Animation in Adobe Photoshop: Create a Social Video to Promote Your Brand

1. Intro: Hey, I'm Isaiah card Dona, and I'm an art director based in Kansas City with several years of experience with motion design. And I created this project to help students learn some basic animation techniques that they can use to create a video to promote their personal brand or business on social, this class will be a great first step for anyone who's familiar with Photoshop and wants to start learning motion graphics. And in this class, I will cover concepting and storyboarding your project. How I find inspiration gives you the fundamentals of animating in Photoshop and provide you with the working files that you can use to follow along with me. I hope to see you in class and can't wait to see what you create. 2. Getting Started: For this project, you will be creating a short video in Photoshop that you can use to promote your personal brand or business on social media in order to create your video, we will first discuss concepting the video idea, finding inspiration for motion graphics, walking through the storyboarding process. I will also walk us through prepping our assets for animation and the basics of using the Video Timeline tool. And then we will go through multiple exercises and Photoshop to learn how to animate different motion graphic elements. I have provided exercise files, including completed files, so you can follow along or you can reference a final working files. Then lastly, I will show you how to export your project for social media and Skillshare. 3. Defining Project: Before concepting your video is important to define the project. Here are a couple elements to consider when concepting your video. First was the goal for the video. Do you want to raise awareness of your brand? Or are you wanting to showcase some of your work? Also consider your audience and what you want them to do. It could be you want them to engage with your post or visit a link to your website. Another important factor is your brand's guidelines. It's important to let the brand style and voice shaped the video and the style of motion that you use. Fully animated video might be right for some brands, while subtle motion is best for other brands, also consider assets, it's important to take a look at what assets you have available to you just have lifestyle images or do you also have icons or illustrations that could be animated? Lastly, it's important to consider the platform that you will be posting the video too. That will help you determine the dimensions that you use, as well as the format you export it as. 4. Inspiration: Before storyboarding a video, I always recommend gathering some inspiration for different animation techniques you might want to use. A couple of places I go for inspiration is dribble, Instagram, and Pinterest. Pinterest allows you to collect all inspiration into different boards. If you are struggling to find inspiration, check out my motion graphics board, pinterest.com, slash Isaiah, her donor. Or click the link. In the project section of our class. My board is split up into animation stop motion texts, a animation, hand-drawn animation, as well as some helpful tutorials. So it's a great place to start out with for finding some inspiration for your class project. 5. Storyboarding: In this lesson, I will be walking through my example storyboard, which is also available in the class files which can be downloaded from the resources section of this class. Here I have is a storyboard that I create for fake business called Plants shop. And so applying those considerations, I knew I had a logo. I knew what my colors War. I knew that I want it to obviously show images of plants, since this is a plant shop. And so I was able to kind of go through that and lay out the frames and tell the story that I want to tell, which was first starting out with showing the logo than getting into showing the plants, incorporating a tagline to find yours and then making sure that this video was very branded, utilizing our brand colors. Then I want it to end the video strongly with my logo. And then really encourage the audience to engage with the video by having an animation that will remind them to like comment and follow me on Instagram. And for the storyboarding process, I like to also incorporate animation notes, which I have below each frame which helps override out and plan out. Hi, want all the elements to animate and how I want elements to transition in and out of the frames. And a reminder that you should design your storyboard frames to the dimensions of the platform you intended on posting to. For example, I went with 1080 by 1080 as that work for both Facebook and Instagram. But pro tip, It's always good to check current video dimensions and requirements as social platforms often make updates. Lastly, I wanted to note that my storyboard and the exercises I create it for this class are to help teach you a couple of techniques that you can use for your video. But you don't have to use all of these techniques. Feel free to use the technique or approach that works best for your project. And as always, if you run into any questions or need any help, please reach out to me. Once you've finished your storyboard, feel free to post it to the project page so we can all keep up on each other's progress. 