Is it possible to add a background image to all 'layers' of an animated gif?

Question

I have an animated gif with transparent background, and I want to add a background image to all layers:

How can I achieve it without adding it to every layer individually?

Answer 1

In the GIMP it is possible with the multi-layers-merger extension from here:

(original) http://registry.gimp.org/node/26135

(archived project) https://github.com/pixlsus/registry.gimp.org_static

(location of plugin extension within that project) https://github.com/pixlsus/registry.gimp.org_static/tree/master/registry.gimp.org/files/

Install the extension, then

1. Create a new image the same size as your animation, and put your background image in a single layer in the new image.

2. Go to Layers > Multi Layers Merger

3. Deselect all the options but "Use only active layer". This means to only merge the active layer of the background image.

4. Make sure the "Second Image to merge with" dropdown is the image with your animation frames in it

5. Click OK, and a new image should be created with your background behind each frame.

Answer 2

Here is how to do it in Photoshop. It may be helpful, I think.

1. First open a stable picture/background that you want to put a gif on. This is mine: click.
2. Open your gif. File > Import > Video Frames to Layers. /help image In the File Name type this: . /help image, find your gif and on this little window that pops up just click OK. You can skip this step if you have your gif already opened (because you were making it - how to make gifs tutorial you can find here).
3. Window > Animation. /help image Something like this will show up.
4. Now you work on the gif. Click on this little arrow with lines in the top right corner of animation window and pick Select All Frames. /help image
5. Click on this arrow again and pick Copy Frames. /help image
6. Go to your background. Click on the arrow and pick Paste Frames. /help image You must check Paste Over Selection when the little windows pops up. /help image
7. Now you must ensure that the background picture is under ALL of the frames. To do that you must pick every frame one by one and in the Layers window you must check a visibility of the background - click on the little square and a little eye will appear. Here the visibility is off, here it’s on. Do it with all of the frames.
8. Now it’s the time to move your gif. You must select all of the frames AND all of the layers (but WITHOUT the background picture!) and then click ctrl + t on your keybord and move the gif. /help image
9. That’s all. Now to save the gif: File > Save For Web and Devices. /help image Remember that it must be smaller than 1 MB (1000 KB)

Answer 3

To All who use GIMP to animate.

THIS WORKS!!-To anybody STILL having this trouble like I did, coming across this i have another solution that works wonders. With your .gif layers loaded, make Your Background on it's own layer THEN in the 'Plug-ins' FX-Foundry they have a selection just for 'Animations' Click combine with background....wait then remove/save your bg then export your newly made .gif all set :D

P.S.- ALSO, THIS WORKS as well- with your .gif layers loaded make or load your bg image. Okay now 'Merge' just the first .gif layer to your background layer...THERE your all set!

Answer 4

if you, like me, cannot find any of these plug-ins, you can simply duplicate the background layer, one copy per each foreground layer, and merge foreground layers into individual copies of the background. then animate in GIMP as you would normally do. It's a manual procedure (this is where plug-ins come in handy to do the automation, I suppose), but if you only have a few foreground layers, it's doable.