? I got that error while back, and it was because the file had the extention missing in the original video.
if it is a youtube video, it's normal to happen, just add the extention .flv and it should fix.

[Photonbeam]

I tried typing this one in the Notepad and dragged the video.avs file in the VirtualDub window

DirectShowSource("C:\Documents and Settings\JASON YUP\Desktop\Background Musics, Anime Opening and Ending Themes\Brand New World.mp4")

and still got this error.


Avisynth open failure:
Script error: there is no function named "DirectShowSource"
(C:\Documents and Settings\JASON YUP\Desktop\video.avs, line 1)

[Nagato]

^Like stated in Green²'s post, make sure you have the codecs configured.

>>Another question. When I open Start->Programs->List of programs here, all the text which should be visible (the text of the programs listed) is color black and all I can see are the icons of the programs. Help please

Perhaps you messed up the settings or worse got virus, etc on your system.
For ffdshow vfw configuration you can also access it from virtualdub.
Open virtualdub ->video ->compression ->ffdshow video codec ->configure

[Green²]

I tried typing this one in the Notepad and dragged the video.avs file in the VirtualDub window

DirectShowSource("C:\Documents and Settings\JASON YUP\Desktop\Background Musics, Anime Opening and Ending Themes\Brand New World.mp4")

and still got this error.


Avisynth open failure:
Script error: there is no function named "DirectShowSource"
(C:\Documents and Settings\JASON YUP\Desktop\video.avs, line 1)

Is the file, DirectShowSource.dll, listed within AviSynth's plugins directory? (Usually located at C:\Program Files\AviSynth 2.5\plugins\)

If not there, but is found somewhere else, one could probably try procedure:

Open notepad program. Then add:

LoadPlugin("Path of where the DirectShowSource.dll file is located*")
DirectShowSource("C:\Documents and Settings\JASON YUP\Desktop\Background Musics, Anime Opening and Ending Themes\Brand New World.mp4")

Then: Save file /all file types/ save file as: video.avs

Now open virtualdub, and drag that video.avs file onto that virtualdub window to run the script.

Should the DirectShowSource.dll file be nowhere to be found on the computer, you likely will need to reinstall the AviSynth program.

Other resources:
http://avisynth.org/mediawiki/FAQ_common_errors

*This part you must Barack Obama.

[Photonbeam]

Is the file, DirectShowSource.dll, listed within AviSynth's plugins directory? (Usually located at C:\Program Files\AviSynth 2.5\plugins\)

If not there, but is found somewhere else, one could probably try procedure:

Open notepad program. Then add:

LoadPlugin("Path of where the DirectShowSource.dll file is located*")
DirectShowSource("C:\Documents and Settings\JASON YUP\Desktop\Background Musics, Anime Opening and Ending Themes\Brand New World.mp4")

Then: Save file /all file types/ save file as: video.avs

Now open virtualdub, and drag that video.avs file onto that virtualdub window to run the script.

Should the DirectShowSource.dll file be nowhere to be found on the computer, you likely will need to reinstall the AviSynth program.

Other resources:
http://avisynth.org/mediawiki/FAQ_common_errors

*This part you must Barack Obama.


I tried what you wrote and this is what I got.

LoadPlugin("C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\AviSynth 2.5\plugins")
DirectShowSource("C:\Documents and Settings\JASON YUP\Desktop\Background Musics, Anime Opening and Ending Themes\Bleach - Episode 28 - Ending (11th Squad).wmv")

And got this error.

Avisynth open failure:
Load plugin: unable to load "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\Avisynth 2.5\plugins"
(C:\Documents and Settings\JASON YUP\Desktop\video.avs, line 1)

And please can I ask for you to check if I got the correct decoder options.

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q51/Shukaku1/DecoderOptions.jpg

[Green²]

I tried what you wrote and this is what I got.

LoadPlugin("C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\AviSynth 2.5\plugins")
DirectShowSource("C:\Documents and Settings\JASON YUP\Desktop\Background Musics, Anime Opening and Ending Themes\Bleach - Episode 28 - Ending (11th Squad).wmv")

And got this error.

Avisynth open failure:
Load plugin: unable to load "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\Avisynth 2.5\plugins"
(C:\Documents and Settings\JASON YUP\Desktop\video.avs, line 1)

And please can I ask for you to check if I got the correct decoder options.

