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daffodilian
Participant
May 20, 2013
Question

How do you insert an animated GIF into a PSD and preserve animation?

  • May 20, 2013
  • 2 replies
  • 31901 views

Hi all,

I have an animated GIF that I'd like to insert into a regular PSD file that I'm using as the background. The GIF is a foreground object. Another way to phrase my task is that I'm trying to add a static background to an animated GIF. How should I do this in order to  preserve the animation?

What I've tried to do is insert the animated GIF into a smart object in the PSD file but I can't get it to preserve the animation, even after making sure all the frames are copied.

Cheers,

Daffy

    This topic has been closed for replies.

    2 replies

    conroy
    conroy
    Participating Frequently
    May 20, 2013

    You don't say which version of Ps. Here's a way to do it in CS6:

    Open the animated GIF into Photoshop. You'll have a document with one layer per frame. Place/paste/drag the desired background image, move it to the bottom of the stack and if it's bigger than the GIF then do Image > Reveal All. Optionally convert it to an actual Background layer. Ensure the bottom layer is still targeted then, in the Timeline (animation) panel's menu, pick Match Layers Across Frames and click OK. Now the bottom layer will be displayed behind each frame.

    Edit: There is an option named "New Layers Visible in All Frames" in the Timeline panel. If that's enabled before you put the background into the animation document then the background will be automatically made to appear behind each frame.

      D
      daffodilianAuthor
      Participant
      May 20, 2013

      Conroy - thank you for your detailed instructions. I tried following along but I don't get either of the options - "Match Layers Across Frames" or "New Layers Visible In All Frames" - when I look at the Timeline menu. 

      I should probably add that the GIF I'm trying to insert is not one that I created with CS6, but rather one that I created from an imported .mov file, so there aren't any layers - each frame is flattened.

      Is there still a way I can add a static background image? There are hundreds of layers so duplicating the background across them all would be infeasible.

      conroy
      conroy
      Participating Frequently
      May 20, 2013

      You should have one layer per frame of the animation regardless of where the GIF was created.

      Are you opening the GIF, as I instructed, or are you using Place command or dragging it into an already open document?

      station_two
      station_two
      Inspiring
      May 20, 2013

      My guess is you're going to have to place a copy of your PSD behind evey single frame of your animated GIF and blend the two layers for each frame, or use a proper video or animation application instead of Photoshop.

      Don't take my post seriously because I don't really have a clue , I'm just marking the thread.  I'll be checking here to see what progress you make. 

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