Simple Animated Button

Software: Ulead Gif Animator 4

Skill Level:  Beginner

Featured Tools:
Banner Text

Additional Tools:
None

Note:  Make a simple animated button using Banner Text.

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This tutorial is is for the entry level beginner and will teach you how to make a simple animated button in Gif Animator 4.   It's purpose is also familiarize you with the Gif Animator, show you one of the many effects you can achieve, and take the fear out of "animating".

Open up Gif Animator 4 and the Start Up Wizard will come up.  Click on Blank Animation.

The button size for this tutorial is 88x31 so you will need to change the canvas size.  In the upper left hand corner under Logical Screen, uncheck Automatic and enter 88 for width and 31 for height.

Go to Layer, Add Banner Text and click on Animation.   (You can achieve different effects in "Simple", "Neon", "Gradient", and "Marquee".   For this tutorial, we will be exploring the Animation layer effects.)

The Add Animation Text box will open up as shown below.  This is where you'll create your entire animated button.  Check Rectangle position and size.  If it's not 88x31, use the pick tool to resize it to these dimensions where you see the black box below.  Refer to this picture if needed for the additional text portions of this tutorial.

Text Style is where you will be setting up the all of the text for your animated button.  In Banner Text replace "Sample Text - 1" by typing in  - Create.  Use Font: Arial Black, Size: 18 and click on Text Color click on white.  Uncheck Shadow.  Click on Banner Settings tab. 

The Animation Banner Settings box will pop up.   Leave the control settings at default.  Unclick border and click on Fill with background color.  The Pick Color box will come up.    Choose the color maroon as shown by the arrow. Click OK.

You will be back to the original Add Animation Text Screen.

Click on the Add button (just above the Text Style tab).  In the Text List you should see Text - 2 was added.   In the Banner Text area, type in - A.  Click Add.  Text - 3 will be added.  In the Banner Text Area type in - Simple.  Click Add again and again, in the Banner Text area type in - Button.

Now Click on the Effect Tab.

At this point you should have four texts in your Text List ( i.e. Text-1, Text-2, etc.).  The Effects area is where the fun begins.  The Move In effect is how each text line will enter the animation and the Move Out effect is how it will leave.  You can play with the effects here, making sure you set them for each Text line.

Highlight Text-1.   From the drop down menu in Move In Effect choose Fade.  Move Out Effect choose Fade.

Highlight Text-2.   Move In Effect: Zoom In.  Move Out Effect:  Scroll Down.

Highlight Text-3.   Move In Effect: Merge Vertical.  Move Out Effect:  Merge Horizontal.

Highlight Text-4.   Move In Effect: Drop.   Move Out Effect: Zoom In.

Click on Start Preview to see the effects of your animated button.  (You can always change the Effect styles, text size and delay speeds.)

Once you're satisfied with the animation, click OK.  Underneath Global Information all of the frames of your animation will be imported.  Click on the Preview tab and view your animated button.

Click back on the Compose button.  Go to File, Optimization Wizard.  The Optimization Wizard box will pop up.  Click on Next.  In the second box enter 32 for Number of Colors and click Next.  Click Next again.  Click Finish.  (You can also click on the Optimize tab shown above to bring you to the Optimization Wizard).

The GIF Optimization Box screen shown above will pop up.  You can see the number of bytes your animation is.   You can also preview it before saving.   If you find the file is too big, you can click on Another Try and the Optimization Wizard reopen and you can reset the color values. To save, click save as and choose a folder you wish to save it in.

I hope you've enjoyed this tutorial.

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