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q51/Shukaku1/DecoderOptions.jpg

Try:

LoadPlugin("C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\AviSynth 2.5\plugins\DirectShowSource.dll")
DirectShowSource("C:\Documents and Settings\JASON YUP\Desktop\Background Musics, Anime Opening and Ending Themes\Bleach - Episode 28 - Ending (11th Squad).wmv")

Also, it is likely you will not have to mess with any encoder codec options there to load the video. However, you may want to make sure to use only one AviSynth program. If AviSynth is already installed and registered somewhere else on your computer, untick AviSynth in the ffdshow video encoder properties (Also untick AviSynth in the ffdshow video decoder properties window.), should that be a result of the program conflict.

[Photonbeam]

Try:

LoadPlugin("C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\AviSynth 2.5\plugins\DirectShowSource.dll")
DirectShowSource("C:\Documents and Settings\JASON YUP\Desktop\Background Musics, Anime Opening and Ending Themes\Bleach - Episode 28 - Ending (11th Squad).wmv")

Also, it is likely you will not have to mess with any encoder codec options there to load the video. However, you may want to make sure to use only one AviSynth program. If AviSynth is already installed and registered somewhere else on your computer, untick AviSynth in the ffdshow video encoder properties (Also untick AviSynth in the ffdshow video decoder properties window.), should that be a result of the program conflict.

Man that worked! Thank you so much.

[alamarco]

http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/995/medusa01jz1.gif

Does anyone have any tips on how to optimize that? I already removed every other frame, but the file size is still 200+ KB. I even tried color options, I don't know what else to do.

[felix]

Sig/Avatar tutorials by the makers [Index in First Post] (http://forums.animesuki.com/showthread.php?t=26533)
I put a optimizing check list there. (see: Section B.)

But please realise this world has physical limitations.
In the end, reducing it's lenght may be the best thing you can do.

[alamarco]

Thanks for the link, I'll check out it. Also thanks for the tip :).

edit: If you don't mind, do you know a good frame approximation? For example, how many frames will produce good results? I know there's no definite answer, but more or less just looking for an approximation on what to expect.

For my first try I'll say not bad, but definitely not the greatest. You can see the colour quality isn't the greatest. I'll try fooling around later with a different sequence later. Practise makes perfect is what they say :).

[G.o.S]

Install Avisynth (http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=57023&package_id=72557).

Avisynth code:

Open notepad program. Then add:

DirectShowSource("C:\location to file\filename with extention")

Example:

DirectShowSource("C:\Documents and Settings\Admin\My Documents\Video Old\[Arienai_-_Conclave]_Ginban_Kaleidoscope_-_04_[H264_-_AAC][7DCB1A58].mp4")

Then: Save file /all file types/ save file as: video.avs

Now open virtualdub, and drag that video.avs file onto that virtualdub window to run the script.

Also be sure that if running ffdshow, that ffdshows' VFW codec configuration, has H.264 enabled to libavcodec within the Decoder\codecs option.
I did exactly like the instruction said and got this error :(
http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/3442/gospcscreenver111pw1.th.jpg (http://img520.imageshack.us/my.php?image=gospcscreenver111pw1.jpg)
Can somebody help me with this, please :confused:
edit:
A ha, it's working! Just need to use the ANSI encoding, why did I even use unicode, silly me :D

[SeijiSensei]

I've made avatars for a couple of years now using the GIMP and always envied those frames some people used. Here's an example:

http://www.takinganimeseriously.com/images/avatars/chiko-in-chains.gif compared to http://www.takinganimeseriously.com/images/avatars/chiko-in-chains-bordered.gif

Well after a little friendly nagging from The Chaos, I decided to figure out how to add a frame in the GIMP, my one and only method of editing graphics. It's actually quite easy to do.

The following steps assume you've created the avatar to your liking and now want to add a frame. The image must be no larger than 96x96 pixels since the framing technique below will add four pixels to each dimension.

1) Open the file you wish to frame, then select Filters > Decor > Add Border.

2) The avatar above actually has two frames, each one pixel in width. There's a white frame nested inside the black one. To use this type of framing:
a) Set the Border X Size and Border Y Size to 1 and the Border Color to white; ignore the "delta" item. Then click OK to add the frame.
b) Repeat this process after setting Border Color to black. You'll have a nested frame.

3) If the avatar is animated, you need to merge the frames into the background. Press Ctrl-L to open the layers dialog; you'll see the border frames at the top. Use the down arrow in the toolbar at the bottom of the Layers window to move the two frames to a position just above the Background. Then right-click on the top-most border frame and pick Merge Down. Repeating this process will merge the borders into the background. If you don't do this, the borders will not remain on screen during the animation but will flash in and out (there's an example of this problem on the current version of this page).

