From Still to Dynamic: Learn the Tricks of Creating Striking Animated Photos •

In today’s digital age, static photos are no longer enough to engage viewers. People now crave dynamic and eye-catching visuals that can grab their attention.

Here, you will learn how to create one of the most popular animated effects: three-dimensional parallax. It is an optical illusion in which the main object appears to be moving away from its background, creating an immersive effect. This technique uses multiple layers moving at different speeds and in different directions relative to the center point.

Read on and discover the tricks and techniques behind turning your still photos into stunning animated masterpieces with parallax.

Table of Contents

Essential Steps for Creating Your Photo Animation

Now, let’s dive into the essential information on how to create an animated photo. From gathering your media and adding keyframes and effects to exporting and sharing your masterpiece, we will walk you through every step of the process.

Step 1: Prepare Your Materials

Before diving into the world of animated photos, it is essential to gather all the necessary materials. Start by selecting a photo you want to turn into an image animation. Then, you need to prepare its copy with a transparent background. Cut out the main object in any photo editor that has a background modification feature and save it as a PNG file to preserve transparency.

Step 2: Position Images

To begin creating your animated photos, you will need some photo animation software. In our case, it is SmartSHOW 3D. Run the program and drop the original picture into the Storyboard. Then click Edit Slide. In the window that pops up, click Add Layer and insert your image with a transparent background. The idea is to put this picture over the original photo, hiding the background object.

Step 3: Animate the Foreground Picture

Select the layer with the transparent photo and switch to the Animation tab. Create Keyframe No. 2 and zoom in on the photo. Again, it’s important to position this big image over the backdrop layer so that anyone looking at it will see these two objects as one. Use the Position arrows and the Scale buttons to zoom layers more easily.

Step 4: Animate the Background Picture

Switch to the Slide tab and select the background image. Move Keyframe No. 2 on the timeline one second to the right so that two effects don’t occur simultaneously. Now, go to the Animation tab and slightly zoom in on the backdrop to make your photo animation really pop. Ensure that the two objects still overlap correctly after all of the changes.

Step 5: Enhance Your Animation with Effects

Now that your photos are organized and animated, it is time to spice them up with some effects, for instance, by using highlights that imitate sun rays. Click the Add Layer button, select the Highlights and Textures option, and pick the effect you like. Then, take your time to preview the animation and make any necessary tweaks to ensure a seamless and polished final product.

Step 6: Export and Share Your Picture Animation

After perfecting your animated photo, it is time to export it and share it with the world. The software to animate pictures we use allows you to save your creation in various video formats that can be easily uploaded to social media platforms or shared with friends and family.

Bottom Line

Creating stunning animated photos with 3D parallax effects is now within reach, thanks to powerful picture animation software. By following this step-by-step tutorial, you can transform your still images into dynamic visual masterpieces that will captivate viewers and bring your memories to life. So, don’t wait any longer. Unleash your creativity and start your journey of animated storytelling today!