In this tutorial, we will use Adobe Photoshop to create an animated photo reveal effect for Instagram, which can be used with any image.
You can also check my Animated Geometric Color Reveal Action with different animated textures and effects, created the same way for my GraphicRiver portfolio.
Tutorial Assets
You can use any photo you want for this manipulation. You can find some free photos on Unsplash and Pixabay or buy high-quality photos on PhotoDune. I chose this photo from Unsplash.
And if you want to learn more cool Instagram tips and tricks, check out the School of Instagram. It's a free library of videos, articles, and direct advice from high-profile Instagrammers to help you emulate their success.
1. How to Prepare the Document
Step 1
Use Control-N to create a new document and use the following settings: 1080 x 1080 px; 300 dpi.
Step 2
Go to File > Place and put your image inside the document.
Step 3
Now we need to convert our image to a smart object. Right Click on the layer, and then select Convert to Smart Object.
Step 4
After that, let's create a duplicate of the smart object: Right Click > Duplicate layer.
Step 5
Create four more duplicates of the smart object as we did before. After that, you can easily change the image in all the smart objects just by replacing the photo in the first smart object.
Step 6
Now let's create the shapes for our template. Hit U to create a Rectangle Shape and use the following settings: Width: 432; Height: 432.
Step 7
After that, create the second shape with the following settings: Width: 594; Height: 594; No Fill; Stroke: 81 px.
Step 8
Create the third shape with the following settings: Width: 756; Height: 756; No Fill; Stroke: 81 px.
Step 9
Create the fourth shape with the following settings: Width: 918; Height: 918; No Fill; Stroke: 81 px.
Step 10
For the last shape, let's use these settings: Width: 1080; Height: 1080; No Fill; Stroke: 81 px.
Step 11
Hit V and select all the shape layers, and then click Align Horizontal Center and Align Vertical Center.
Step 12
Now we need to move each shape below each smart object.
Step 13
Make the main smart object and the background layer invisible.
Step 14
Now select the first smart object and Right Click > Create Clipping Mask.
Step 15
Create a clipping mask for each smart object using the same method as before.
Step 16
To make it easier for us to work with our layers, we need to create groups of layers. Select each smart object and shape and then hit the Make a Group icon.
2. How to Create Color Effects
Step 1
To create a black and white filter, we will use a gradient map. Select the first smart object and go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Gradient Map.
Step 2
After that, Right Click > Create Clipping Mask.
Step 3
Now create another gradient map above, but use the following colors: #21382e; #3d3b6d; #fd605b.
Step 4
Select the gradient map layer and create another clipping mask.
Step 5
Create another gradient map with the clipping mask in the second group with the following colors: #31444b; #843332.
Step 6
Now let's create another gradient map with a clipping mask as we did before, but for the third group of the layers. For this one, let's use the following colors: #16172b; #df7136.
Step 7
For the next group of layers, use a gradient map with the following colors: #dd0a00; #fe7f32.
Step 8
For the last group of layers, use a gradient map with the following colors: #5b673f; #a23c2d.
Step 9
Now we need to make our image look a bit faded. Go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Exposure and use the following settings: Offset: +0.0200.
3. How to Create an Animation From a Static Image
Step 1
To start creating the animation, go to Window > Timeline and then hit Create Video Timeline.
Step 2
Select the smart object in the first group of the layers, press Control-T, and rotate the image -180° while holding Shift.
Step 3
Select the smart object in the second group of the layers, and then press Control-T and rotate the image -90° while holding Shift.
Step 4
Select next smart object in and then press Control-T and rotate the image -180° while holding Shift.
Step 5
Select the smart object in the fourth group of the layers, and then press Control-T and rotate the image 90° while holding Shift.
Step 6
Select the last smart object, and then press Control-T and rotate the image -180° while holding Shift.
Step 7
Open the first smart object in the Timeline panel and move the Time Indicator to 0:00:00:00. After that, click on the Timer icon near the Transform to create the first Keyframe.
Step 8
Move the Time Indicator to 0:00:02:00, and then rotate the smart object 180° while holding Shift.
Step 9
Open the second smart object in the Timeline panel and create the first Keyframe at 0:00:00:00. Move the Time Indicator to 0:00:02:00 and rotate the smart object 90° while holding Shift.
Step 10
Open the next smart object in the Timeline panel and create the first Keyframe at 0:00:00:00. Move the Time Indicator to 0:00:02:00 and rotate the smart object 180° while holding Shift.
Step 11
Open the fourth smart object in the Timeline panel and create the first Keyframe at 0:00:00:00. Move the Time Indicator to 0:00:02:00 and rotate the smart object -90° while holding Shift.
Step 12
Open the last smart object in the Timeline panel and create the first Keyframe at 0:00:00:00. Move the Time Indicator to 0:00:02:00 and rotate the smart object 180° while holding Shift.
This is how the animation should look after the manipulations listed above.
Step 13
Now we need to create an animation for the color effects. Open the black&white filter in the Timeline panel and move the Time Indicator to 0:00:00:00. After that, click on the Timer icon near the Opacity to create the first Keyframe.
Step 14
Move the Time Indicator to 0:00:04:00 and change the Opacity of the layer to 0% in the Layers panel.
Step 15
Duplicate this layer four times using Right Click > Duplicate and place each duplicate of the filter above each smart object. The animation of this layer is copied along with the layer.
Step 16
Select the gradient map in the first group of layers and then move the Time Indicator to 0:00:00:00. After that, click on the Timer icon near the Opacity to create the first Keyframe.
Step 17
Move the Time Indicator to 0:00:02:00 and change the Opacity of the layer to 0% in the Layers panel.
Step 18
Now we need to copy the keyframes. Select two Keyframes while holding Control, and then hit Copy.
Step 19
Open the gradient map in the next group of layers. After that, click the Timer icon near the Opacity in the Timeline panel, and Right Click > Paste.
Step 20
Now let's create copies of the keyframes for all gradient maps, as we did before.
4. How to Render the Animation for Instagram
Step 1
To save your animation for Instagram, you need to click on the icon in the upper right corner and select Render Video.
Step 2
Set the following settings in the Render Video panel: Format: H.264; Size: Document Size; Range: All Frames.
5. How to Replace the Image Used in the Template
Step 1
If you want to change the image used for your animation, Right Click > Edit Contents on the smart object which we created first.
Step 2
Place your new image above the old one, press Alt-F4 to close the placeholder, and then select Save.
Awesome Work, You're Now Done!
In this way, we can create an animated template in Adobe Photoshop using smart objects.
I hope you've enjoyed this tutorial, and feel free to contact me for any help with the tutorial. You can also check my Animated Geometric Color Reveal Action in my portfolio on GraphicRiver.
Are you looking to use this animated photo reveal off of Instagram? Then check out this tutorial on optimizing GIFs:
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