Replacing graphics in animations?

[mileafly]

I have just begun experimenting with the animations feature in Photoshop (or maybe it is called timeline). I feel it very useful for animation small sprites for 2D game characters but there is one thing I seem to not be able to figure out and that is how to "replace" graphics? Say for example I have a walk cycle with a character holding a sword. I have layers for the body parts that I move around until I have an animation I am pleased with. It would then be very good if I could just drop in another sprite for a weapon, say an axe and have it replace the sword.

The only way I have been able to do this is to manually remove the sword and place the axe in the exact spot of the sword had, but that is a very clumsy and slow method. Do anyone know how to do this? Also is there any good sources for tutorials on animation in Photoshop? Or is it a dumb idea to do animation in Photoshop to begin with?

 

[mileafly]

*The only way I have been able to do this is to manually remove the sword and place the axe in the exact spot of the sword had, but that is a very clumsy and slow method.*

Just to clearify, I have to do this positioning in every single frame.

 

[iDad]

Not a dumb idea, the only way I know is one frame at a time.Long and tedious

 

[mileafly]

Is there any way to copy a graphics from one layer and paste and place it into another layer then? That would solve the problem also.

 

[iDad]

Select copy paste works, if that's what you're asking?

 

[mileafly]

Select copy paste works, if that's what you're asking?

No that does not work because it creates a new layer, I want to paste it directly into another layer and place it there

 

[iDad]

You can place it to the layer by merging but you'd want to position correctly first, wouldn't you?

 

[mileafly]

You can place it to the layer by merging but you'd want to position correctly first, wouldn't you?

I have tried merging but that resets that layers animation for some reason. The point is to be able to replace a graphic in the animation without having to do everything manually again.

 

[bgoodman4]

Is there any way to copy a graphics from one layer and paste and place it into another layer then? That would solve the problem also.

You cannot directly paste something into an existing layer but you can accomplish what you are asking for as follows.

Turn off any layers that you want to keep separate and then select one of the still visible layers you want to merge, Right click on that layer and click on merge visible. This will merge the visible layers and leave the ones that were not visible as they were.

 

[SCTRWD]

Just turn the sword to Smart Object, create your animation.
Then you can freely open the Smart Object and replace it with whatever you like.