Optimizing Images for the Web > Creating animated GIFs > Setting up animated GIFs
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Setting up animated GIFs


Working with layers is an essential part of creating an animated GIF. Placing the contents of each frame on its own layer enables Photoshop Elements to generate an optimized animation.

To set up an animated GIF:

1 Place the image you want to appear in each frame of the animation on a separate layer.

2 Choose File > Save for Web, or click the Save for Web button () in the shortcuts bar.

3 Optimize the image in GIF format. (See Using predefined optimization settings or Setting optimization options for GIF and PNG-8 formats.)

4 Select the Animate option.

5 Set additional options in the Animation palette:
  • Loop to continuously repeat the animation when it is viewed in a Web browser.
  • Frame Delay to specify the number of seconds that each frame is displayed when the animation is viewed in a Web browser. Use a decimal value to specify fractions of a second. For example, one-quarter second is specified as .25.

    • Note: Saving a multilayer image by choosing Save As GIF and selecting the Layers as Frames option will open the Save GIF dialog box, which has the same animation options as the Save for Web dialog box.

    Optimizing Images for the Web > Creating animated GIFs > Setting up animated GIFs