Quick photo tip: Time-lapse videos in Photoshop
You can create time-lapse sequences with a video editing programme - but you can also use Photoshop. And it's quite simple.
A time-lapse video is nothing more than a combination of individual images taken at regular intervals. First check whether your camera already has a time-lapse function built in, as this is by far the easiest method. If not, software that can combine individual images into a film will help you. There are various options. Here I'll show you how to do it with Photoshop.
For the individual images, you need a timer that triggers the camera at regular intervals. Many cameras have this function built in. If not, you can almost certainly find an inexpensive external interval timer that is compatible with your camera.
To determine the ideal interval, it's best to do a short test run. In the video below, I first took a picture every minute, then every 15 seconds. The video contains 320 images. This takes hours. Reserve some time and charge the battery fully.
If you are only using the photos for the time-lapse anyway, take low-resolution JPEGs and possibly in 16:9 format. This will make editing much quicker afterwards.
Afterwards, copy all the files to your hard drive and start Photoshop. If you have taken large JPEGs, first make a low-resolution copy using the batch process (menu File > Scripts > Image Processor).
Photoshop time-lapse step by step
Display the timeline: Menu "Window > Timeline".
Click on the icon with the filmstrip and select "Add media" from the pop-up menu Select all images of the timelapse. Wait - the import will take a moment.
Click on the icon at the bottom left with the three squares. This converts the video timeline into a frame animation.
Click on the hamburger icon on the right and select the pop-up menu "Select all frames".
Click on one of the selected frames and change the delay in the pop-up menu to "No delay".
If you want to change your image to a 16:9 aspect ratio, you must now crop the image to the correct ratio using the cropping tool.
Press the play button to see if the time-lapse is running at the right speed.
If everything is OK: File > Export > Render video. If your images are already in the correct resolution and aspect ratio, you don't need to make any major changes here.
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David Lee
Senior Editor
David.Lee@digitecgalaxus.chMy interest in IT and writing landed me in tech journalism early on (2000). I want to know how we can use technology without being used. Outside of the office, I’m a keen musician who makes up for lacking talent with excessive enthusiasm.
