Before I start I'd like to point out a few things:

-Don't quote this post, as it will stretch the screen.
-Please don't take my animations, if you would like to use them please PM me.

I will be doing 3 different types of animations: Still, Moving, and Signature animations:

Animation technique # 1: Still Animations:

The end result of this section of the tutorial will be the below image:



Now, I'll show you how to do just that.

Step 1: Preparing the windows for an animation:

First open up Gimp, now go to file->New.

Make the dimensions 100x100.

Now for this tutorial I'm going to be making the image transparent.(If you don't want it transparent ignore this step)

Select the background layer and cut out the image(ctrl + x)

When that's done your image should look something like the below image:



Step 2: Starting the animation:

Now if your animating you'll certainly need something to work with.

Open up a sprite sheet, and pick out a series of movements as shown below.
This is what you'll be animating.



Now cut out the first pose that you'll be using, then switch over to your 100x100 image.
Now go to Layer->New Layer.

Paste the sprite in now.(It should now resemble the below image)



Continue doing the following for the remaining sprites (in order):

Cut sprite out, switch over to animation window, make new layer then paste the sprite.

Important:You have to make the images overlap or else it will end up jerky.

When you are done with all the sprites that you plan to use it should look something like the image below.



Step 3: Saving it as a GIF.

Now you're ready to save it.

Warning: The following step is optional, only do it if your file size is really large!

Before you do that:

If you want to decrease file size you can do the following:

1.Filters->Animation->Optimize for Gif.
2.Image->Mode->Indexed. Now click on "Generate Optimum Palette", choose a number.(some numbers may change the colors disaplayed.)

Go to File-Save as...
Save it as a GIF, once you've clicked on save the following window should pop up:



Make sure that you have "Save as animation" checked off.

Click on export and one final window should pop up:



On this window you'll have to do a couple of things:
1.Make sure "Loop forever" is checked.(If you don't want a looped animation, don't check this)
2.Under "Frame disposal where unspecified:" scroll down and select "One frame per layer (replace)"

Doing the abov will make your animation look good, and make it continually loop.

Step 4: Adding finishing touches:

Your aniamtion is ready to go, but it might look out of place if you are trying to make game or signature animations.

Thus a couple of more steps are needed:

Close your animation, now re-open it.

Take a look at your layer windows now, it should look like something like the below image:



Notice the (___ms) (replace)

What this means is the break or chancge between each frame is that number of miliseconds, luckily you have the option of tweaking this in the GIMP.

Sometimes with animations you'll want some frames to last longer than others.

To change the frame time, right click (Apple + mouse click, for Macs) on the specified layer.

A window much like the below image should pop up.



Examples of various milisecond frame time changes:

50 miliseconds:



100 miliseconds:



150 miliseconds:



In this window all you need to do to change the frame time, is put whatever number you want before the "ms".

For this animation I made frames 2-11 60ms, and Frame 12 & 1 at 150 ms.

What this does is makes the animation more smooth for the sword, and puts a pause between the start and end of it.

Other examples:







Animation technique # 2: Moving animations:

If you know how to do the first animation this one isn't really too hard.

For this animation I will be animating the yellow puppy from harvest moon.(pictured below in animated form)



Step 1: setting up the windows:

Now lets get started.

Go to File->New image.

Dimensions being 100x50.

Cut out the white background like previously, it should now look like the below image.



Step 2: Getting the animation ready:

Now open up the sprite window that you plan to use, an example is shown below.



In this animation I'll be using the above highlighted sprites.

Now do the same thing that you did for the first animation tutorial with the animation window....except instead of overlapping the sprites, spread them an equal length apart.

When you are done it should look something like this:



Make sure each sprite has a layer of its own.

Step 3: Saving the GIF:

Warning: The following step is optional, only do it if your file size is really large!

If you want to decrease file size you can do the following:

1.Filters->Animation->Optimize for Gif.
2.Image->Mode->Indexed. Now click on "Generate Optimum Palette", choose a number.(some numbers may change the colors disaplayed.)

Now go to save as...->Gif, save as animation.

Make sure "Loop forever" is checked.(If you don't want a looped animation, don't check this)
Under "Frame disposal where unspecified:" scroll down and select "One frame per layer (replace)"

Now your animation should be ready, if you want to change the frame time then close it, open it back up then change the frame
time period individually.

Animation Technique # 3: Signature or Background animations:

Step 1: Setting up the layers:

This gets a bit tricky...

First you'll need the signature/background that has everything on it that won't be animated.(background, text, etc.)

