Static pic with with particle flow gif

[Xuebao]

Hi there.
Got a question about making a gif based on static pic with particle flow over it.
Something like Dezigns Ultimited's avatar here on forum.
I don't even know where to start.
Every mean I could think of seems overly complicated. Could someone point me in the right direction?

 

[IamSam]

Hello. I don't think creating the GIF is that difficult as much as it is finding the right image.

Grab the gif here and open it in Photoshop. Open your timeline and take a look at what was done.

There are only six frames where the dirt is moved. The first and last are close to the same. Follow one piece of dirt. Notice that it begins to fade between the 4th and 5th frame, by the 6th frame the movement is started again. This gives the illusion that the dirt is moving.