Add Text to GIF or Animation

To do this tutorial you will also need Photoshop CS or CS2.  You may download a free trial at Adobe.

Remember to save as a .psd file often!

You may use a transparent GIF file you have already downloaded, or use this one I am supplying (below).  Just click on the image and it will open in a new window, then RIGHT-CLICK on it in the new window and choose Save Picture As.

1.  In IMAGE READY  open up your transparent GIF file.

2.  It may not be big enough to add some text.  In that case,  Image > Canvas Size to increase the canvas size.

3.  Check the Current Size for Width & Height.  Then under New Size, change the Width and height so that those are bigger numbers to add more canvas.  I changed my canvas size for the eye graphic to H & W = 150 pixels.

4.  Then choose the Text tool.  Set it to your font choice, color choice, size choice and type your words

5.  Right-click on the text layer and choose Rasterize Layer.

6.  If the text needs to be moved:  Hold the CTRL key down while you click on each frame of the animation in the animation frame.  Then with the mover tool, move the text into position. 

7.  Now save.  File > Save Optimized As.