Steps 2 and 3 highlight important frame-creating principles and procedures that are common to most graphics software. Explain that by scanning hand-drawn images or creating electronic images using a graphics program, students will create the first or last image in the animation. They will need to save this frame as a file and name it. Explain that after the first frame is created and saved, small incremental alterations of the original image can produce subsequent frames easily. This step is essential to the success of the project.
Students can create the images for the frames without using a paint program.
If a scanner is available, they can create the first image using traditional art supplies and scan it into the computer. Students should then trace the key elements of the image and alter them slightly to create successive frames. Remember, each frame should be saved as a separate file. Explain that when students finish making and saving all of their frames, they will need to convert their files to the Gif format. Using GifConverter or Paint Shop Pro, each file is opened and converted one frame at a time.