GIFs are everywhere. The once humble animated images are now the unofficial language of the internet. GIF animation is the most quick way express emotions on Twitter, and we can also spend hours watching it, scrolling through the news feed on VK, Facebook or Odnoklassniki.

There are quite a large number of sites where you can find ready-made GIFs on a variety of topics. But nothing beats GIF animation made by your own with my own hands. Think this is a difficult process? You're wrong, it's quite simple. Quickly create GIF animation You can use the Photoshop graphic editor, converting an existing video, or using a series of static images. Let's take a closer look at how this is done.

Note: In all of the examples in this article, I'm using Photoshop CC 2017.

First, you need to launch Photoshop, go to “File” > “Import” > “Video Frames to Layers” and select the required video recording.

In the dialog box that opens, you can import the entire video recording, or select only a certain part of it. If you choose the second option, drag the handles below the window preview to set the start and end points. The portion of the video between these handles will be imported.

Note: Keep in mind that the more video you import, the larger your GIF will be. Also, if you're importing a video that's too long, choosing Keep Every 2 Frames (or more) is an easy way to reduce the size without affecting the quality too much.

Make sure the Create frame-by-frame animation checkbox is checked, then click OK. The video import process will begin. This may take some time, depending on the size of the clip. After the import is complete, it will open Workspace, in which each video frame will be placed on its own layer.

At the bottom of the screen there is a time scale palette. It shows all the frames that will make up your GIF animation.

You can add and remove frames as you wish, or edit any of the existing layers just as you would edit layers in any other image. To preview your GIF animation, simply click the Play button at the bottom of the timeline.

The end result should be something like this:

Creating GIF animation from a series of static images

If you don't have video footage to use as the basis for your GIF animation, you can create one manually from a series of static images. It's a little more complicated, especially if you want to make something cool, but the basic process is simple.

You create your GIF from a single image file containing multiple layers. Each layer is a separate frame of your future animation. There are two ways to get started:

1. If you've already created images for your animation, import them by choosing File > Scripts > Load Files into Stack.... Click Browse and select your images, then click OK. Each image will be placed on a separate layer within the same file.
2. If you haven't created images yet, do so now. Remember that each individual image is part of the future animation.

Now you are ready to start creating animation.

Animating static images

Here's how it works. When you manually create an animation frame, every visible layer is included in it. Layers that are disabled will not be included in the generated frame.

To create the first frame, make the very first layer visible and turn off all the others. Then, when creating the second frame, make the second layer visible, and then the third layer on the third frame, and so on. Once you start, everything will become clearer.

To start creating an animation, open the timeline if it does not open automatically for you. To do this, click “Window” in the top panel and select “Timeline” in the menu that opens. In the center of the panel that opens, click “Create frame animation.” This action will create the first frame of your animation. In the Layers palette, hide layers that you don't want to be part of the frame.

Now click the "New Frame" button, which will duplicate the previous frame. Once again, hide the extra layers, and make those that should be included in the frame visible.

Repeat this process until you have added all the frames needed for the animation.

Completion

Finally, set the display time for each frame. Select the first frame, and then Shift-click on the last one to select them all. Now click the down arrow below one of the frames and select a delay. No delay means the animation will run quickly, while the set number of seconds will cause the frames to remain on screen for a set period of time.

Finally, set the loop options, which you'll find at the bottom of the Timeline panel. This parameter controls how many times your animation will play. In most cases, you will select the "Always" option.

Now click the Play button at the bottom of the screen to view the resulting animation. You should see something like this:

You can edit frames by simply selecting them and changing the visibility of the layers (you can also change the opacity or make other more complex settings). Add additional layers if you need them, or click the trash can icon to delete them.

When you're happy with the result, you can move on to the "Saving Animation" section, or read on to improve the resulting animation.

Enhancing animation by adding intermediate frames

Photoshop supports a powerful animation tween feature. This allows you to create smoother animations by automatically generating transition frames between two existing frames. In this example, I'm going to go through all the frames to give the starry sky a twinkling effect.

To begin, select the first frame and click the Create Tweaks button in the toolbar at the bottom of the timeline.

In the dialog box that opens, set the “Intermediate frames” item to the “Next frame” value, and for the “Add frames” item, specify the value at your discretion. A higher value means a smoother but slower transition. Click "OK" to create the intermediate frames.

Now repeat this process for the other source frames you added. When you get to the last one, set "Inbetween Frames" to "First Frame". This will help create a smooth transition to the start of your animation loop.

