Table of Contents

Animations

Gareth Casey Updated by Gareth Casey

If you want to add an animation to your video project, you can either import a GIF file that you already have or you can search the library of stock GIFs, animated stickers and emojis that are provided to you in Flashback Express 7.

Adding an imported GIF

Before adding your animated GIF to your project, you will first need to import it into your My Files. Simply click the Import Media button at the top of the My Files tab of the Media Panel and the select the GIF file from your computer. It will then be added to your My Files.

You can then add your GIF to your project by dragging and dropping it from My Files on to either the Canvas or Timeline. Or you can click on the GIF's thumbnail to add it to the Timeline.

To the Canvas

If the GIF is dropped on to the Canvas, the animation will appear in the exact spot on the Canvas where it was dropped and it will appear on top of any other objects that have already been added to the project.

An image object will also appear on the Timeline beginning at the current frame.

To the Timeline

If the animation is dragged on to the Timeline, the image object will begin at whatever time it was dropped at. Or, if the animation is added by clicking its thumbnail, the image will be added to the Timeline at the current frame.

In either case, the animation that appears on the Canvas will be positioned in the default position in the center of the Canvas.

Adding a stock GIF or animated sticker

If you need to find an animated image, such as a GIF, sticker or emoji, you can search the library of stock images by going to the Elements section of the Media Panel and then select either Stickers or GIFs to search for the relevant type of animation.

To add a GIF or sticker from your search, you can either simply drag and drop it on to either the Canvas or Timeline or click the animation's thumbnail.

Resizing and cropping animations

Animtions can be resized by clicking and dragging the corners of the animation. The proportions of the animation will be locked when resizing, so it will always increase in height and width together to maintain the correct aspect ratio.

Alternatively, clicking and dragging on the edges of the animation will crop the animation down instead of resizing it. This allows you to trim the animation's image if you do not want to show all of it

Finally, instead of manually resizing an animation, you can either set it to fit to or fill the entire Canvas by clicking the relevant button in the Style panel while the animation is selected. When fitting to the Canvas, the animation will be made as large as possible without cropping any of it, whereas filling the Canvas will make the animation large enough to cover the entire Canvas even if that means part of the animation get crops off by the edge of the Canvas.

Changing animation duration

The duration will default to the length of the animation. The timeline object can be extended and shortened by dragging the end of it. When shortening the object, part of the animation will be cut off. When extended the object, the animation will loop back to the beginning and start to play again.

Customizing an animation's style

When an animation is selected, either on the Canvas or on the Timeline, it's style properties will appear in the Style Panel allowing you to customize the following:

Opacity - Make your animation appear transparent by reducing the Opacity. The lower the opacity, the more that you will be able to see through the animation. (Not available for stickers)

Fade-in animation - When enabled, your animation will gradually fade in when it is due to appear. The Duration slider lets you control how quickly the animation appears.

Fade-out animation - When enabled, your animation will gradually fade out as it approaches the time when it is due to disappear. The Duration slider lets you control how quickly the animation disappears.

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