How to use it
- Add the frames in order, or reorder them with the arrows.
- Set the time each frame shows, the width, and whether it loops.
- Select Make GIF, check the preview, and download.
Keeping GIFs small
GIF is an old format, from 1987, and not an efficient one. Every frame is stored separately with at most 256 colours. File size grows quickly with width and frame count, so:
- Keep it narrow. 480 pixels wide is plenty for most uses. Doubling the width roughly quadruples the size.
- Use fewer frames. A slideshow of five images at one second each is tiny compared with a smooth 30-frame animation.
- Prefer simple pictures. Screenshots and illustrations compress far better than photos, which also tend to show speckled dithering.
Frame timing
The delay is set in milliseconds: 1000 is one second. Very short delays are not honoured consistently. Browsers treat delays under about 20 ms as a much slower default, so extremely fast GIFs play slower than intended. For smooth motion, 40 to 100 ms per frame is a reliable range.
Images of different shapes are fitted inside the frame of the first image, with the background colour around them.
Questions people ask
How many frames can a GIF have?
There is no fixed limit in the format, but hundreds of frames will make a very large file. For long animations, a short video is usually better.
Why does my GIF look grainy?
GIF can show only 256 colours per frame. Photos with smooth gradients get dithered, which looks like grain.
Can I make a GIF from a video?
Not directly. Take screenshots of the frames you want, then add those.