4) Have fun!

[felix]

I've added your tutorial to the index (http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=411218).

I just want to point out you can also find GIMP tutorials there, besides the usual PS ones. ;)
Like for example one of the many tutorials writen by Greeny: Borders in Gimp (http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=326196)

[SeijiSensei]

Thanks, Cats!

You might want to delete the reference in (3) to the avatar with flashing borders in the tutorial version since the reference won't make sense out of context.

[nawal]

every file i load to this gets an error , codec error prop , but i have most codec's installed

"could not locate decompressor for format xxxx"

[natearistata]

Hello all. I recently started browsing the avatars and such on this forum, and decided I should learn how to make them myself.

I followed Green's instructions using Gimp, but the avatar I made is fairly choppy and doesn't move as fast as the video/most of the other avatars I see around here. How would I go about fixing that? Any help would be very appreciated.

[felix]

Delete any duplicate, or otherwise less important frames.
The human eye and mind is very clever when it comes to filling in what isn't there.

[G.o.S]

@natearistata: Try setting the frame delay time to about 100 ms [naming your layer something like: "abc(100ms)"]. Why don't you try posting the gif that you made?
@SeijiSensei: nice trick :) but I think you should add a warming that your tutorial will add about 4 pixels to the original dimension. So if anybody want to make a AS friendly ava, they wouldn't start with a 100x100 gif and end up with a 104x104 ava :p

[natearistata]

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x251/natearistata/Ikakku.gif

Here is the image in question. It's 34 frames, used to be around 52 I think before I deleted ones that looked the same to me.

One other question too, in Gimp when trying to resize, it seems to keep the picture proportional regardless of how many times I try to make it 100x100, so it instead ends up 100x75. How would I go about getting around that?

[SeijiSensei]

Looking at your sample with the GIMP, I see all the frames have the default 100 ms timing. If you want to speed them up, you can reduce the delays to, say, 80 or 90 ms. Remember that most fansubs use 24 frames per second, which means each frame appears on screen for about forty milliseconds (~ 1000/24). If most of the frames you're using were adjacent in the source material, you might want to try delays in the 40-60 ms range to see if they give you the speed you desire.

I've never yet found a way in GIMP to select all the layers and change them all to a different timing at once, so you have to double-click each entry in the Layers dialog (Ctrl-L), change the text, and hit enter to save the changes.

As for the shape of the image, it depends on how you captured it. Usually I start by building a full-sized image composed of all the layers from the original source frames. I then cut out a square section with the Rectangle Select tool. In my version of the GIMP (2.4.3), the Rect tool options allow you to specify the aspect ratio of the selection. I check the box for Fixed, choose Aspect Ratio in the drop-down selection, then enter 1:1 in the box below if if it's not there already. Then I use the Rect tool to select a square region, followed by Image > Crop to Selection to discard the remainder of the image.

If you tried resizing a 100x75 image into a square shape, the whole image will be badly distorted. By default the Image > Scale Image tool enforces the original aspect ratio on the scaled result. You can override this by clicking on the little chain icon to the right of the width/height boxes in the Scale Image dialog. That will let you pick an arbitrary width and height, but you probably won't like the result.

One way I use to pick frames is to put them all into a directory, then step through the images sequentially with an image viewer. (In Linux/KDE, Konqueror's image viewer works well for this.) You'll see right away if and how the frames differ. As Cats says, the human eye and brain fills in a lot of the details for you. The more avatars I've made, the more impressed I am with how few frames are needed to implement even complex motion sequences. For another example, see this avatar (http://forums.animesuki.com/picture.php?albumid=115&pictureid=1524) from my collection (http://forums.animesuki.com/album.php?albumid=115) with thirteen frames. Here I slowed the display rate down to achieve greater fludity of motion. I still couldn't keep to 100x100 in this case though, so when I was finished I shrank the entire avatar to 87x87 to fit under the limit.

That said, there's no chance you'll get an avatar with this many frames and this much animation to ever fit in the AS maximum file size of 50K; your example is more than twice that. This avatar (http://forums.animesuki.com/album.php?albumid=115&pictureid=1066), which I also posted in the framing tutorial above, has only eight frames because there's so much motion. At that, it just comes in under the bar at 49K; the image is 90x90 and the framing adds 2 px in each direction.

@G.o.S: You know, I thought about the problem of the frame bumping the AS limits, but I only considered the negligible effect on the file size and totally forgot about the limit on dimensions. :heh: I'll add some text about making sure the original is 96x96 or smaller when you start.

