#like......changing to frames from video....cropping multiple documents...duplicating watermarks and color layers

[roseband]

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[roseband]

 Updated gif-making tutorial: 

making and using actions to make hq gifs quickly and efficiently, watermarking, adding text/subtitle, sharpening, coloring for natural base coloring on videos

I do not use .ts files for kpop performances (just .mp4 720 or 1080), nor do I use topaz to sharpen. 

You will need:

A computer (I use a PC so the hot keys i’ve listed aren’t the same as on macs)

A video editing program that can split your video into smaller sections (DVDvideosoft’s free studio is what I use, but anything similar will do)

Photoshop CS6 extended or a more recent version (you need to have the video timeline function)

a half hour or an hour to make your first set with all the actions specific to your blog url, afterwards full 4-8 piece gifsets should take around 15 minutes or less to make (if your computer is cooperating lol)

We will make actions to:

watermark

convert to timeline and smart object

add a text box with stroke and drop shadow for both 268px and 540px wide gifs for w/e font you want to use

video used // link to finished gifset // there are some images to help in the tutorial, you can ask if you have any questions!!

Result: 

my sharpening action (directions in tutorial)  download

Full tutorial under the cut

after the first run of the tutorial where you make your actions, your process should be:

Cut your video into a clip short enough to import into photoshop

Import your frames

Split your frames into multiple documents, one for each gif in the set

crop and resize your gifs

Color your gifs

watermark (action)

convert to video timeline and smart object (action)

add text (action)

sharpen (action)

save for web

1. Cut your video into a clip short enough to import into photoshop:

For most youtube videos which are either 24fps or 29fps you can import up to 15 seconds at a time, for those that are 60fps the limit is around 7 seconds

2. Import your frames:

If you’re making gifs from a performance or a short drama scene, it’s faster to import all of your frames onto one document at once and then copy the frames on to multiple separate documents for the multiple gifs in the set

file -> import -> video frames to layers

make sure that the “Make Frame Animation” option is checked 

3. Split your frames into multiple documents, one for each gif in the set

select the frames you want for your first gif (click first frame you want -> hold shift and click the last frame you want)

copy frames (go to the drop down menu for the timeline window -> copy frames)

duplicate any layer from the first document onto a new separate document (right click any layer -> duplicate layer -> document: new -> name the document “[your gifset name] [gif number]”

create frame animation on your new document (timeline window -> create frame animation) (if it says create video timeline instead, use the dropdown menu next to the button to change it to frame animation)

paste the frames onto this new document (timeline drop down menu -> paste frames -> replace frames)

change your frames’ timing (select all frames -> click the time under one of the individual frames -> other -> put your time) for 24 or 29 fps video I use .06; for 60fps I use .03

delete the frames from the original document, repeat for the next gif within the remaining frames on your original document

4. crop and resize your gifs

select the crop tool

chose your dimensions

crop all your gifs to the same dimension ratio

resize your gifs (ctrl + alt + i) for 3 columns it’s 177,178,177; for 2 columns it’s 268px, for 1 column it’s 540px

5. Color your gifs

I usually color to make everything as neutral as possible before doing anything specific so this is just telling how to make a neutral coloring.

make a curves layer on top of all your other layers (layer -> new adjustment layer -> curves)

color adjust for black click the black eyedropper on the curves layer and then find a spot on your gif that should be black and click it (if it becomes too dark, hold alt and click on a spot that comes up black until most of the image is now white) (image below)

color adjust for white do the same with the white eyedropper (if it’s too light, hold alt and click the white areas until the image is mostly black) (adobe’s tutorial to help you out if you need)

make a brightness/contrast layer (layer -> new adjustment layer -> brightness contrast) and add a little bit more contrast depending on your image

add vibrance (layer -> new adjustment layer -> vibrance/saturation) boost the vibrance slightly

