
for forgetting to do the shadows before I merged it all together.
( ,
Fri 14 May 2004, 5:03,
archived)

I should really just save multiple versions, I suppose
( ,
Fri 14 May 2004, 5:06,
archived)

but I couldn't get my head around it
( ,
Fri 14 May 2004, 5:11,
archived)

from a PSD file. I've only just started using Photoshop/Imageready, and that's one of the many significant benefits over Paintshop/Animation Shop.
( ,
Fri 14 May 2004, 5:16,
archived)

I don't really know how it compares to the others, since it's all I've ever used, but each layer is a frame in the animation, so you have to merge it all to save it as an animated gif
( ,
Fri 14 May 2004, 5:18,
archived)

but probably not
( ,
Fri 14 May 2004, 5:23,
archived)

between elements and the full $1,000,000 version of pshop -- you have to merge to animate.
As for me, I merge to compress the file size before I animate, and I do it in Macromedia Fireworks instead of Imageready. It optimizes better and is more intuitive (for me). Plus, it lets me layer each animation frame as much as I want, so I can go back in and add the shadows later if I forgot them. In a lot of ways, Fireworks 4 is like a junior version of Flash 5. (Yes, I am behind the times.)
( ,
Fri 14 May 2004, 5:26,
archived)
As for me, I merge to compress the file size before I animate, and I do it in Macromedia Fireworks instead of Imageready. It optimizes better and is more intuitive (for me). Plus, it lets me layer each animation frame as much as I want, so I can go back in and add the shadows later if I forgot them. In a lot of ways, Fireworks 4 is like a junior version of Flash 5. (Yes, I am behind the times.)

I hear the Middle Eastern version is less expensive*.
*from bit torrent.
( ,
Fri 14 May 2004, 5:31,
archived)
*from bit torrent.

You can duplicate the layers before you merge them (that way, you have the originals). If you want to go back and edit something, you can use the original layers and remerge them for that/those frame(s).
Now that hard drives are cheaper than $1/meg*, you can afford the space. ;-)
*I remember buying a 500 Meg hard drive for $750 US back in 1994 or so... I also picked up 8 meg of RAM for only $600 for the Win3.1 to Win95 upgrade.
( ,
Fri 14 May 2004, 5:27,
archived)
Now that hard drives are cheaper than $1/meg*, you can afford the space. ;-)
*I remember buying a 500 Meg hard drive for $750 US back in 1994 or so... I also picked up 8 meg of RAM for only $600 for the Win3.1 to Win95 upgrade.