How to create your first animated icon !

By frankell Posted April 29, 2008 07:11:28

This is an "open" mini tutorial don't hesitate to post your advice request !

Basically you have to work with the feature "special paste" or similar (I use PhotoFiltre)
starting from the first frame:
- the only image format in the dock is .png
- the full "square" size is 128x128 or 256x256
consider to match the max icon magnifying size in the dock (256 pixels) for a simple animation (8 frames)
use 128 pixels for a complex animation (20+ more frames)
to take care on the dock total CPU usage (one's I made a 57 frames icon !)

the new frame is a copy of the previous one + a slightly changed position
consider also that with the docklet option "on the end play animation backwards" you can double the effect on reverse
- zoom effect: 3\4 frames "zoom in" + 3\4 frames "zoom out"
- curl effect: 3\4 frames "open" + 3\4 frames "close"
- rotate effect: 360°= 6 frames 60° each \or 9 frames 40° each
at the end you have a very long strip is important verify that the "large"
size is always the exact multiple of the "height" size !

If I have more then 1 effect I keep a singolar copy of each effect before to
assemble them together
before to apply the transparency I change the colour background 2\3 times to
clean the frames !

as a starting point you can use the "zoom effect" template:

http://frankell.wincustomize.com/skins.aspx?skinid=947&libid=18

enjoy

+5 Karma 13 Replies 9 Referrals

BTW the great "animated shortcut" by AndreasV is here:
WWW Link

BTW the 57 frames animated icon is "CubeDesktop Multicolor":

WWW Link

really... no one is interested on making animated icons ?
that's why I have still 0 karma !

probably my English is not so clear but believe me it's easy + the results are great !!

what about "animatedocks" ? if you like them check this new post :
WWW Link

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how did you take the frames an put them together as a strip?

horizontal strip or vertical strip?

hi Bichur !!

you choose 1 png as the first frame
this is the starting point
you have to duplicate the I frame + make some change (rotate\zoom)
you got the II frame > duplicate the II frame make the change > you got the III frame and so on
to assemble the frames together : copy the II frame> open the I frame> using the "special paste" feature paste on the right side and go on
the strip will be horizontal !
enjoy !!

I was just curious as to your method haven't used PhotoFiltre

I have PSP8 w/AnimationShop which I can use.

Or I can use AniUtil which comes with DTX
or from the old CursoXP page somewhere: http://www.cursorxp.com/files/AniUtil.zip

thanks for the tutorial frankell...glad it surfaced again....i missed it first time round...

I've had a little dabble with the Microsoft GIF animator....but interested to check this out....

Bitchur I'm glad you can use PSP8 AnimationShop to create your first animated icon... com'on ! I'll give a try to AniUtil thanks for the tip

sydneysiders you are welcome !!

thanks to both of you for the karmas

Bitchur good try with AniUtil !!
the good: "special paste" is automatic, you can keep all the originals (just in case)
the not so good: first you have to save all the frames in a new folder giving them the right sequence (numerical or alphabetical)
BTW 1 Karma for you !!

Yep, the naming to keep the order is a draw back.
Needs to be more friendly like MSGifAnimator where you can reposition the order.

AniUtil comes with DTX and is useful for creating png strips for DTX and CursorXP if you don't already have a program that will create them.

I've used it after extracting the frames from gifs using Irfanview, then I clean them up, give them a solid background color, and run them through Giffy to put transparency back by picking the background color - by then they're named 001, 002 etc and go in correctly into AniUtil.

Bitchur

Well, like all... I do have some days.....

WELL THIS IS A FIRST FOR ME ! .. psp8

Darn basic as hell, but it's give me a few ideas for sure .. Just gotta find out what to do here ... and what it ALL means .... hehe ( worth a giggle though ! )

Bichur sorry for the misspelling !!

mike my compliments !! it only needs a title to upload on the OD gallery