Tuesday, January 18, 2011

My First Animation with GIMP



feature length: 25 seconds

This is a Raven's Art Shack exclusive peek at Blink.

The simplest form of animation involves the blinking of eyes. You need only two frames, one for closed eyes and one for open eyes. An animated .gif needs a minimum of two layers. I drew the original with red ball point on loose leaf paper. I captured her image with my digital camera and closed her eyes with the smudge tool from GIMP software (open source and free to download). I added the original image as a layer. I select save image as Blink with extension .gif. The window pops up and asks if I want to flatten or save as animation. If I flatten the image it will be a still picture. I select save as animation. I pump up the delay to 368 milliseconds and 410 milliseconds for the second animation. I select to completely replace the frame. Voila I have created my first animated .gif! Yeah!

Making an animated .gif picture is simple with Windows movie maker. Upload the picture to the software. Click and drag the image to the timeline. Each image takes about 5 seconds of timeline. I composed 25 seconds of music using LMMS software (open source and free to download) using about 12 bars of music at 140 bpm.

Why create an animated gif? This kinetic art form is simple and fun to create. In the future I plan to make my own book trailer after I finish writing my first novel.


P.S. Welcom blog hoppers!


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8 comments:

  1. Ann RodelaJanuary 18, 2011 at 2:08 PM

    One tiny correction. Text should read Why create an animation ( not animated gif) with Windows Movie maker and thus make this 25 second video.

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  2. G-Ma JohnsonJanuary 19, 2011 at 2:43 PM

    wow did you draw this too? You are the talented one...:O) Hugs G-Ma

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  3. Ann RodelaJanuary 19, 2011 at 5:51 PM

    Yes, G-Ma! I did! Thanks...now blushing...(((HUGS))) Ann

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  4. Shah WhartonJanuary 28, 2011 at 11:05 PM

    Thanks for your entry to my blog hop - I'm your latest follower. This is interesting - ive never thought of doing animation but you make it sound really easy! Continue attending these hops I realise they're not busy yet, but I'm going to nurture the hell out of this hop until its uber popular and we meet loads of great peeps. Shah. X

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  5. Laurie-JJanuary 29, 2011 at 8:48 AM

    Hi! I hopped over from Shah's Creative Weekend Blog Hop. Thanks for the fascinating article on making animations - honestly I had no idea...and you are a very tallented artist, as well! Loved it, following now.
    Laurie
    http://lauriethoughts-reviews.blogspot.com/

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  6. Ann RodelaJanuary 29, 2011 at 10:05 AM

    Thanks Shah for starting this blog hop! I will get the word out. This is my first one! I am so excited! :)

    Thanks Laurie! It was really fun making my first animation. I will follow your blog. :)

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  7. Shah WhartonJanuary 31, 2011 at 12:03 AM

    Hey - you were chosen to be the first to be featured on WordsinSync as a thank you for enthusiastic participation in the Weekend Creation Hop. Pop by my blog and read the instructions on today's home page. If you accept, send me your email asap so i can email you the questionnaire. ;) Shah

    shahwharton@gmail.com

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  8. Ann RodelaJanuary 31, 2011 at 2:25 PM

    Wow! Thank Shah! I would be delighted to participate. :)

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