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Create an Animated GIF Using GIMP
Featured Author:
Kevin Bibo
Kevin Bibo teaches high school computer multimedia in Southern California. He holds a Master of Education degree and is currently a teacher credential program instructor. In addition, Kevin is the author of Cal Teacher Blog. But most importantly Kevin loves spending time with his wife and five children.
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Kevin Bibo
PART 1: OPEN A NEW THE GIMP FILE:
1. Open The Gimp
2. Go to File>New (Ctrl+N)
3. Type
• Name: “animated_gif”
• Width: 100 pixels
• Height: 100 pixels
• Resolution: 72 pixels/inch
• Mode: RGB color
• Select Contents: Transparent
4. Click OK.
5. Save as “animated_gif.xcf” into your Documents>originals folder.
PART 2: CREATE INDIVIDUAL FRAMES:
1. Create 4 frames as layers in The Gimp.
2. Change each frame/layer in a small way to indicate motion.
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Example:
3. Set your foreground color to black.
4. Select the text tool.
5. Click anywhere in the document.
6. Choose any font and size you like. (I use Arial, 100 points, bold, anti-aliased.)
7. Type in the letter “R.” Click OK
8. Select the move tool and move the “R” to the center of the document.
9. Select the text tool.
10. Click anywhere in the document.
11. Choose any font and size you like. (Same as before.)
12. Type in the letter “H.” Click OK
13. Select the move tool and move the “H” to the center of the document.
14. Select the text tool.
15. Click anywhere in the document.
16. Choose any font and size you like. (Same as before.)
17. Type in the letter “S.” Click OK
18. Select the move tool and move the “S” to the center of the document.
19. Select the text tool.
20. Click anywhere in the document.
21. Choose any font and size you like. (I use Arial, 50 points.)
22. Type in “GO!” Click OK
23. Select the move tool and move the “GO” to the center of the document.
24. File>Save (Ctrl+S)
PART 3: SAVE THE INDIVIDUAL FRAMES
1. File>Save As… (Shift+Ctrl+S). Name the file animated1.gif and save it into Documents>beta_images.
2. At the Export File dialogue box select Save as Animation. Click Export.
3. At the Save as GIF dialogue box select the checkbox for Loop forever. Set the delay to 300 milliseconds. At Frame disposal where unspecified select One frame per layer (replace). Click OK.
4. Close The Gimp.
PART 4: ANIMATED .GIF 2
• Repeat Parts 1-3, but this time create an original animated GIF.
