Jump to content

[Tutorial] Create a loading image!


K4rMa

Recommended Posts

With the increase in the popularity of AJAX web applications, we have seen similar animated GIFs around the web used when an AJAX process is pending to let the user know that it's working on something. In this tutorial, you will learn how to create these professional-looking animated GIFs.

 

We chose Server Intellect for its dedicated servers, for our web hosting. They have managed to handle virtually everything for us, from start to finish. And their customer service is stellar.

 

This example was created with Adobe PhotoShop CS3, which has animation features built-in, unlike older versions where PhotoShop is packaged with ImageReady.

 

We start with a blank canvas of around 200x100px. We will create a new layer and select the Marquee tool, and on the toolbar for the marquee, set Style to Fixed Size, Width: 4px and Height: 20px:

 

img01.gif

 

Now we can just click on the canvas and a selection of these dimensions will be made:

 

img02.gif

 

In our new layer, paint the selection with black:

 

img03.gif

 

Now right-click the layer and Duplicate Layer. Select the Move tool, hold Shift and press the down arrow key four or five times - shift will move the layer in increments. We should now have two layers like so:

 

img04.gif

 

We migrated our web sites to Server Intellect over one weekend and the setup was so smooth that we were up and running right away. They assisted us with everything we needed to do for all of our applications. With Server Intellect's help, we were able to avoid any headaches!

 

With the top layer active, press Ctrl+E to merge down - combining the two line layers together. Now right-click the layer and Duplicate. Goto Edit > Transform > Rotate, and holding down the Shift key, rotate the duplicated layer clock-wise a quarter of a turn:

 

img05.gif

 

Holding Shift will rotate at increments. Choose the Move tool to accept the changes. Now repeat this process (duplicate then rotate) to fill in all the gaps like so: (it may be wise to number the layers as you duplicate, so that you can keep track of which is which)

 

img06.gif

 

Now we should have 12 separate layers for each of our 'spokes'. Next, we will color them.

Starting with the first, open up the layer styles and add a color overlay of light gray. You may want to zoom in for a better look.

 

img07.gif

 

Now right-click the layer you just added a style to and choose Copy Layer Style, then proceed to Paste Layer Style on each of the other, so we have this:

 

img08.gif

 

We moved our web sites to Server Intellect and have found them to be incredibly professional. Their setup is very easy and we were up and running in no time.

 

Now let's open up the Animation Window by going to Window > Animation. You should see something like this:

 

img09.gif

 

This is a timeline of our animation. Each frame shown in here will play in order for a set number of seconds. We want to create different frames with different 'spokes' colored, in sequence.

So let's start by changing the colors of the first three spokes. Let's change the color of the first three like so, fading from light gray to dark. The colors we used were #BABABA for the first; #999999 for the second; and #444444 for the third:

 

img10.gif

 

Ok, we have our first frame. Now let's click on the New Frame button (img11.gif) and our frame will be duplicated. Making sure our second frame is selected, let's change the colors again - we can copy the layer styles if we want to move the colors along one spoke:

 

img12.gif

 

You should notice that frame one remains the same and frame two will accept our changes. Now we only need to repeat this a few more time - one frame per spoke. Make sure you click on the New/Duplicate Frame button before changing the layer styles again!

 

Need help with Windows Dedicated Hosting? Try Server Intellect. I'm a happy customer!

 

Once we're done, we should have a timeline that looks like this:

 

img13.gif

 

We can click the Play button at the bottom of the Animation window to see a preview. If the animation is too slow, we can change the duration in the bottom right corner of each frame. This specifies the duration for each frame to be visible. Let's try 0.1sec. Hold Shift and select all the frames in the window, then choose 0.1 seconds (or choose Other and try 0.05 - or whatever you want) on one of them. This will change all of them, because they're all selected.

 

img14.gif

 

To export, goto File > Save for Web & Devices. Choose GIF from the DropDown menu - 128 being the best quality. And you can also preview it here as well, using the controls buttons near the bottom:

 

img15.gif

 

Finally, this is what our Animated loading GIF looks like:

 

img16.gif

 

Credits ~~> Jooria

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.



  • Posts

    • DISCORD : utchiha_market telegram : https://t.me/utchiha_market SELLIX STORE : https://utchihamkt.mysellix.io/ Join our server for more products : https://discord.gg/hood-services https://campsite.bio/utchihaamkt  
    • Hello! Need to buy a ready-made or verify the necessary account, crypto-exchange, business bank or neobank, or maybe open a company to order or physical EU SIM cards? Then write to us, and we will help you with this. It is possible to send accounts along with phones.   Ready in stock AIRWALLEX ✔ ABN AMRO ✔ Amazon Seller ✔ Altpay ✔ Xapo Bank ✔ 4x4 io ✔ Advcash (Volet) ✔ AlchemyPay ✔ Bet365 ✔ BBVA ✔ Binance ✔ Bilderlings ✔ bit2me ✔ Bitget ✔ Bitinvestor ✔ Bitpay ✔ Bitsa ✔ Blackcatcard ✔ Brighty app ✔ Bybit ✔ Cex io ✔ Capitalist ✔ Coinbase card ✔ Cryptopay ✔ CoinW ✔ Curve ✔ epn net ✔ fillit ✔ Finci ✔ Gate ✔ Grey ✔ Ibandirect ✔ ICard ✔ Imagenpay ✔ Kauri Finance ✔ Kucoin ✔ mexc com ✔ moneyjar ✔ Moonpay ✔ N26 ✔ Naga Pay ✔ Nearpay ✔ Nebeus ✔ Nexo ✔ PayDo ✔ Paypal ✔ Santander Bank ✔ Stripe ✔ Paysera ✔ PAYSAFECARD ✔ Paytend ✔ PST ✔ RedotPay ✔ Revolut ✔ Shopify Payments ✔ Spendl ✔ Trustee Plus ✔ ebay com ✔ W1TTY ✔ Wallet Telegram ✔ Weststein ✔ Whitebit ✔ Wirex ✔ Wallester ✔ Wise ✔ Wittix ✔ Zeply ✔ ING Bank ✔ finom co ✔ Openbank ✔ SumUp ✔ okeo com ✔ PAY. NL ✔ Wamo business ✔ plutus it ✔ TRASTRA Crypto ✔ swissmoney com ✔ VIVID ✔ Millennium ✔ Bank BNP Paribas   The list of accounts may change daily. Please inquire about availability through our contacts.
    • Anyone had issues on servers which use AAC? not playable at all. Tried two servers. Not working clicks with mouse, not working touchscreen.
    • FREE Steal Essence skill update for Lineage 2 Interlude | Highly Anticipated Release!   Based on numerous responses in the suggestions section from client dev discord channel https://discord.gg/XdCb9dmTtf The highly anticipated Steal Essence skill update is finally here for Lineage 2 Interlude. This improved version lets you drain the power of your enemies, making your PvP and PvE battles even more thrilling. Watch the video to see the updated skill in action and learn how it can give you a powerful edge in combat!   If you have questions or want to add this updated skill to your game, feel free to contact me via Skype or Discord. Download available here or in Discord Client Dev channel https://discord.gg/XdCb9dmTtf    
    • Infelizmente não consigo baixar, é uma pena, gostaria muito de testar.
  • Topics

×
×
  • Create New...