1. MAKING SCREENCAPS
- I use the Frame: Extract option in KMPlayer to make my caps. You can use any program for that, but it’s quite nice to not have to cap them manually. (KMPlayer is not available for Mac users but you can use VLC Player » auto-capping tutorial)
- I start the video in KMPlayer, click right on the screen and select Capture, Frame: Extract.
- These are my adjustments. You might want to change the once per # frame part depending on the length of your scene - I usually put it between 1 (for short scenes) and 3 (for lengthy ones).
2. IMPORTING CAPS INTO PHOTOSHOP
- Click File, Scripts & Load Files into Stack…
- Click Browse…, select your caps and click OK.
- Make sure your animation bar is showing (Window, Animation), click the little arrow and Make Frames From Layers. In case the caps were imported reversed, click the arrow and Reverse Frames.
- Export the whole thing via File, Export, Render Video…
3. COLORING YOUR GIF
- Open the video you just saved via File, Open…
- Resize the video to your wanted gif size, right click the layer in your layer palette and click Convert to Smart Object.
- All frames of the gif are now in that one layer, so you can edit it like a normal picture (e.g. duplicate the layer to set it to screen, etc., or sharpen it - these kinds of adjustments will be visible on all frames of the gif later.)
- When you’re done adding your coloring you export the video just like before via File, Export, Render Video…
4. VIDEO TO GIF
- Import your edited video via File, Import, Video Frames to Layers…
- You can change the gif’s speed now (I usually choose something between 0,7 and 1,9 depending on how many caps I made per frame in step one.)
- Save the gif via File, Save for Web & Devices…
5. IN CASE YOUR GIF IS TOO BIG FOR TUMBLR…
- Try adding Levels or Curves layers on top of all frames to darken down the gif.
- Create a new empty layer set to soft light on top and use a black brush on it to darken down the background. Make sure you click these three buttons to make the layer visible on all frames.
- In case the background doesn’t move, try doing this.
- Delete frames.
Done. I think. If you have any questions, feel free to ask :) …not on anon, please.