Photoshop certainly won’t open a video captured from a digital camera. This applies to telephone video, video from web cameras, etc. The answer suggests itself. We need to convert. There are many converters, both paid and free, and, basically, they are designed to convert a certain format into another specific format, which the converter developers, for obvious reasons, do not tell us about.

And here the free video converter XviD4PSP 5.0 comes to our aid, you can download it or on the official website of the developers. For this converter to work, you need the AviSynth 2.5.7 utility, which can be downloaded.

We install these two programs in the usual way.

Here is the interface of this wonderful converter:

Open the program. Click File-->Open and select the file. In the main program window you need to select the following settings:

• Format - AVI DV PAL
• Color Correction and Filtration - Desabled
• Video encoding - DV-Video
• Audio coding - don't care

And click on the "Encode" button. The program will prompt you to select a save folder, select it, OK. We receive a file with the dvsd DVC/DV Video codec in the DV Type 2 AVI Multipart OpenDML AVI container. With a 90% probability, Photoshop will eat videos with these parameters.

Let's move on to the next problem. This is the file size. The fact is that Photoshop, when opening a video in layers, uses RAM computer If you have x64, then there are no questions, you can install tiles up to 128GB. But for various reasons, people cannot switch to x64 and sadly sit on x86, not because they are unable to switch or religion does not allow, but for other, completely objective reasons. For example, the author of these lines, with all his high desire for the beautiful and new, does not use x64 due to the lack of warez plugins for 3ds max for it. However, we digress.

Naturally, for tasks performed using Photoshop, long videos are not required, but only a few dozen frames at most are needed. But they need to be cut out somehow. Normal video editors like Adobe Premiere Pro require knowledge and experience, and also take up significant resources from the RAM and processor. I’m simply embarrassed to say that they are paid (and cost a lot). In short, for rare use there is no point in messing with such programs. Simple editors like standard ones Movie Maker let me not comment.

But there is an excellent lightweight program called VirtualDub, although with one drawback. It works with a very limited set of AVI codecs. And here we again remember about the XviD4PSP converter. With the settings indicated above, the video will work with it. We select the necessary parts of the video, cut them out, save them, and open them in Photoshop. You can do it differently, save individual video frames using VirtualDub, and then assemble an animation from them in Photoshop. For example, put the learned files in one folder and open them in batches in Photoshop in one document on different layers, but, as a rule, this takes more time, but, in any case, we cannot do without the XviD4PSP converter.

Earlier on the site we looked at third-party ones, but most of them can easily replace regular Photoshop. Animated GIF files can be created quite easily and quickly with its help. They usually consist of several images (frames), which, when changed step by step, form the final result. Today we will try to consider this issue from A to Z in as much detail as possible:

The screenshots below are from Photoshop CC, but working with GIF animation in CS6 and other versions of the program is similar, plus or minus. Perhaps the visual tools will be slightly different, but in general, the principle and algorithm of actions are similar. As an example, consider the trivial task of how to create a GIF animation in Photoshop from photographs replacing each other. Recently, using this guide, I made a gif about my adventures for the final post for 2016 on my personal blog.

The process took literally 5-10 minutes. The important thing here is to just follow all the steps carefully. At the end of the post you will find an English video tutorial on this topic.

Adding GIF Animation Images in Photoshop

First of all, you need to load into graphics editor all pictures/photos that will participate in the animation. Add them to one project in different layers - this will be the frames for the resulting GIF file. Check the size of the pictures and their display so that everything is as you need. Layers can be hidden (using the eye icon to the left of the layer) in order to view all objects.

In the center of this panel there is a drop-down list where you need to select the “Create Frame Animation” option and click on the button. As a result of this action, the Timeline will change a little, and you should see the image from the topmost layer as the first frame.

In the next step, select all layers in the project (click on them while holding Ctrl key). After that, open the context menu in the upper right corner of the Timeline window and select “Make Frames From Layers”.

From all visible and selected Adobe layers Photoshop will create animated GIF frames. As a result, you will see them in the Timeline panel.

GIF animation settings in Photoshop

Here you will need to specify 2 things: the duration of display of different frames + the number of repetitions of the gif. Let's start with the first one. Under each picture object in the Timeline you will find the display time and a down arrow. Click on them and select the card duration in the pop-up menu.

You can specify different times for elements or set the parameter for several of them simultaneously (joint selection as in layers - using Ctrl).

To “loop” a GIF in Photoshop when creating an animation, select the Forever value in the appropriate setting as shown in the screenshot below.

