Animated GIFs and Photoshop CS3 (II)

Posted on Apr, 03 2008 under Tutorials by Héctor Cabrera

Hi peeps,

In a previous post here at Rauru.com we discussed about creating animated GIF files using Photoshop CS3, so what about editing them? Impossible with Photoshop CS3, you say? Wrong answer

As many of you might already know opening animated GIFs with Photoshop CS3 will only show one layer with the first animation frame, and the Animation palette looks empty. Adobe’s solution: “Open the animated GIF file in Adobe Fireworks. Fireworks provides editable layers and timelines for animated GIF files.”

Important note: this won’t work on transparent animated GIF images. While importing it, Photoshop will make all transparent areas white. Apparently, there’s no workaround for this. ( Thanks jsovey for pointing this out! )

Today I’ll share with you a little hack to prove that is a lie (please don’t be mad at me, Adobe friends :D)

Step One: Click on File > Import > Video file to layers…

The File drop-down menu.
Step Two: On the Load window, type in *.* in the Name field and press the Load button to show all the files. You should be able to see your GIF file now so select it and press Load
->
Step Three: a new window will appear: Import Video To Layers. Click OK to import all the layers in the GIF file into Photoshop CS3.

The Import Video To Layer window.

That’s it! Now, you should be seeing something like this:

The final result

Once you’re done with the changes just save your animated GIF file as we learned in a previous entry (please Ikki, remember me how it’s done!).

Happy editing!

Oh, and if you liked my tutorial don’t forget to Digg it!

11 Responses to "Animated GIFs and Photoshop CS3 (II)"

Animated GIFs and Photoshop CS3 (II) | White Sands Digital Apr, 03 2008

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Yannis Apr, 03 2008

YOU are GENIUS, GENIUS,GENIUS!!!
Ikki Apr, 03 2008

@Yannis: I’m not a genius… but thanks! :$ I’m glad to know that you found my tutorial useful
bloatedghost Apr, 03 2008

awesome little trick with the *.* thank you very much.
Ikki Apr, 03 2008

@bloatedghost: most people forgot about it Cheers!
jsovey Apr, 03 2008

I was really glad to see this *.* trick and it almost did work. However, I can’t seem to get the transparency to import with my GIF. Adding the transparency back in is a lot of work. Is there something Im missing?
Ikki Apr, 03 2008

@jsovey: Thanks for pointing this out! I wasn’t aware of this. I ran a small test about this issue and apparently there’s no workaround to fix it.

I’m updating my post now to include a little notice about this issue.
Lena Apr, 03 2008

Awesome trick, but there’s no way that I can think to replicate the *.* trick on a mac

evil open file dialog boxes that no longer allow you to change to “select all files” instead of just what the program supports for import. jerks

anyone have ideas?
- Ikki Apr, 03 2008
  
  You might want to try this, Lena: http://www.dedestruct.com/2008/02/18/how-to-open-animated-gifs-with-photoshop-cs3/. Also, pay attention to comment number 15th!
  
  Hope that helps.
Al Carlson Apr, 03 2008

Beautiful sequence. Thank you, thank you…
- Ikki Apr, 03 2008
  
  You’re welcome, Carl