In this article we’ll show you how to create your own GIF images from scratch. This is a great way to test new image effects or share funny animations with friends and family. Creating a GIF from your own images is easy, but first you’ll need to understand how it works.
A short explanation can be found below, but if you want the full picture then keep reading.
What is a GIF?
A GIF (or Graphics Interchange Format) is an image format that can be created in a number of different apps. It’s different from ajpg or apng in that it doesn’t store any image information, but instead just encodes the image into a sequence of images that can be viewed on a computer screen. That means it doesn’t require any images to be stored on a computer to be viewed, so it’s great for sharing images from your phone or computer.
How to create a GIF from scratch
First you’ll need to find an app to create your GIF in. There are a few different apps that will allow you to create GIFs, and most of them are available for both Android and iOS. The most popular app is probably Gfycat, which seems to be used by the majority of people who try to create GIFs.
To create a GIF, you’ll first need to find an image you’d like to use. You can find images on websites like Imgur, Reddit, or even in your own photo collection. Once you have the image you’d like to use, you can head into your gif app and find the “Import” function. With the GIF app open, find the “Import” function and select your image. You’ll now need to crop the image so that it doesn’t go over the edges of the screen. After selecting the image, you’ll next need to select “GIF as”. You’ll now be able to select the “Quality” of your GIF.
A lower quality GIF may take less time to create, but it will look blurry if you try to zoom in on it. Choose a quality that looks good at the size you’ll be sharing it. If you want to learn more about the quality options, you can check out our article on GIF file sizes and quality.
Create a GIF from video
While you can create GIF images from any type of image, most people begin their GIF journeys with videos. Videos are perfect for GIFs because they’re short and sweet and can be easily shared on social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter.
To create a GIF from a video you’ll first need to find a video you want to use. Once you’ve found your video, you can find the “Import” function and select your video. The next step is to crop the video so that it doesn’t go over the edges of your screen. Crop the video so that the part you want to use is in the center of the screen. After selecting your video, you’ll be able to select the “Quality” of your GIF.
Add text to your GIF
GIFs are perfect for sharing around social media and messaging friends and family, but they can also double as awesome business tools. If you want to use your GIF as a marketing tool, you can add custom text to your GIF. This can be done by finding the part of your GIF you’d like to use and then adding text to it.
To add custom text to your GIF, you’ll first need to find the part of your GIF you’d like to add text to. You can navigate to that part in your computer or phone and select it. After finding your GIF image and selecting the part you’d like to add text to, you can now add the text you’d like to see. You’ll then be able to select the “Quality” of your GIF.
Change the appearance of your image
The GIF image format has many different appearance options, but those are only available when using a higher quality GIF. The appearance options are effects like contrasting colors, grayscale, and even speed. If you want to change the appearance of your GIF from the default options, you can change the colors, contrast, or even change the speed of your GIF. You can also do this from within the app you’re using to create the GIF.
To change the appearance of your GIF, you’ll first need to find the part of your GIF you’d like to change. You can navigate to that part in your computer or phone and select it. After finding your GIF image and selecting the part you’d like to change, you can now change the appearance.
Create a looping GIF
GIF images are limited to a maximum of 10 seconds, but some apps allow for longer GIFs. Most GIF apps allow for up to 15 seconds of GIF playtime, but there are also online services that will allow for much longer GIFs. Many GIF apps allow you to create a looping GIF. A looping GIF starts playing from the beginning after the 10 second limit is reached. The loop can continue to play over and over again until you stop it using the app.
To create a looping GIF, you’ll first need to find the part of your GIF you’d like to loop. You can navigate to that part in your computer or phone and select it. After finding your GIF image and selecting the part you’d like to loop, you’ll next be able to select the “Loop” option.
Wrap up
Now that you understand how to create a GIF from scratch, you can get started creating your own images. GIFs are a great way to share funny content with your friends, but they can also be used for many other purposes.
Use them for business marketing campaigns, or even to show off your latest tech purchases!