6. Photoshop Timeline Fundamentals: In this lesson, I won't be walking through some of the basics of using the timeline tool in creating animations. First, let's open the timeline tool. First go to the menu at the top, and then click on Window. Then go down to the bottom of the sudden you to timeline and click it. If the Timeline panel is end frame animation mode, click the convert to Video Timeline. Next, we need to specify the timeline duration and frame rate. Duration means how long the video clip will be. And frame rate, or frames per second, is usually determined by the type of output you want. I usually like to stay between 24 and 30 frames per second. And to do that, you will set the timeline frame rate and the panel menu. Now let's add a new layer and then create an object that can be animated. So for this one, I'm just going to use a circle. Now let's dive into the features of the timeline tool. First step is to click the down arrow to display the layers properties. Animation is created by changing the properties over time. Depending on the type of layer, the properties will be different. For this layer, we have position, opacity and style. Position will adjust the position of the object and the frame will pass the will adjust the transparency of the layer which we can use to make an object disappear or fade in. And then style allows us to adjust the fill of an object. Another common property is the transform property, which allows you to not only adjust positioning, but also adjust the size of an object. If you have a layer that doesn't have transformed, you can convert it to a Smart Object, and then that will then give you the transform property. Now we're ready to create our first animation. Go down and click the stopwatch next to the property name to set the first key frame for the layer property you want to animate. Next we will move the current time indicator to a new frame, and then we will change the layer property. And so in this situation, I want the circle to move. So I'm going to move back current time indicator, and then I'm just going to move the object. And then there you have it. We just made our first animation. Next, let's preview our animation. Here we have different play controls which allow us to play or pause the animation. We also have the ability to adjust the playback quality, which can be helpful if you have a slower computer to go and use either like 50 percent of 25 percent. And then when it's time to save your animation, we have a couple of options. The first is to save as an animated GIF using the Save for Web command. We also have the option to save as an image sequence or a video using the render video command. And I will show you this process in more detail later in the exporting lesson. 7. Prepping Assets: Before getting into Photoshop, it'll be very important to gather and prep our assets that we want to animate an example this would be if we wanted to animate and logo like was being shown, we would need each piece of the logo to be a separate layer so we can animate each piece. That also goes for type. If you are planning on breaking up lines of text are animating one word at a time. Each word would need to be a separate layer. For a lot of people. They may have a logo or assets as a single image. For those situations, I always recommend going into Photoshop and cutting out the background of each object. And then once each object is cut out, then we would separate them into different layers. And then I would recreate the background. Another part of setting up your files is the use of mask per clipping mask. Since I want the plants to animate into place but not be shown outside of the teal circle. I used a clipping mask. A clipping mask is when one layer is clipped by the layer below it. To do this, click on Alt or Option, and then hover between the layers till you see the clipping sign. For the type I use a layer mask. The group will thing about layer masks are that you can animate them specifically. Here, I'm showing you how you can use key frames and change the position of a mask property to create a cool reveal. A fact for the logo type. 8. Exercise Advice: For the following exercises, we will be using the practice files from the class files folder located in the resources section of this class. It may be helpful to watch an exercise first, to learn the techniques, and then watch again when you're ready to follow along with the practice files for your own project. Remember to take it slow and to reach out to me with any questions. 