Figure 1
Tip: Animation is a continuous playback of static images. Before making animation, we must design the static image corresponding to each key frame. Keyframe display time settings are also important. This parameter also directly affects the playback effect. For users who are just getting started, trying several times with different parameters will yield unexpected results.
The first step, graphics production
Open Adobe Photoshop CS3 software to enter the work interface, double-click in the work space, and open the selected material in the pop-up "Open" dialog box. We can use photos we took ourselves, or we can use movie stills or cartoon character pictures as material. We chose funny stills from a classic comedy as material.
After adjusting and cutting the size, execute the "Window - Animation" command, open the "Animation" palette and start making exaggerated tears. First, we click the "Create New Layer" icon below the layers palette to create a new layer. Its default name is "Layer 1". We can double-click the "Layer 1" text behind the thumbnail in the layer palette to turn it into an editable state and rename it "Tear 1" to avoid confusing it. Layers get mixed up.
Next, we double-click the "Set Foreground Color" icon in the toolbox, set the foreground color to a lighter blue (R=232, G=250, B=255) in the pop-up "Color Picker" dialog box, and confirm Then select the "Rectangle Tool" in the toolbox and check the "Fill Pixels" icon in the "Rectangle Tool" option bar, so that you can draw a light blue directly under the character's eyes on the "Tear 1" layer Rectangle (Figure 2).
Figure 2
Then we select the "Tear 1" layer, execute the "FilterDistortWave" command, and set various parameters in the pop-up "Wave" dialog box. Press the "OK" button and an exaggerated wavy tear appears. We then select the "Rectangular Marquee Tool", select "Tear", then select the "Move Tool" and hold down the "Alt" key to copy the tear to the position below the right eye (Figure 3).
Figure 3
After completing the copy, we press the shortcut key
The next step is to use the Vertical Text Tool to add funny text to the image (Figure 4). Select the text layer, execute the "LayerLayer StyleStroke" command, open the "Layer Style" dialog box, and add a striking stroke effect to the text. Press the "OK" button (Figure 5).
Figure 4
Figure 5
The second step, animation production
To make an image move, the most critical step is to set keyframes. We continuously click the icon to create key frames below the animation palette (Figure 6), and a total of 5 key frames are needed.
Figure 6
First select the first keyframe, keep only the background layer and text in the layers palette, cancel the display of other layers, and set the display time of the keyframe to 0.1 seconds below the animation palette.
Select the second keyframe, keep the background layer and the tears 2 layer visible in the Layers palette, and cancel the display of the other layers, and set the opacity of the "tears 2" layer to 80%, leaving the key The display time of the frame is set to 0.2 seconds.
Select the third keyframe, keep the background layer and Tear 1 layer visible in the Layers palette, and cancel the display of the other layers, and set the opacity of the "Tear 1" layer to 80%, leaving the key The display time of the frame is set to 0.2 seconds.
Select the fourth keyframe, keep the background layer and the tears 2 layer visible in the layers palette, and cancel the display of the other layers, and set the opacity of the "tears 2" layer to 80%, leaving the key The display time of the frame is set to 0.2 seconds.
Select the fifth keyframe, keep the background layer and Tear 1 layer visible in the Layers palette, and cancel the display of the other layers, and set the opacity of the "Tear 1" layer to 80%. The display time of the frame is set to 0.5 seconds.
Next, we save the file as a psd file to make a backup, then execute the "FileSave for Web and Devices" command, select the gif format in the dialog box that opens, and appropriately optimize the animation. We must reduce the size of the animation to facilitate propagation (Figure 7). After optimization is completed, the image is stored on the local disk.
Figure 7
Step 3: Import QQ emoticons
After starting the QQ software, we select a friend to open the chat window, click the "Select Emoticon" button below the chat window to open the emoticon window, click "Emoticon Management" below the window, and then click the "Add" button. Click "Browse" in the pop-up "Add Custom Emoticon" window to find the animated gif we saved, and rename the emoticon or use the default name.
Figure 8
When we reopen the QQ chat window, take a look at the emoticon icon. Haha! You're done! The new expression has appeared in the expression library. After completing this simple dynamic QQ emoticon, we have a preliminary understanding of the principles and production of gif animation. In the future production process, we can decide how the pictures change and how the plot is set. As long as we draw inferences from one example and use unlimited creativity, we will surely be able to create more interesting dynamic QQ emoticons.
(Article from Computer News, Issue 2, 2008, Page F)