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If you’re looking for photo marketing that’s truly moving, then read on. 

The use of pictures in advertising can be an effective tool, and video is also proven to increase viewer engagement. What if you combine elements of both to create photo animation?

Here’s how to make moving pictures, and why it’s an ideal form of advertising…

Cinemagraphs

This technique involves taking a video clip and then using software to mask the elements you want to move (while making the other parts static.) 

The key to this one is to create a smooth loop. That’s when a tripod could come in handy. For the animation, look for something in the clip that will look cool when it’s moving – like a flowing dress or a spinning umbrella, for example. 

GIFs

These moving clips are very popular for both advertising and social media memes. While some people call them “GIFS” and others insist on “JIFS”, one thing’s for sure – they’re just animated pictures. 

GIFs are a good option because they generally don’t generate large files, although they don’t contain sound either. They are essentially a series of photos that are played like a “flipbook”. So it isn’t a video clip, it’s a series of photos shown in sequence to create a video look. 

Photoshop Timeline

For photographers that are accustomed to using Photoshop for processing stills, you’ll also be happy to know you can import video as layers in your timeline.

While you can fine-tune each layer to get the look you want, you can also import stills into your timeline to create an “animated” effect. Even if you’re not a pro at Photoshop, there’s a photo animation maker that can help you achieve a similar outcome. 

Plotagraph

This one creates animation from a single still photo. You put “anchor points” where you want the image to move, and in what direction. The program does the rest. 

To the eye, the finished product looks like a video clip, but it’s a single image that’s been manipulated. Luckily, there are some apps out there to let you achieve this effect more easily. 

Why Use Photo Animation in Marketing?

The amount of content online these days is staggering, especially for photos. In fact, there are more than 1.8 billion photos being added on social media per day – and that statistic was from 5 years ago, so the number is likely larger now. 

With that in mind, viewers have a very short window to decide whether to engage your content or skip to the next sparkly thing. Adding cool animated photo effects can help you reap some of the increased engagement that comes with a video, without having to go through all of the video production steps. 

That means even if you don’t have any experience producing videos, there’s a relatively short learning curve (and software) to make winning photo animation. 

Make Your Marketing More Moving

If you’re trying to reach a larger audience, then adding photo animation is not a bad idea. Whether it’s a GIF or a Plotagraph, you can give viewers a reason to stop and stare for a long moment. 

Did you find this content interesting? If so, be sure to come back for more on cool technology. 

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