Expert: Huma Riaz - 3/9/2004

Question
Hi there! I'm the marketing person who (barely) maintains our
website and was recently asked to post a graphic banner thing
to help promote one of the programs we support. The title of
the graphic was long so I renamed it but I thought I could open
photoshop and save for the web and then save it where I needed
to, to upload it. Problem is, the banner thing had like a moving
thing going on with it and when I saved it in Photoshop, and
posted it, it stopped moving.

Question 1: How do I make banners so I can do one for
something else?
2: How does it move?
3. Can it be done in Photoshop?
I maintain the site using GoLive so I don't know if that helps.
What I had to do was just drop in the original file that was sent
with the long name so that I didn't change anything by bringing
it into PHotoshop but I don't know what happened when I did it
the first time. Can you explain to me how banners move and/or
can be created?

Answer
Hello crystal,

I understand your problem. A very first thing, to make animated banners; Photoshop can be a tool to help but not an end program. Another tool which comes with Photoshop 'ImageReady' is the suitable software for that purpose.

It is a very long debate to how you can move/animate your banner. I will tell you very basic steps that can help you to achieve your least requirement.

Answer 1:
1. To make GIF banners you make your layers (animation steps)in Photoshop, and export the original file in imageReady to animate.

2. In image ready the "animation" palette will allow you to show your desired layer on particular frame you need.

You can also set the duration of the frame by clicking on its thumbnail

3. 'Save as optimize' your file in GIF format. And place in the web page you want. don't forget to optimize it before pressing save button.

Answer 2:
I have found these tutorials to be useful for you.
http://www.fortunada.com/tutorials/IR7AG_1.asp

http://www.animatedbuzz.com/tutorials/gif.html

Answer 3:
Photoshop is helpful to create a banner. But you cannot animate it. for this you have to work in imageready.


If you have the original file which comes with animation, just open it in Image ready. And change the title of the banner as you need. Play it in imageready to check and save it.


If still you have problems, feel free to ask further


Huma Riaz
Location: Karachi-Pakistan