9. Exercise 1: Mask Animation: And here's an example what we will be making and we will be using practice file exercise 1.1. The first part that we're going to do when you're first getting your Photoshop setup is that we're gonna go to Window and then we're going to go down to timeline. And then that's going to enable the Video Timeline tool. And that's what we will be using for all of our animations and Photoshop. And then here down at the bottom is where you can zoom in on the timeline. So you can drag it over to the right side to zoom in or to a left side to kind of see it zoomed out. For this part of the animation, I really want to start with full frame filled with the kill color and inhabit scaled down. So starting out with the animation, I click on the till ellipse. So I go to frame a and then hit Command T, which is the transformation tool. And then I go up and then adjust the size. And I scale it up to 285% of that size. And then I just center it until the center of the frame. So now we have that full frame. And then I go down and click on the transformation tool. And then by hitting that stopwatch, I'm able to create a key frame. The next I will go to frame 20 and then hit Command T to open up the transformation tool. And in this time, instead of scaling it up, I want to scale it down completely. What's Photoshop here, and I allowed to do 0. So I do as I do 0.01%. So it looks like it completely has scaled down and it's disappeared. And I think a cool thing here is when you first are making an adjustment to either transform or pass ID, you have to use a stopwatch the first time to create a keyframe. But then afterwards you're able to just move to a new frame and then make an adjustment. And then it will automatically create a keyframe. And here I'm just kind of readjusting how zoomed in to the timeline is so that I can play it back and see the full animation in action. 10. Exercise 2: Logo Animation: For this lesson, we will be animating. Our logo will be using practice file exercise 1.2. If the layers are grouped, you can go to the group layer and click on the arrow to expand. The first step is to drag the plant one layer back to frame 5. Then go to frame 17 and click the stopwatch next to position to create a keyframe. Then go back to start of layer at frame three, and then move the plant out of the circle frame. Then click layer 17 and hit the diamond next to the position to create a key frame. Next, drag that key frame to 10. Go to frame 15 and click the stopwatch next to opacity to create a new keyframe for current transparency level. Then go to the start of animate at frame 3 and reduce the opacity to 0. Now we will apply similar technique to the other plants. On Plant 2. We will go to frame 12 and then create a keyframe for current position. Then we will go to start up layer at frame 0 and drag plant downward out of frame, which should create a new keyframe automatically. Now go to frame 0 11 and drag the center plant beyond its final position. And then drag the new key frame to frame 10. Now go to frame 8 and create a keyframe for current opacity. Next, go to start. A layer can reduce opacity to 0. Now go to Plant 3 and drag to frame 10. Then go to frame 20 to and create a new key frame for the plant's current position. Then go to Start of layer at frame 10 and drag out of frame to the right. Now click on frame 20 one and create a new key frame and drag that new key frame down to frame 15. Next, click on frame 20 and create a new keyframe for current opacity. Then go to the start of this layer. And then you're gonna go up to a pasty and we're going to reduce it to 0, which will create a new keyframe. Now click on the till ellipse at frame ten and create a new keyframe for transform Sadie. Next, go to start layer and hit Command T shortcut to bring up the transformation tool, update the width and height 2.01% and click the arrow or enter key to submit change. Now's time to animate the logo type. Click the arrow on the logo type group layer to expand. Now drag the group layer two frame a team. Click on the layer plant text and go to frame 29 and create a new key frame for current position. Repeat the action for shop layer. The same frame. Now go to the start of both of those layers at frame 19. And with both texts layers selected, drag them down in the Canvas. Now go to frame 27 and create new keyframes for both texts layers. Then drag the new keyframes to frame 25. Now let's animate the transparency at frame 29. Create new key frames for current opacity. And then go to frame 24 and reduce the opacity to 0. Next, we'll drag the shop texts layer two, frame 29. Now I'm going to zoom out with the timeline tool and play back the animation to review the final animation to make sure I'm happy with it. 11. Exercise 3: Image Transition: In this lesson, we will be creating transitions using images and we will be using practice file exercise 2.1. The first step will be to drag over the three top handles and the timeline tool. So we can just focus on the first part of this animation. Click on frame 20 and create new transform keyframes for both left and right panel layer. First and then go to start those layers and drag out a frame to create a new keyframe. Now, go to frame 15 and drag both left and right panels down until they're close to complete. Now I'm going to play back animation. Next, I will apply the same technique to the middle panel in mask. We'll add a