Animating an Image

Animate an image using Adobe Fireworks
nb: Adobe Photoshop has very similar tools so you could do this with that software as well

This is a very simple and quick lesson on making an image 'move', using Adobe Fireworks.


 * Open your image file in Fireworks, and 'save as' animated gif.
 * Using the "Lasso Tool", trace around the part of the figure you wish to move (I am going to make a stick figure wave so will cut out the arm from the elbow).


 * Select > Edit > Cut (or Ctrl X)


 * Select > Edit > Paste (or Ctrl V)

Now we need to create the other 'states' for the animation.


 * In the Optimize panel, click on the 'state' tab, right click on State 1 and select 'Duplicate State'. Put in the number of states you want (for this example we will have 8).


 * Select your image on the first 'state'. Nb: to know which 'state' you are in make sure you have the 'Symbol Properties' selected so that the 'rewind,play,forward' buttons are visible on the screen.  This will tell you which state is currently on the screen.


 * Using the arrow beside the state number, go to State 2.

The image will look the same, but you will now have two layers.
 * Select the layer you just pasted back onto the screen.


 * Right click, and select 'Transform/Scale'
 * Move the angle of the image slightly, and down a little as well.


 * Repeat this for frames 2,3 and 4; then do the opposite on frames 5,6 and 7 (ie., reverse the angle and move slightly up)


 * Frame 1 and Frame 8 will remain the same.

Click the 'Play' button and see how it looks.