Once you have everything in the signature ready, right click (apple + click, for macs) and select "merge visible layers".

Once that's done open a new window with the same dimensions as the signature, now paste the signature into it.

In the 3rd window have your sprites to be animated.

Your 3 windows should look something like this:



Now take the first goomba sprite to be animated(above) and directly paste it into one of the two layer
windows.(don't make a new layer)

Now go to the other signature window and copy the image, now go back to the signature window that you pasted the goomba into.

Go to layer->New layer.

Now paste the signature window that has remained unchanged, now paste the next goomba animation.

Step 2: The Animation:

Now for the tricky part.

Before you click and anchor the goomba down, you must click on the "eye" symbol beside the layer.(symbol is down for reference)



Doing this allows you to place the next sprite and line it up with the previous one.

Once you click the "eye" you should see something similar to the below image.



Now move the goomba on top of the previous one.(if your doing a moving animation, place the sprite to the direction you want it to move)

For every slide repeat this procedure:

New layer, Paste default signature, paste sprite, click on "eye" and then place sprite on top of or beside previous sprite.

Its very tedious but its the only plausible way.

Once you've done that your layer window should look like this one:



CC0000[/img]4[/img]Step 3: Saving it as a GIF.

Warning: The following step is optional, only do it if your file size is really large!

If you want to decrease file size you can do the following:

1.Filters->Animation->Optimize for Gif.
2.Image->Mode->Indexed. Now click on "Generate Optimum Palette", choose a number.(some numbers may change the colors disaplayed.)

Now do the regular saving procedure:

Save as...-> Save as GIF-> Save as animation-> replace each frame.

If you want to speed up/slow down the frames, just re-open it then do that as mentioned in the other animations.

Here are some examples:







[b]The final few things I would like are:

-If you want to, feel free to post any animations you made with this tutorial.
-If you have a question add it, I'll get back to you as soon as possible.

looks ok but pics would be nice

all the images were deleted :s:

I will def. try this though, with out the pics.


Thanks koopa!

I'm working on fixing that now...

Ha ha! Looks like you forgot about the images.

There we go!

Sorry about the image problem. I'm a noob at BBcode...

But its fixed now.

Dang good tut man!!! Very detailed and lots of pics. I can tell you put a lot of time into this, its great!

Thanks alot, i was just thinking of sprites this morning! :h:

Dude, this is freakin' awesome!



I drank one this morning.

You drank a sprite? Wat?

Edit: Oh, lol, I get it. :w:

very cool how did u get all those diffrent picture to make it that way??

You try your best fugly, I don't blame you. :

No one understands me quite like you do, Vo1ture.

It wasn't simple and mine still sucks

Is it just me, or does your animation say "Maro Bros."?

Omg this is the bestest ever.

it has and I u just have to look hard at it

Very, very nice, Cheezitz. Me likes.

@ Jethro252:

Thanks I hope you enjoy it and use it.

@ Vo1ture:

Thanks I'm glad you like it.

Nice "Sprite" joke. =P

@ Vortagern:

Using a screen capture software called "Grab" for my Mac.

When making animations they will always turn out better with more layers/poses. You only used a few layers, and that's why its jagged.

I designed this tutorial to be simple to follow. Its up to you to refine your animation, I'm just showing you how to get started.

@ Cheezitz:

That's awesome! Nice work. Stewie's great. :l:

I'm glad that you like it. ^_^

Shameless Bump. >.>

Im gonna try this out later tonight, so keep posted.

same here lol

i got a question though, where do you get your sprites anddo you have to take off every background off every sprite

Edit: nvm^^^ i just reread and said you had to cut them out
Edit2 lol: is there a way just to remove the background if its all one color

I WAS going to do all 68 frames... But i messed up and had to start all over so i only did the one where he shot stuff

@ Monkey360:

Yes, just Right click on the layer, go to Add alpha to selection. Now just cut out the background and it should be transparent. If this doens't work let me know, I'm going by memory here.

As for sprite sites, these are the two best I've found:

The Shyguy Kingdom:

tsgk.captainn.net

The Spriters Resource:

http://sprites.fireball20xl.com/

k i did this really quick but how do you get rid of the under layers, i know its too fast lol

Ah, this again...

I encounter this problem a lot. When you save as a Gif, a window should come up (its in the tutorial). Select the following:

On this window you'll have to do a couple of things:
1.Make sure "Loop forever" is checked.(If you don't want a looped animation, don't check this)
2.Under "Frame disposal where unspecified:" scroll down and select "One frame per layer (replace)"

From the tutorial. :w: