In this tutorial, we’ll be making an animated gif from the 32×32 pixel drawings we did previously.

Much like a flip-book, where each page is a different but related image viewed in sequence, we’re going to make multiple pixel drawings and view them in sequence.

In this case, we want to have the multiple drawings in one file. To do this, we’re going to make each drawing on it’s own layer. Photoshop allows us to have as many layers as we like, each directly on top of each other. the view the layers, open the layer window from the the window drop down menu.



We can now see the layer menu, but it only has one layer so far, labeled background.



To create new layers, select new layer from the layer dropdown menu. You can also duplicate existing layers



By highlighting a layer, you can control which layer you are editing.



By clicking or unclicking the eye icon next to the layer, you can control if the layer is visible or not. Turning the visibility of the layers on and off is a good way to see what our animation will be like when it’s done.

The order of layers can be changed by dragging them above the layer you want them to be on top off. The background layer however, is always at the bottom of the stack.

Once we’ve created the sequence of images we want to animate, save your file (as a photoshop file, not a gif yet), and prepare yourself mentally for the animation process.