CraftyGirl*

How to: Make a GIF in Photoshop

Hello everyone! In a previous post many of you asked how to make the moving pictures that I showed, so I thought I would do a tutorial!

These moving pictures are called GIFs, which basically is lot's of photos played over and over, going on forever. They are super fun to make and watch!

There is many different applications you can use to make GIFs, but I will be using photoshop. If you do not have photoshop, maybe do a google search because there should be an online generator. Also there is an iPhone app called GifBoom, although I haven't tried it before, only heard of it.

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For this tutorial you will need Photoshop and some photos. I am using Photoshop CS4 but any version should work.

Before you start, you can edit your photos. Also, I find it helpful if you name your photos 1, 2, 3 etc. so you don't get confused of what order they go in.

 

Step 1 - Open all of your photos in photoshop.

Step 2 - Go to File > New and make a new blank document. Make it the same size as all of your photos.

Step 3 - Drag all of your photos on top of each other onto the document. It should look like this in the layers pallette.

Step 4 - Go to Window > Animation

Step 5 - Your screen should look like this, or something very similar.

Step 6 - You need to make a frame for every photo you have. I have 8 photos, so I need to add another 7 frames. To do this you click the button that looks like a page curling. Click it however many times you need to. It should then look like this...

Step 7 - Now you need to chose how fast your gif changes photos. The seconds represent how long you see each photo for. You click the button that the arrow is pointing too, and select what number you want. I usually use 0.2 or 0.3 seconds.

Step 8 - Now we need to chose what photo we see for each frame. Right now they are all the same, but we are about to change it. Click onto the first frame.

Step 9 - The little eye button allows you to turn on and off some layers that you do or don't want to see. Because we are doing the first frame, we just want to see photo 1, or layer 1. De-select all the other photos/layers.

Step 10 - Click onto the second frame.

Step 11 - Turn on photo/layer two and de-select all of the others.

Step 12 - Repeat this until you have done it to all of your frames.

Step 13 - Click the play button to watch your gif. You may need to slow it down/speed it up. Play around a little until you're happy.

Step 14 - Make sure that in the bottom left corner "Forever" is selected, or your gif may only play once. We want it to play over and over forever.

Step 15 - Once you are done and happy, go to File > Save for Web and Devices.

Step 16 - A screen like this should come up. In the top right corner, make sure that GIF is selected. Press save when you're done, name it and save it where you would like.

Hoorayyy! You've made a GIF! I would just love to see everyones gif's; if you have a try, feel free to leave your's in the comments! Have fun! xoxo

How to: Organise your Wardrobe for Spring and Summer

Hello everyone! Now that the days are getting hotter and hotter, I decided to get my wardrobe organised for Spring and Summer. I thought it might be a fun 'how to' for my blog! You can use this tutorial to get ready for Autumn and Winter too, depending on the season at your house! I really enjoy doing this because it reminds me of what I have, and clothes I may have forgotten about.

Younger kids might need help doing this, but older kids can probably do this themselves to help their parents out! Let's begin...

Let's begin with the clothes that go in your chest of drawers/folded clothes.

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• Get out all of your clothes from all of your drawers, and make two piles. Make one pile for all of your Spring and Summer clothes, and one pile for all of your Autumn and Winter clothes. I usually make my piles on my bed because there is lot's of space to make piles and organise.

• Start with the Spring and Summer clothes. Go through the pile and put aside any clothes that don't fit you anymore, or clothes that aren't really your style anymore. Put them into a separate pile.

• Now do the same with your Autumn and Winter clothes

• All the clothes that you don't want anymore can be put into a big bag so they don't get mixed up with all of your other clothes. I donated all of my old clothes to the OP Shop, and you could do this too, or you could pass them onto a friend or family member, sell them or whatever you want. ALWAYS get your parent/guardian to check the clothes you're getting rid of BEFORE you get rid of them, because you wouldn't want to get rid of something important by mistake.

• Start with your Spring and Summer clothes. Put all of your shorts in a pile, all of your shirts in a pile, all of your swimmers in a pile etc. As you go, fold everything ready to put away.

• Do the same with all of your Autumn and Winter clothes.

• Put your Spring and Summer clothes away in your chest of drawers, with a separate drawer for each separate type of clothing item.

• I have a drawer for socks, singlets etc, a drawer for t-shirts, uniform things, shorts etc. Just make sure you have a separate drawer for each type of clothing.

• Because I don't need my Autumn and Winter clothes that often in the warmer months, I put them away somewhere where I can still get them if I need them, but they aren't taking up all the space of the Spring and Summer clothes. I put them on a shelf in my wardrobe. You could put them in there, or in some spare drawers you have etc. Wherever you have space or what suits you.

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Now let's organise the hang up clothes.

• Lay all your hang up clothes on your bed and sort it into two piles. One for your Autumn and Winter coats and jackets etc, and one for your Spring and Summer dresses and skirts etc.

• Go through all your clothes and see what doesn't fit anymore, or what you don't like anymore, and put it with all your folded clothes you don't want anymore, making sure to check with your parent/guardian before you get rid of anything.

• We can hang our clothes back up now. I like to have my clothes hanging in an organised order so that it is easy to find what I am looking for. I usually hang them in this order...

• Winter clothes >> School Uniforms >> Miscellaneous >> Skirts >> Dresses >> Spare Coat hangers.

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You can also use this system for your shoes, if you want to go through them as well.

I hope you have enjoyed this tutorial and have had fun with it! I really love organising so this was so much fun for me! xoxo, Emily

Let's Take Some Photos! - Day time vs Night time

(See Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3)

Hello lovelies! Today in the 4th part of my photography tips blog posts, Lets Take Some Photos, I will be teaching you all about daytime photos vs night time photos. Lets start!

In the daytime when you take photos, there is lots of light, which means nicer colours, and makes it easier to focus on the subject.

When you photograph at night time, there isn't as much light, and because of that it is sometimes hard to focus on the subject properly.

I never take any photos at night time, but of course you can take photos at night with the flash when you go out at night or something. But when you are photographing subjects for your blog, a family album, or anything, I strongly suggest you should take your photos in the daylight.

Although you can use the flash at night time, it can still make the photo appear washed out and very bright in some parts. There are lot's of ways professional photographers can take great lighting photos at night time with their equipment, but for amateur photographers it is best to take photos in the day for a more effective photo.

Having good lighting in your photo is one of the most important keys to making a great photo, so taking them at night can sometimes take away from the WOW factor of your photo! I sure many many people out there have taken wonderful night time photos with special equipment, but personally, I don't have any of that equipment, so I think photos taken at daytime look a lot better!

Of course, there are really awesome photo techniques that you can only take at night, like the silhouette effect, and drawing with light. But in general for everyday photos, I say take them in the natural lighting of the day!

Happy snapping! And have a wonderful day! Enjoy! xoxo, Emily ps: Stay tuned for Part 5 - Photographing people.