keyframe at frame 25 for current position. Then go to start a layer and drag both middle layers out for frame in reverse direction. Next, we'll add new keyframes when layer is 90 percent to the top. And then move those key frames to frame 15. Playback animation to make sure satisfied. Now going to make the text fade in one at a time. To do that, I'm going to start by dragging all three texts layers to frame 20. Then I'm gonna go to the 1 second mark and create a new opacity keyframe, and then go to the start of the layer. And at frame 20. And then I'm gonna go to o, pass the, reduce this down to 0. Now I'm going to repeat that for the next three texts layers. Next, let's offset the layers by dragging your texts later to the 1 second frame. Then I'm going to drag Zen texts later to the 1 second, 10 frames. Now I'm playing back the animation. Next, we're going to add a zooming effect to the background images so that we have a subtle animation while users are reading the text and line Bu. And then starting with panel one, image going to the 4 second mark in hitting Command T, shortcut and then increasing the width and height a little and moving the image over a little to keep the animation really subtle. Now we'll use the same technique on the other images. So clicking center image in using Command T shortcut and increasing the size of the image. Next, clicking on the last image and using the transformation tool again to increase the size a little, to have a nice slow zoom in effect, just playing back the animation and making any corrections till happy. Now let's animate the next image transition. First going to drag the hanging plant image to three seconds mark. Then I'm going to create a keyframe at the layer start and then go to frame 15 and then move the image up out of frame. And then clicking on frame 14, we'll create a new transform keyframe. And then after playing back animation, I decide to move the middle key frame to frame 10, the last key frame to frame 16. Now that I've figured out the animation for the first panel, I will apply those same settings to the other two images. Once those are aligned with the first animation, I will offset the animation by dragging the second, third layers back in the timeline. To get the right timing, I replay the animation and make adjustments as needed until I'm happy. 12. Exercise 4: Linear Wipe: In this lesson, we'll be creating a multi-colored wipe transition. We will be using practice file exercise 2.2. I will focus on the first color, which will be the til white layer. And I'm going to go at frame 20 and hit that stopwatch to create a key frame for the transformation. And then one thing that's helpful here, because there's those on their colors that are on top is I'm going to select for them and then slide them over. So then I can just focus on the layer that I am on and I'm trying to animate. So now with those alibi, I'm just seeing that till wipe layer. And then I will select that and then I'm going to drag it over to the top left corner. And as you see, I created this with an angle. So that way it gives me that nice transition once it plays back. And so as you saw, it automatically created a key frame once I add, moved it to frame 0 and then made that adjustment. And so now I'm going to repeat that step with the dark till white layer. And so going to 1 second, third frame. And then I am going to kind of do I did earlier and move the white wipe out all the way. And then I'm going to go to the beginning of this layer and then just move that out of frame of the top. Laughed. And then now going to the white, white layer, I'm going to repeat the same thing. But this time I'm going to just go to, I'm wanting this to go faster. So I'm going to 1 second, 10th frame here, dragging out a frame to the top at the beginning of the layer. And so this one will have a shorter duration. But what that will do is it will appear like it's moving faster and that's the goal. So the first till wipe is going to be the longest duration than the second. And then the third one comes in really fast to kinda create a nice sense of motion with this transition. Now just playing it back to make sure I was happy with it. And then once again, once you finish your animation, make sure to turn off the background layer. So then when we bring it all together, you won't have to worry about that background layer. 