What is Time Lapse?
Time-lapse captures still images at intervals and plays them back fast to show time passing. It’s a way of turning everyday moments—like clouds moving or flowers blooming—into cool videos. Whether you’re shooting natural phenomena or daily life, this makes the magic of motion visible.
Preparing Your Image Sequence
Before getting to Photoshop, you must prepare your image sequence properly. Image adjustments in Lightroom, such as exposure, highlight recovery, clarity, and sharpness, are critical to consistency and no flicker. Shoot a series of stills at regular intervals with your camera. Adjust the image size during the export from Lightroom to ensure the best results for your video. The number of images depends on how long you want your final video. For a 10-second video at 24fps, you’ll need 240 images. Make sure the photos are named sequentially and saved as JPEG or RAW.
Timelapse Video in Photoshop
Load your image sequence into Photoshop by going to File > Scripts > Load Files into Stack and selecting your images. Photoshop will stack them in the Layers Panel. Then, in the Animation Panel, select all layers and click Make Frames From Layers to turn them into a video clip sequence.
Let’s explore timelapse videos in Photoshop, especially if you want that clean 16:9 movie format. They’re fun, and you don’t need a fancy setup. Photoshop CC, with its new video editing features, makes this even more accessible.
We’ve all seen timelapse videos—clouds moving over a mountain or a flower blooming fast. You’re watching time fly by in seconds. Now imagine turning that same magic into something for widescreen.
Photoshop isn’t your first choice for video editing, but it can handle timelapse projects and resize them to 16:9 for sharing or selling. Creating timelapse videos is easy with the right tools, and Photoshop is a great option. To assemble a video sequence, you can gather frames from your camera, import them into Photoshop, and use the timeline to adjust settings for smooth playback.
Step 1: Start with RAW
If you’re not already shooting in RAW, now’s the time to start. RAW files give you more control over color and details and will make your timelapse look better. Plus, they’ll set you up for higher-quality exports like 4K video, which clients love.
After you’ve edited your images in batch, convert them into high-quality JPEGs (sRGB color profile). Put these JPEGs into a separate folder, and don’t touch the filenames—keeping them in order is critical.
Step 2: Load Your Image Sequence
Open Photoshop (CS5 or newer), go to File > Open, and find your JPEG folder. Click on one and check the Image Sequence box before hitting open. This tells Photoshop you’re loading a sequence of still images for your timelapse video.
Step 3: Set Your Frame Rate
You’ll get a dialog box asking for your frame rate (how many images per second will be shown). 23.976 is a common choice, but Shutterstock and other platforms accept 24 and 30 fps. Choose whatever works for your project.
Step 4: Check the Timeline
Your image sequence is now loaded as one layer under Video Group 1 in the Layers Panel. If you don’t see the timeline, go to Window > Timeline. Scrub through it to get a quick preview of your timelapse.
Step 5: Resize to 16:9
Now, resize the canvas to 16:9. Go to Image > Canvas Size and enter your new resolution. If your original images are in RAW, you can export them as 4K footage. I often use 4096 x 2160 pixels, but you can use 1920 x 1080 for HD.
If you get a warning about the new canvas size just hit “Proceed”.
Step 6: Resize and Move
The canvas will be more expansive, and some images will be clipped. Use the Selection Tool to move and resize the image until it looks right in the new frame. If Photoshop asks you to convert the video layer into a Smart Object, do it.
Once everything is positioned hit Return to confirm the resize.
Step 7: Export the Timelapse Video
Now export! Go to File > Export > Render Video.
Here’s what I use for 4K:
• Format: H.264
• Preset: High Quality
• Resolution: 4096 x 2160
• Frame Rate: 23.976 fps
• Aspect Ratio: Square (1.0)
Check the Color Manage box and set the range to All Frames. Then hit Render.
And that’s it! You’ve just created a timelapse video in Photoshop, ready to view or share.
Adding Music and Effects (Optional)
Add music or effects to your video if you want to get fancy. Go to the Audio Panel to add music, or use the Effects Panel to add transitions or filters. When you’re done, export your timelapse using Media Encoder to finalize it in a format like MP4 or MOV.
Timelapse Video Settings and Export
When exporting your timelapse video from Photoshop, there are several settings to consider to get the best quality. Here are some to keep in mind:
- Resolution: Choose a resolution that matches your use. If you’re exporting for social media, 1080p may be fine. For professional use, 2K or 4K may be needed.
- Frame Rate: The frame rate determines how many frames per second your video will play back. A higher frame rate will give a smoother, more realistic video but will increase the file size. Common frame rates for timelapse videos are 24fps, 30fps, and 60fps.
- Codec: The codec determines how your video is compressed and encoded. H.264 or H.265 is often used for timelapse videos.
- Bitrate: The bitrate determines the quality of your video. A higher bitrate will give a higher quality video but will increase the file size.
Go to File > Export > Render Video to export your timelapse video from Photoshop. In the Render Video dialog box, choose your settings and hit Render to export your video.
Finishing Touches
Once you’ve exported your timelapse video, you may want to add some finishing touches to polish it. Here are some ideas:
- Color Grading: Use Adobe Premiere Pro or another video editing software to color grade your video. This will help to enhance the mood of your video.
- Sound Design: Add music or sound effects to your video to make it more immersive. Use Adobe Audition or another audio editing software to add and edit audio tracks.
- Text and Graphics: Use Adobe After Effects or another motion graphics software to add text and graphics to your video. This will help to add context and make your video more visually appealing.
Common Problems
Here are some common problems you may encounter when creating timelapse videos in Photoshop and how to fix them:
- Non-Playing Timeline: If your timeline doesn’t play, check that you have created a timelapse sequence and that your video is in the correct format.
- Image Sequence Issues: If your image sequence doesn’t load, check that your images are named correctly and in the correct format.
- Export Issues: If you can’t export your video, check that you have the correct settings and your video is in the correct format.
Done
Creating timelapse videos in Photoshop is fun! Follow these steps, and you’ll create amazing timelapse videos quickly. Experiment with different settings and techniques to get the look you want, and with practice, you’ll be a timelapse master in no time.