[G.o.S]

What SeijiSensei said :D I just want to add that if this is your first time making animated gif, you should go with simple one. After making some simple gifs to feel more comfortable, then you will be ready for more complicated animation. This is one of my problems when I first started. The animation has too many frames, I did not know how to shrink the size to AS's rule, how to make a border and on and on.... to the point that I just got tired and gave up :(
So I started watching slice of life shows like Lucky Star and Hidamari Sketch, which have a lot of good resources for making simple 3-4 frames gifs (open and close eyes, waving hands, shaking head etc). "Aha, so simple and so easy to make" was what I thought ;) I did have fun making them but the best part is when I can use them and that give me a boost :D

I've never yet found a way in GIMP to select all the layers and change them all to a different timing at once, so you have to double-click each entry in the Layers dialog (Ctrl-L), change the text, and hit enter to save the changes.

I even installed the GAP (GIMP Animation Package) but still have not been able to figure out how to change the timing for multible layers at a time :(

[sasuke13]

I have a question, I'm sure it has been answered already but...

Since Photoshop is CS3 now, how do u make GIFs without Imageready now?

[Scep]

Its integrated. Go to window>Animation to view the animation palette. From then on everything should be same as IR.

[sasuke13]

Its integrated. Go to window>Animation to view the animation palette. From then on everything should be same as IR.

Well, the thing I see that is gone from the CS2 'shop is that option where you can "upload frames from folders" (example-from VDub) So I'm looking for that option again.

[felix]

Well, the thing I see that is gone from the CS2 'shop is that option where you can "upload frames from folders" (example-from VDub) So I'm looking for that option again.

Detailed tutorial for you: http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=1960876

[Mr. DJ]

CS3 and Virtual Dub said "no" when I tried to use a video that was MP4 format...but had no problem w/ MP3 *sad panda*

[felix]

How to open any file with VirtualDub: http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=431070
Also read the index thread (http://forums.animesuki.com/showthread.php?t=26533) when you have questions, some like this one have already been answered.

[Green²]

I've never yet found a way in GIMP to select all the layers and change them all to a different timing at once, so you have to double-click each entry in the Layers dialog (Ctrl-L), change the text, and hit enter to save the changes.

In theory, I would think that after you convert the image to Indexed Mode, just go ahead and skip the Optimize for GIF process. Save the image as filename.gif, and when you see the Save as GIF window, specify within the Delay between frames where unspecified, the frame delay rate. Then once saved, open that newly saved file into the GIMP, and then go ahead and do the Optimize for GIF process, and save that as the final version.

Edit:

Looking at it, there's also a option within the Save as GIF window to Use delay entered above for all frames, which seems to be an override to force the Delay between frames where unspecified function to frames that already have a value specified.

[SeijiSensei]

Looking at it, there's also a option within the Save as GIF window to Use delay entered above for all frames, which seems to be an override to force the Delay between frames where unspecified function to frames that already have a value specified.

Those options appear in the 2.6.0 binary I built from source the other night, but I don't remember them appearing in 2.4.x.

I've taken your proposed route a couple of times, but it's still annoying that you can't work on a selection of layers simultaneously. Even simple tasks like turning off the display of all layers required tedious clicking in 2.4.

I haven't looked very deeply into 2.6.0 yet; I just wanted to see if it built correctly on my Fedora 8 box (answer, no, not without upgrading babl-devel and gecl-devel (http://forums.fedoraforum.org/showthread.php?t=200676) to 0.0.22 and 0.0.18 respectively from the development repositories) Maybe there are some improvements in layer management in the new release.

[StryderHiryu]

Thanks for this tut. i learned how to edit gif animations wohoo thanx
by the way my first attempt is sendo getting punch repeatedly :)

[Tekeshi]

Can some1 tell me, what have I done wrong?
This is what I created...
http://i36.tinypic.com/2zhl9jd.gif
I thought it'd be quality from 1st of em, but it isn't... Is there any way to fix it? What have I done wrong?
http://i35.tinypic.com/apitd0.png

[felix]

Increase the quality to something reasonable. Looks like Web Snap or something else is way too high or colors are set to 2-3.

Check http://forums.animesuki.com/showthread.php?p=411218#label_optimize for details.

[Tekeshi]

I found myself where I made mistake... I saved it as gif, not as frames^^ Anyway thanks :]

[Green²]

Frame Capture Guide - MPlayer

- Tested under Ubuntu 8.04 and MPlayer SVN r27751

Most of all that is needed is the MPlayer (http://www.mplayerhq.hu/design7/news.html) program, and some understanding of how to use Terminal (Not as bad as it sounds though.).


