Project Title: Bouncing Ball Animation in Photoshop

Objective: Learn the basics of frame-by-frame animation in Adobe Photoshop by creating a simple bouncing ball.
Step 1: Set Up the Canvas
  1. Open Adobe Photoshop and go to File > New.
  2. Set the dimensions to 1920 x 1080 pixels (or any preferred size).
  3. Set the resolution to 72 dpi and background to white.
  4. Click Create.
Step 2: Open the Timeline Panel
  1. Go to Window > Timeline to open the Timeline panel.
  2. Click Create Frame Animation (if it's not visible, click the dropdown and select it).
  3. Click the first frame in the Timeline.
Step 3: Draw the Ball
  1. Create a new layer (Layer 1).
  2. Select the Elliptical Marquee Tool (M) and draw a small circle near the top of the canvas.
  3. Fill it with a solid color using the Paint Bucket Tool (G).
  4. Name this layer Ball.
Step 4: Duplicate and Move the Ball
  1. In the Timeline, click the first frame and duplicate it by clicking the + button (New Frame).
  2. On the new frame, select the Move Tool (V) and move the ball slightly downward.
  3. Repeat this process, creating multiple frames, gradually moving the ball downward until it reaches the bottom.
Step 5: Add the Squash Effect
  1. When the ball reaches the bottom, create a new frame.
  2. Use the Transform Tool (Ctrl + T or Command + T) to slightly flatten the ball.
  3. In the next frame, restore the ball to its original shape as it moves back up.
Step 6: Make the Ball Bounce Back
  1. Continue adding frames, moving the ball upward.
  2. Reduce the movement gradually to show the ball slowing down.
  3. Repeat the bouncing process a couple of times.
Step 7: Adjust Timing and Play Animation
  1. Select all frames in the Timeline.
  2. Click the downward arrow below each frame to adjust the delay time (0.1s is a good start).
  3. Click Play to preview the animation.
Step 8: Export as a GIF
  1. Go to File > Export > Save for Web (Legacy).
  2. Choose GIF as the format.
  3. Set looping options to Forever.
  4. Click Save and name your file.
Conclusion
Students will have a basic understanding of animation and how to create frame-by-frame motion in Photoshop. You can extend this project by adding a shadow, background, or even multiple bouncing balls.