PDF Layers to GIF?

S

Shaybe

New member
Greetings,

I save all my characters as a PDF PSD with each animation as a separate layer. Does anyone know of a way to batch process each layer to a separate GIF? I know photoshop can export layers to individual files but GIF is not an option. I am just trying to save myself a lot of time rather than save each layer individually. Thank you!
 
First, you should be using .png, not .gif. As far as exporting from PDF, I'm not sure if Photoshop or Acrobat alone can do that (well they can - just not sure if you can automate the process). Acrobat can break the PDF down into a separate file per page, assuming that's how your images are arranged, so that could be a start.

DC
 
Thanks for the info! I guess I will have to look into png. I remember trying to use png when I first started a few months ago, but I couldn't figure it out for some reason.... so I just went with gif!
 
you probably *can* automate the process in Photophop (batch, actions, something... something), but I don't remember how easily you can do that, specially with the different layers. I'm sure someone thought of it before, so Google is your friend.
 
OH! Well in that case it's a breeze. You can export .psd layers with a scripted action. Most installations of Photoshop already come with one ready to go, and if not you can Google and get it no problem.

Once that's done you can make some action batches of your own for a bit of fine tuning and optimizing.

DC
 
Thanks for the info, I did Google it and could only find how to export to png.
Now I read about png being better because the files are smaller. But I saved a couple files as png and gif, and the gif files are always smaller... and they look exactly the same. Am I missing something?
If png really is the way to go I want to start now before I get too far into the project.
 
Ah its easy. You just record an action and play it.
Create a new action, it will start to record. Apply the palette, save it as PNG then do a control z to revert it back.

O
When you save, do not choose save as, but choose "insert menu action" do you can choose the file name.

I suggest you to use Save for web and not Save as, since the files are smaller this way. Just remember to choose the palette when you save
 
O Ilusionista said:
Ah its easy. You just record an action and play it.
Create a new action, it will start to record. Apply the palette, save it as PNG then do a control z to revert it back.
Click to expand...

Not quite sure what you mean by record an action. The save for web worked well for shrinking the size of png! However, they were still slightly larger than gif.... so I think I will just stick with using gif since there is no difference in quality.
 
You did something wrong then. Don't take the lazy way out now because of one set back. You'll pay later.

Save for web, png 8bit, no metadata. The .png will win every time.
 
I really appreciate the help, and I hate being such a bother about this. But I want to be sure I have this 100% right before I start converting everything.
1) I make the image indexed color. First box is the transparent color.
azflfa.png


2)Here are the settings I chose
2qutc7a.png


3)Then save with the option Custom
70klnb.png
 
Un-Tick Transparency ;)

edit - Also these days I just run the sprites through PalApply, saves a lot of time.
 
How do you save the images to use PalApply later? When I save them now they automatically are indexed, and then some random frames use a different order for the index colors. I really want to use png but for some reason I am failing at this bad!

*EDIT* Ok I think I finally got it this time! I clicked on the arrow next to color table and then loaded the palette for that character, then those settings were saved for the rest of the frames I saved.
 
Using for web shrink the file size, but you need to do one trick: Click on the little triangle near of "image size" and choose "load color table".
2qutc7a.png

Sure, you need to save a color table before doing this. And I suggest you to do so. You won't need Pal Apply.

About how to record an action on Photoshop, wathc this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvSLXeOzDGQ

Action is Photoshop most powerful tool. Once you master it, it will save you a big time.
And if you need to work with palettes, I suggest you to use Fighter Factory over any other tool. Here is a small tutorial about using palettes in fighter Factory http://www.chronocrash.com/forum/index.php?topic=60.0
 
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