(personal taste to make skin tone clearer and the whites of eyes brighter) make midtones warmer; highlights and shadows cooler (layer -> new adjustment layer -> color balance -> adjust layer according to your image) 

brighten highlights and darken shadows (layer -> new adjustment layer -> selective color -> blacks: add black -> whites: subtract black) 

group all your coloring layers together (select your coloring layers -> create group -> leave the name as “group 1″)

duplicate this group onto all of your open gif documents (right click -> duplicate group -> document: [your next gif file name] -> repeat for all)

6. watermark + recording your watermark action

people on tumblr suck, people on the internet suck, people on other websites suck, weheartit sucks, etc...... you want to have your url on the things you make so people don’t steal your work right?!! we’re gonna watermark EVERYTHING we make ever

(this is going to be the first action we make!! woo hoo!! you don’t want to have to be remaking this layer every time you make gifs do you)

making the action:

open your actions window (window -> actions)

create new actions set (click the icon that looks like a folder on the actions window -> name this set “gifs” or something else you’ll remember)

make sure you’re not on the first frame of your animation, any other will do

record new action (hit the circular icon on the actions menu -> name this action “watermark”) 

select first frame of animation

create new text layer at the top left corner (click the text tool -> click the top left corner of your canvas)

type your url in an nice and easy to read font (I use myriad pro semibold italic at 9px height)

click the check on the text editing panel to finish making the layer

change the opacity to 30% in the layers panel 

stop recording the action (click the square on the actions window)

using the action: 

click the “watermark” action in your “gifs” action set

make sure you’ve selected your top layer (which should be your color group)

click the play button in the actions window (now your watermark is on your first gif)

duplicate this layer onto the rest of your gifs, always as the top layer

7: convert to timeline and smart object (action)

we’re gonna be making another action to this (yay less work for future us)

making the action:

before you make the action make sure you’re not on your first frame

record a new action, name it convert

select all layers (ctrl + alt + a)

deselect your watermark layer (ctrl + click the text layer named [your url])

select your first frame

convert to timeline (click the convert to video timeline icon at the bottom of the timeline window)

convert to smart object (right click your layers -> convert to smart object) 

stop recording, you should be left with a timeline animation with two layers, one is the animation smart object which will now be named “group 1″ and the other is your watermark layer on top

using the action:

play the action (that’s all)

you should be left with a timeline animation with two layers, one is the animation smart object which will now be named “group 1″ and the other is your watermark layer on top

do this on every document for your gif set

8. adding text (action)

make the action for 268px gifs:

on a 268px wide document with a video timeline make a guide at 134px vertical (view -> new guide -> “134px” vertical)

start recording the action, name it “text 268″

create a new text layer on the guide at the top of the box, centered text, 12point font (I use myriad pro semibold italic with tracking at 50)

double click the layer, add stroke at 2px, add drop shadow

stop recording

make the action for 540 px gifs:

on a 540px wide document with a video timeline make a guide at 270px vertical (view -> new guide -> “270px” vertical)

start recording the action, name it “text 540″

create a new text layer on the guide at the top of the box, centered text, 12point font (I use myriad pro semibold italic with tracking at 50)

double click the layer, add stroke at 2px, add drop shadow

stop recording

using the actions:

use the appropriate sized action for what you’re making, play the action after steps 1-7 of your gif are done 

use your text tool to put in the text for your gif

hold shift and click to slide the subtitle to the spot you want either at the top or bottom of your gif while keeping it centered

9: sharpening: 

everyone sharpens differently, so you might want to change this up a bit and make a new sharpen action on your own, but this is mine [download]

there’s a low opacity motion blur layer in there so it adds a bit of softness to the edges 

to use the one that I included a download of, select the smart object named “group 1″, return to the start of your video timeline, play the action on all the documents for your gifs

10. save for web

file -> save for web

set looping to forever

save all the gifs

these are my settings:

and you’re done!!!! boom post your super nice gifset with your watermarks so no one will steal it and it’s urs and u love it!!! yay!