How to edit a GIF in Photoshop — solved

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I could not add text to the attached GIF in Adobe Photoshop, so I converted it to the attached JPG using this web site: http://www.coolutils.com/Online-Image-Converter.php#. Now, however, I can’t even open the image in Photoshop and do not see it in File | Open, even when I have “Files of all types” selected.

Does anyone know how to get this image open in Photoship so I can add text to it?

Regards,

JMT

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If the original was a GIF then you should open that in Photoshop. Saving as a JPG will reduce the quality of the text and besides, if the JPG can’t be opened by Photoshop then it is either corrupted or in a newer JPG format than your version of Photoshop supports.

It is best to work out why you couldn’t add text to the GIF in Photoshop in the first place. Perhaps it is a colour depth issue – try resampling the colours to make it 24bit colour. GIFs can’t hold anymore than 8bit colour and perhaps you need to remove this restriction before being able to add text. This means that you would then need to save the image in a different format – I would recommend PNG or Photoshop

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I could not add text to the attached GIF in Adobe Photoshop, 

…

Does anyone know how to get this image open in Photoship so I can add text to it?

I use GIMP rather than Photoshop, but I believe the same principle would work. I would open the original GIF image in Photoshop (which if I understand you correctly you were able to do) and add a new transparent layer. I’d then add the text there.

Ian

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I use GIMP rather than Photoshop, but I believe the same principle would work. I would open the original GIF image in Photoshop (which if I understand you correctly you were able to do) and add a new transparent layer. I’d then add the text there.

Ian

Sorry to reply to my own post, but that seems to work for me.

Ian

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Andrew: how do I resample the colors to make it 24 bit color? How would this even be possible if GIFs can only hold 8 bit color?

Here is what happens when I try to add text: (i) the whole image takes on a red tint; (ii) after I add the text and press ctrl Enter, the color of the text is restored, but the letters I just typed have marching ants around it; (iii) the marching ants disappear when I select the Rectangular Marquee Tool and select anywhere on the image.

However, the text does not show up as a separate layer, regardless of whether I am working with the file as a PNG, GIF, or PSD, and I thus can’t reshape or move it.

Ian: the one layer that is present appears to be locked and I can find no way to unlock it. Double clicking the layer on the Layers tool box just makes a beep, and when I right-click it, all of the options are grayed out. I don’t think I can add another layer on top of it and don’t know how. I am used to an extra layer being formed automatically whenever I would add text.

Regards,

JMT

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Ian: the one layer that is present appears to be locked and I can find no way to unlock it. Double clicking the layer on the Layers tool box just makes a beep, and when I right-click it, all of the options are grayed out. I don’t think I can add another layer on top of it and don’t know how. I am used to an extra layer being formed automatically whenever I would add text.

I don’t actually have Photoshop myself (can’t afford it) so I am not sure what to advise. I know how you add a layer in GIMP, but maybe a Photoshop user can help some more here.

Ian

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What version of Photoshop are you using? Does this link help if you don’t already have a layer – Background layer is locked. Once it is a layer, you should be able to click on the padlock symbol to unlock the layer. Alternatively, you should be able to add a new layer and add your overlay text there.

Resampling the colour depth is probably misleading for your problem so we should ignore that at present.

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I think I know what the problem is as far as the locked layer goes. Its probably in Indexed color mode and if you go to Image>Mode and change it to RGB you will be able to manipulate it properly and then change it back to Indexed when all is said and done.

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Byron,

Thank you so much! You figured it out! I changed it to RGB mode and now I can add all the text I want with no problem! Thank you!

JMT

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