13. Exercise 5: Icon Animation: In this lesson, we will create an animation with social icons, and we will be using practice file exercise three. To start out, I'm hiding the other layers so I can just focus on the like icon. Expanding the like layer options and the timeline to start animating layer. I'm going to start by going to frame 20 and then creating a new transformed key frame and just making it an even 70 percent next, going to frame 10 and creating a keyframe, then going to frame 15 and increasing the size to 90 percent. Next going to add a stroke to the icon, making mine for pixel stroke, and a color of 47 be one B6. Now going back to frame 20, I will create a new style keyframe and then go to frame ten and reduce the bill setting to 0. So only the stroke shows. Next, taking the notification layer and dragging back to frame 20, Clicking on the 1 second frame, seventh mark, and create a new transformed keyframe. Then going to the start of the layer and shrinking down the notification and then positioning it in the center of the heart icon. Next going to the 1 second frame five mark. And using Command T shortcut to increase the size to a 106%. I'm now going to 1 second frame, one mark. And using Command T shortcut to change just the width to 0.01% by making sure the chain as unselected. Then go to frame 116 and create a new key frame for opacity. Then go to frame 120 and reduce the transparency all the way down to 0. Next, we're going to apply the same animation techniques, comment and comment notification layers and have their animation start after the end, li like animation sequence. Then you will do the same thing again for the follow and follow notification layers. Hello. After clicking back at the start of the timeline, I realized that I moved the comment layer, but comment notification by accident. So I drag the comment icon back to the story as I want the icon to always be shown. And then just drag the keyframes back to their original position. And this is why I always like to play back the animation to make sure everything is working the way I want it to. Last step, remove the white background and make sure to save. Hi. 14. Exercise 6: Finalizing Video: In this lesson, we will pull together all the exercises into one debate. We will be using practice file exercise for to start out. We will import the other exercises into a new PSD. To do that, we will go to file at the top and then down to Place Linked, and then go through and add each exercise file. Once done, I rearrange the layers so the right layer will overlap. Let's below. Now, I'm trimming down the first layer since the animation is short. Expanding the timeline and moving exercise 2.1 to frame 20 next, dragging the other layers over to the 5 second mark. Trimming down exercise 2.1. Next, dragging exercise 1.2 to frame 6 ten. Then moving Exercise 3 to frame eight O five. Now back on exercise 1.2 layer I will expand layer and create a new transform keyframe at frame 721 and then go to frame eight O five in using the transform tool will scale down the logo. Clicking on exercise layer 3, go to frame 8, 13, and using the command tool, scaled down the layer to 62.29% and position towards the bottom of the frame. Then create a new key frame. Next, go to frame eight O five in using the transform tool scaled down to 0.01%. So it disappears. After you're taking a look at the final part, I realized that I wanted the logo to be larger. Psi went back in, adjusted the sizing and location of the social icon animation as well. Next, I look at the final portion of the animation and trend down the work area to close to 13 seconds. Lastly, I played back the full animation a couple times to make sure I'm happy. Depending on your computer, you might need to reduce the quality of playback to 50 percent like I did to play quicker. 15. Exporting: In this lesson, I will show you how to export your final videos. So go to the file at the top menu and then go all the way down to Export, and then all the way down to Render video. And this is what you'll use for exporting your videos for social. And then you'll just want to make sure all the settings are correct, that you have the right name, that you want to save it as it's in the correct location, that you want it to be. Export it out two, and then you have multiple settings that you might want to double-check. As I mentioned at the beginning of the video, we're doing 1080 by 1080. And then we're just using the work area that we as the signed for this video. And then we'll hit Render button once we're satisfied. And then there you are, You're done. In lastly, I'm going to show you how to export your videos for Skillshare. And following a similar method as before, going up to File and Export. And then this time, save for Web Legacy. This time we're going to make it a gift. And she was just want to make sure you're happy with the settings and then hit the Save button. And then make sure that your have the title and the location that you want to save it as. And then once you hit Save, then you're done and then you're ready to upload it to the project page. Congratulations, now you're done. 16. Wrap Up: Thanks so much for joining my class today and I hope you are filling inspired to start making some fun videos using the techniques you learned from this class. I am very excited to see what you've created. So be sure to post your work to the project section of the class. You can also find more of my work over on Instagram at Isaiah Cortona, Casey. And if you're posting on there, feel free to tag me in your posts or use a hashtag, Isaiah card donor. So I can also see it. And if you would like more projects to help you learn motion graphics, then follow me on Skillshare as I'll be posting new projects soon. I can't wait to see what you guys come up with. Thanks again. Bye.