Aren’t GIFs good? They make it much more fun to respond to online comments. If you want to take part in a conversation but can’t find a GIF that suits you, why not create one?
In this post, we’ll show you how to create GIFs that you can share with your friends.
Search for a video
GIF creation starts with a great video. Your final output will be compressed, so you’ll need a high-definition video first.
Most GIFs are moments captured on film. Think of a show or movie that summarizes your emotions. If you’re lucky, you can find a copy of it on YouTube or Vimeo.
You can also create GIFs from local media sources. Filmed a funny moment on camera? Save the video to your computer. You can use this to create GIF animation.
Make a GIF using an online GIF maker
There are websites that allow users to create GIFs from scratch. Most of them are not only easy to use but also free. You can use the clips you find on the Internet or upload your own video.
– /
We’ll be working with Giphy to create custom GIFs in this post. But feel free to find another alternative if you want to use another service.
On the main page, click Create in the upper left corner of the page.
This will open GIF Maker. There are three ways to add source material:
- Select Photo or GIF – allows you to upload images or photos to create a GIF slideshow.
- Select Video – Add a video clip and trim it. Then you can add a signature if you like.
- Add Any URL – Create GIF from YouTube or Vimeo clips.
For this example, we’ll be using the Simpsons scene that we found on YouTube. Copy the url and paste it into Giphy The site will process the video. Once completed, you will be prompted to trim the video
Move the sliders until you find the exact moment you want to use. Remember GIFs should be short. For best results, keep the clip for less than 5 seconds.
With the clip selected, click Continue Decorating. After that, you can add subtitles, stickers and filters to your GIF.
When finished, click “Continue Download”. Add tags to your clip and click “Upload to Giphy” to finish.
Your GIF should now be ready to use. You can copy the link or paste the clip and paste it where you want.
You can also share the clip on social media.
How to create a GIF file using Photoshop
You can also use Adobe Photoshop to create your GIFs. The program is not free and requires some basic editing knowledge. However, with this method, users will have better control over the final GIF.
Open Photoshop and go to File Import Video Frames To Layers.
Select the video to import and click Open.
A dialog box will appear showing options for importing video. Use Selected Range Only to determine exactly which clip you will be using. Use the sliders to navigate the video content.
Check Make Frame Animation and click OK to continue. The video will open in Photoshop as layers. From here you can make the necessary changes. When finished, select File Export Save For Web (Legacy).
The “Save for Web” window opens. Here you can make additional changes, such as adjusting the image resolution to reduce the file size. You can also customize the colors.
Select GIF from the Preset drop-down menu.
Make sure you select Forever under Loop Options so the video doesn’t stop after playing.
When done, click Save. Then check your own GIF to make sure it plays correctly.
–