Procedure:

1) Play the video file that you want to grab images from, and note down the times from where the frames that you want, begin and end. (Example: 0:12:51 - 0:12:54)

2) Open your Terminal window, and type in:

mplayer -ao null -ss Start_of_video_image_sequence_time_goes_here -endpos Duration_in_seconds_of_how_long_to_capture_goes_he re Location_of_the_video_file_goes_here -vo png:outdir=moviedirectory

Editing the areas above in red of course.

An example in my case would be:

mplayer -ao null -ss 0:12:51 -endpos 3 '/home/green/Videos/Video Old/[Eclipse] Toaru Majutsu no Index - 08 (1280x720 h264) [71C6CA25].mkv' -vo png:outdir=moviedirectory

(Hint: You can usually just drag & drop the video file to the Terminal window, to input the file path.)

3) After running the command in Terminal, you should now find the captured images within the moviedirectory folder located under your Home Folder directory.

(Note: Image files within the moviedirectory folder will be overwritten each time you run the capture process, so it is best to move those images files to another directory for safe keeping.)

http://img133.imageshack.us/img133/9127/magichb1.gif (http://imageshack.us)


Sources:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=745643
http://www.mplayerhq.hu/DOCS/man/en/mplayer.1.html

[Frenchie]

Alright I've made a bit of research and can't seem to find anything about it.

Should I just reinstall AviSynth 2.5 if it gives me the following error?

AviSynth open failure:
AviSynth: script open failed!

I can't seem to figure out what I did wrong. Perhaps another program running in the background is in conflict?

As I've come to understand it, VD needs a specific codec to be able to read specific encode AVI's. The most recent ones, as I've come to realize. So the question is this: If AviSynth is meant to be a codec to use for VD and I've followed all of the instructions to the letter, but it doesn't seem to work, is there a replacement codec for it?

I was under the impression that ffdshow was for MPEG4's and I'm dealing with avi mostly. I haven't actually done any research on compression formats for videos, so don't hate on me, yeah? ;)

Anyways, just trying to make this work. Cheers in advance.

[felix]

Sounds to me like the path is wrong, in other words you are trying to open a file that is not there.

[Frenchie]

It's not the path, I checked before, and I just checked it again. The file is there. It shouldn't matter where the .avs is stored, right? Or should I store it in the same folder as VD or AviSynth?

Edit: After testing, it seems that it makes no difference whatsoever. I tried loading the plugin manually within the .avs as well (even though the file is already in the AviSynth folder under plugins) as without manually loading it. Both methods failed and I get the same error message.

I'm going to try reinstalling this, but I don't believe it will solve anything.

Edit2: Nope. I'm really stumped here.

Edit3: Alright I did some more research, long live google. It seems that there was a few codecs that conflict with each other: '"Script open failed!" without reporting the filename and line number of the offending script typically indicates there's something wrong that's auto-loaded. Try temporarily clearing out your plug-ins folder.'

I made a plugin backup of that folder, deleted the ffavisynth.dll and its AviSynth autoload script file of the same name, dragged the video.avs and BOOM. It worked.

I know I did most of this troubleshooting myself, but thanks for the tips anyway time to get to digging some avatars. :D

[Miki7]

thank you a lot :)

[kagemane80]

<---------- would be my first attempt v basic i know but just wanted to say thankyou uzumaki

[Game8910]

something weird has happened recently for some reason my vdubmod has started to refuse to load the mvk files....I had the correct plugin in the folder and it used to work but now everytime I load an mvk I get the message "File: (path) does not have a video stream" wtf

DShowInputDriver.vdplugin is what I had in the plugin folder

[felix]

vDubMod is old and very outdated, the reason it may not work is posibily some changes in the format that it can not handle.

[Game8910]

i figured it out...for some reason the problem seemed to be the file name itself...changed 1 letter and it worked.....wtf

[JustRob]

Nvm I already got it

[AnimeTheme]

Is there any free program or way to extract frames from a TRANSPARENT animated GIF? VirtualDub works only with animated GIF of solid background.

[Kanish]

<--- My first attempt. Ended up being a bit grainy when I reduced it to 100X100. Anyway. Thanks for the tut. Will make many more.

[Justice Knight]

does virtual dub only can handle anime? when i tried to make gifs from ff7acc ,the video lags like crazy.....