Creating a painted animation can add a unique and captivating touch to your projects. Adobe Photoshop provides powerful tools and techniques that allow you to create stunning animated scenes with a hand-painted aesthetic.

What You’ll Need

• Adobe Photoshop
• A collection of high-resolution reference images
• A Wacom or other drawing tablet for precise control (optional)

Preparing Your Reference Images

1. Collect a set of reference images that match the style and theme of your animation.
2. Ensure the images are of high resolution and provide clear details of the elements you want to animate.
3. Organize your reference images in a convenient manner for easy access during the animation process.

Creating the Base Frame

1. Open a new document in Photoshop with a suitable canvas size for your animation.
2. Import your first reference image and position it as the base layer of your animation.
3. Use the Brush Tool and various brush settings to replicate the painting style and details from the reference image.
4. Maintain consistent brush strokes and color palettes throughout the base frame.

Creating Subsequent Frames

1. Duplicate the base layer to create a new frame.
2. Using your reference images, make subtle changes to the elements in the frame to create the illusion of animation.
3. For example, slightly adjust the position of an object, change the lighting, or introduce slight color variations.
4. Repeat this process for each frame, creating a sequence of slightly altered versions of the base layer.

Adding Animation Effects

1. To enhance the visual impact of your animation, you can apply various effects to individual frames or the entire animation.
2. Experiment with filters, such as Gaussian Blur or Motion Blur, to create depth and movement.
3. Use adjustment layers to adjust the overall brightness, contrast, or color balance of the animation.
4. Consider adding subtle textures or patterns to add visual interest.

Compositing and Exporting

1. Once you’re satisfied with the animation sequence, combine the individual frames into a single video file.
2. You can use video editing software or Adobe Photoshop’s frame animation feature to create the final video.
3. Choose the desired video format (MP4, MOV, etc.) and export the animation for sharing or further processing.

With these steps and creative experimentation, you can create captivating painted animations in Adobe Photoshop.