[tarheelsxl]

Why is it so difficult to find a decent program to create simple GIF animations on my OS X iBook G4? The one included in Photoshop CS (ImageReady) requires a freakin pHd to use and the only one I found that works for OSX is Gifun - which is ridiculously clumsy and simple to be of any real use

I also foudn several OLD GIF creators but they are not compatible with OSX... am I not looking in the right place? (I used Google and versiontracker)

I would like something along the lines of the Jasc Animation program that comes with Paint Shop Pro - any suggestions?

Thanks in advance,
Frustrated Mac owner (annoyed how Windows has literally hundreds of these programs while OS-X has like..two - figured there'd be alot for Macs since it is the preferred choice for graphic designers)

[Synotic]

Well, I don't usually create animated GIFs, but have you looked at ImageReady's help file? It's not as hard as you make it out to be. If you're comfortable with Photoshop, simply put each frame of your animation of a separate layer, then click the "Edit in ImageReady" button which is at the very bottom of all of your tools. If you don't have the tools visible, you can also do "Command-Shift-M", which will do the same thing. Then once you're in ImageReady, go to the "Window" menu and choose "Animation," to enable that panel, if it's not already visible. Then, in that panel, hit the little icon with the document symbol on it; it will duplicate the current frame (just like the button to make a new layer). Make as many frames as you want. Then, select the first frame, go to the layer panel and make visible and invisible whatever layers you want by hitting the little symbol of an eye. Then do this for each frame. Then you can set whatever animation options you want in the animation panel.. Speed, looping etc... Then, where the image is, you should see a few tabs. Click on "Optimized" and then go to the File menu and choose "Save optimized as..." Then save to where you want, and you should be good. I created this boring animation in about 5 minutes:



P.S. Sorry in advance to anyone whom this animation gives a headache (it hurts me just looking at it )

[kcmac]

Can't you do this in Quick Time Pro? Seems my son does it.

[Detrius]

Totally not an OS X question.