How to Make a Moving Signature for Emails

A moving signature can add excitement and fun to your emails. Decide the colors, font(s), size and type of movement. Our example uses Adobe ImageReady to create black Arial text on a red background that is 400 pixels wide by 100 pixels high. The text moves from left to right, stopping in the middle for two seconds.

Things You'll Need

• Graphic software with animation capabilities such as Adobe ImageReady

Instructions

Creating the signature

1. 

   Create a new document of the appropriate size. In the example, the "Document" window is 400 pixels wide by 100 pixels tall. Color the background layer if you wish---in this case, red---or fill it with a pattern.

2. 

   Enter the text in the window. For easier layout, center it. Adjust the position of the box so it is centered on the page.

3. 

   Using the left arrow key, move the text layer to the left until it is off the window.

4. 

   Display the "Animation" window by choosing the "Window" menu option and then "Animation." The window shows the current document as the first frame.

5. 

   Click the arrow button on the upper right and choose "New Frame" from the pop-up menu. The second frame appears in the "Animation" window. If it is not already selected, click on this frame.

6. 

   Click on the "Document" window to select it. Press the right arrow key to move the text until it disappears. The second frame of the "Animation" window will also show the text moving to the right.

7. 

   In the "Animation" window, click on the first frame to select it, then click the arrow button on the upper right. From the menu pop-up, select "Tween." In the "Tween" dialogue box, choose "Next Frame" in the "Tween With" drop-down menu and enter "11" in the "Frames to Add" box.

8. 

   Click "Okay" to add 11 frames to the "Animation" window. Note how the text moves from left to right across a total of 13 frames.

9. 

   Click the frame in which text is centered (in this case, 7) to select it. Set the delay time at the bottom of the frame to 2 seconds.

10. Click the "Play" button at the bottom left of the "Animation" window to preview the animation. The text in the "Workspace" window should move from left to right, stopping briefly in the center.

11. From the "File" menu, choose the "Optimized As" option. In the dialogue box, enter a file name and choose "Images Only" from the "Save As Type" drop-down menu.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep your signature small, simple and easy to read. Otherwise, the file size may be so large that the signature takes too long to load.