creating your own animations in photoshop.

You can create your own animations in PhotoShop's ImageReady.

As you know, an animated GIF is a single file that contains a collection of images that are shown in sequence, one after another. They are often used for advertising banners.

Here's how:

1. Create each frame of the animated GIF on a separate layer. The bottom layer corresponds to the first frame, the second to bottom layer is the second frame, and, well, you get the picture.
2. If you're not in ImageReady already :), choose file > Jump to > ImageReady
3. Open the animation panel (Window > Show Animation
4. Turn off the visibility of all the layers except the first for the first frame.
5. Add a second frame. Turn off the visibility of all the layers except the second layer for the second frame.
6. Continue adding frames as necessary.
7. Adjust the time in the pull-down menu at the bottom of each frame.
8. Have the animation loop or not by choosing "once," "forever," or "other" in the pull-down menu.
9. Preview the animation by pclicking the arrows at the bottom of the animation panel.
10. When you're satisfied, choose "File > Save Optimized As and give it a name and a place to live.

Here are some links to more detailed and specific tutorials:

Adobe® ImageReady® Animation Primer: http://www.heathrowe.com/tuts/animationbasics.asp

How to create and animate frames: http://user.fundy.net/morris/redirect.html?photoshop12.shtml

How to create a slide show in ImageReady using GIF animation: http://user.fundy.net/morris/redirect.html?photoshop12.shtml

An About tutorial: http://graphicssoft.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.adobe.com%2Fweb%2Ftips%2Fimgranimate%2Fmain.html