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User_Manual_RP3001k.doc
Tutorial - Simple Animation with JPEG Still Images
You can produce simple “flip book” animation very easily using Adobe Photoshop® or other image editing
software. Animation, especially with fixed background elements, will be easier with a program such as
Photoshop® that supports multiple layers within documents.
To create animation, you produce a separate JPEG still image for each frame of the animation, then write a
script that plays them all in the proper sequence, specifying a pause value of 0 for each image. There will still
be some pause time for each image due to disk access and jpeg decompression time (and MP3 playback if
applicable), but a pause value of 0 will give you the fastest possible animation.
By creating each element in your animation in a separate layer in your graphic program you’ll be able to easily
and independently move them around from frame to frame. Keeping some elements in exactly the same
position from frame to frame will create a steady background and subjectively enhance the animation of those
elements that do move. Multi-layered documents in Photoshop® must be saved in Photoshop (.psd) format.
Save your “master” document in this format as you create it. Turn layer visibility on and off for each layer as
required for the frame you’re working on. When a frame is complete use Photoshop’s “Save a Copy…”
command to save a copy of the file in JPEG format. Photoshop® will “flatten” the image and save only the
visible layers. You can then continue to work on the multi-layered “master” document without having to re-
open it.
Set your slideshow options for “flip” transition and 0 pause time.
