#template tutorials

First, when making your gif, I recommend using the dimensions of the element you’re trying to put it in. That way you can see what you’re working with and what parts will be cut out.

To figure out the dimensions of an element, open your template, select the element layer, use the select tool and select the element on the document, go to edit>copy, then go to file>new, preset: clipboard, and it should show you the dimension, and click cancel (since we’re not actually making a new document).

For example, I’ll use this template. I will be putting my gif in this element:

That element is the layer titled “7″ in the template.

So, I would click that layer, select around the element with one of the selecting tools, go to edit>copy, go to file>new, preset: clipboard, and it will say the dimensions. Like so:

The dimensions of the element I want to put it in is 116px by 220px. So I would adjust the cropping settings to 116x220 and resize to that same amount.

Now as for putting the gif into the element; select all the frames of the gif and convert to video timeline, then select all the layers and convert to smart object, as you usually would with a gif.

At this point, you can also sharpen and do some touch-ups for your gif before putting it in.

Once you’re ready, drag the smart object layer over to the template document. Place that layer right above the element layer, like so:

Right-click on the gif layer and select “create clipping mask.” It should now have an arrow pointing towards the element layer, indicating it’s been put inside, like so:

You can then rearrange the gif so it fits inside perfectly.

Now open the video timeline. 

You’ll have to rearrange the other layers to align with the gif layer. To do so, go to the end point of the timeline–it looks like this:

–and drag it to the end point of the gif layer.

If you don’t do that, the document will add more layers to the gif and make it longer than the actual gif itself.

& that is all for the tutorial.

If you wish to add more gifs into different elements, you repeat the same steps as before.

However, you should keep the gifs to be the same amount of layers at the same speed. It’s also important to keep in mind that whatever point you set the end point of the timeline to, is where the gif ends. If you add another gif longer than the layers from your previous gif, it will be cut off. That is why I recommend using the same amount of layers, at the same speed for all of the gifs you use.

Edit any other parts of your template (such as adding pictures, changing text, etc.), add a coloring if you want, and when you’re done, go to file>save for web.. and save your gif. (Remember to set the looping option on “forever”!)

Here is the end result of the edit I was doing:

If you have any further questions, or you got lost at some step, don’t hesitate to send me another message!

I hope you (and anyone else who clicked on this tutorial) found this helpful.

These steps should be the same for all templates, and any other elements you want to put a gif in.

As an example, I’ll be using the IG template as well. I’ll put an image into this first square:

I’ll got to it’s folder

Open it and find the layer I want to use as the base. In this case it’s called “layer 2″. Click the layer to select it.

Keep it in mind and open the image you want to put inside it. Drag the image over to the template document.

Make sure the image layer is right above the layer you want to put it inside. This step is important, so be careful with it.

Once you’ve done that, select the image layer, right-click on it, and click “create clipping mask” on the box that pops up.

Now it’s inside. From there you can resize it so that it fits. (select the image layer, click the marquee tool, right-click on the document, and click “free transform”, hold shift while to resize it so the image remains the same and so it’s no too long or too wide.)

And then you’re done. You can keep doing it if you have other templates and finish anything else in a template or edit.

Like I said, it’s the same everytime for every time you want to place an image inside a base.

I’ll go over it one last time, just in case. I’ll be doing the profile picture this time. Find the layer of the base and select it.

Open the image you want to put inside, drag the image to the template document, and make sure the image layer is above the base layer.

Once you’ve made sure the image layer is above the base layer, select the image layer, right-click, and click “create clipping mask.”

Select the marquee tool, select the image layer, right-click on the document, click “free transform”, and resize the image to fit inside the base. 

And you’re done. I know it may seem difficult because all the small details but you’ll get used to it quick and it’ll be easy to do.

So every time you want to insert an image inside a base:

place the image layer above the base layer

select the image layer, right click, and click “create clipping mask”

That’s the general steps.