Animation

Animated Loading Spinner

Posted on  |  Category: Animation  |  Difficulty: Intermediate  |  Photoshop CS+

Create a rotating preloader graphic with 12-frame loop, transparent background, and optimized file size for web applications.

Step 1: Spinner Canvas

Create 64×64px document with transparent background.

Step 2: Draw Base Circle

Ellipse Tool: 48×48px circle, no fill, 4px stroke in brand color (#3b82f6).

Step 3: Create Frame 1

Erase 75% of circle stroke leaving a 90° arc at top. This is frame 1.

Step 4: Rotate for Frames

Duplicate frame, rotate 30° (Edit > Transform > Rotate). Repeat for 12 total frames.

Step 5: Open Timeline

Window > Timeline. Create Frame Animation. Set each rotation as a frame, 0.1 sec delay.

Step 6: Loop Settings

Set looping to Forever. Preview animation in browser via File > Export > Save for Web.

Step 7: Optimize GIF

Export GIF with 64 colors max, dither 88%, lossy 10 for smallest file size under 15KB.

PSD Download: Layered PSD file included with this tutorial. Download Loading Spinner PSD (0.8 MB)

That's it! You've completed this tutorial. Experiment with the techniques and share your results with the Designstacks community.