There you can also specify any number of repetitions you need. Nearby is the Play button, which allows you to play an animated GIF and see what the final result will look like.

Saving GIF animation in Photoshop

In the final part of our guide, we’ll look at how to properly save GIF animation in Photoshop. For this purpose, the familiar Save for Web tool is used, but in latest versions Adobe Photoshop CC it is located in a new menu location (File - Export). Luckily Alt + Shift + Ctrl + S still works.

In the settings window that opens, you need to select the GIF format, and also make sure that the Looping Options setting is set to Forever. In the lower right corner of the window, there is an option to run the animated GIF you created in Photoshop for a preview.

If everything works as expected, click Save and save the file to local computer. To check the functionality of a GIF, you need to open it in a browser, because... The built-in Windows viewer does not play animation.

By the way, you can also easily export your project to video format. The procedure is the same as when saving GIF animation, but in the Photoshop menu, select File - Export - Render Video.

In the window that opens there will be different settings video, but you don’t need to change anything additional, just click on the Render button. As a result, you will receive an mp4 file with a slideshow of photos/images.

Finally, we suggest watching an English-language video tutorial about creating animated GIFs in Photoshop. The algorithm for working there is the same as in the article, but perhaps it will be easier for you to perceive the information from the video.

If you still have any questions about how to make GIF animation in Photoshop or have any additions, write in the comments.

The GIF format is very common on the Internet. The reasons for such high popularity are simple: GIF files have a very good compression algorithm, support transparency and make it possible to create both simple and complex animations and advertising banners.

But at the same time, there are a couple of problems, the main one being the need to change the GIF size. This begs the question: how to reduce or increase the size of a GIF? How to edit GIF? For example, should I crop the file? In case we work with ordinary JPG file, such problems do not arise - after all, in any, even the simplest editor, with a couple of clicks we can change the image size or crop an unnecessary part. How to edit GIF? After all, most editors only allow you to work with still images.

To solve this problem, we offer you our unique editor - GIF Resizer. With its help, we can quickly and easily change the size of a GIF file - reduce or increase it as necessary. To do this, follow a few simple steps:

• Click on the "Resize" button.
• Add a GIF using the Browse button.
• Enter the height and width you need.
• Click Apply.

A few seconds - and the size of the GIF animation became the size you wanted!

How to convert GIF to JPG and split it into frames?

Another nuance that many users have when working with GIF is the need to break it down into frames. Besides, making a GIF from JPG is not such a difficult task. But how to convert GIF to JPG? Or convert to PNG?

When faced with such a task, you can turn to the GIF Resizer again. By using it to resize, reduce or enlarge a GIF, you can immediately decompose the GIF into frames and thus convert the animation you need into JPG.The sequence of actions does not change - everything happens quickly and simply:

• Select the desired animation.
• Click on the “Decompose into frames” button.
• Enjoy the results!

The GIF Resizer editor gives you an excellent opportunity to save your time and effort when working with GIF files. Whatever you need - resize, crop, reduce or enlarge, decompose GIF into frames, convert to JPG, JPEG, convert to PNG - our application is always at your service! The GIF Resizer editor allows you to solve the following issues:

• How to resize an animated gif?
• In what program can you resize an animated image?
• How to reduce the size of a GIF image?
• How to reduce the size of an animated picture?
• How to change the format of animated pictures?
• How to remove a logo from an animated image?

To get much more options with the free online animation maker Gif images Resizer – just register on our website!

You can continue creating Gif animation, even if you had to interrupt your work during your previous visit to the resource. After all, you can always find all your creations on the site! And the best GIF animations that you were able to create using our free online programs Gif Resizer will end up in the site gallery and will be able to become a source of your personal pride.

I don't think anyone has had the desire from time to time redo / finish / change a little found gif image.

Surely many people are familiar with situations like:
- it seems like a nice ready-made animated avatar, but I wish I could slow it down a little...
- I wish I could write something on the animated picture...
- it would be nice to have a gif size – make the pictures smaller...
- etc. and so on.

So we will look at these questions today.

Last time we, today we will modify a ready-made animated GIF to suit your needs.

Faced with this “problem”, but already knowing how to create an animated GIF, I suggested where and how it is possible to change the GIF. I immediately found a couple of gifs on the Internet and checked my guess - it turned out to be correct. But let's start in order.

So, you have a finished animated picture. Let's consider 3 options for modifying it (in my opinion, these are the most popular cases):
1. Let's slow down the animation.
2. Let's write something on the picture.
3. Change the size of the picture.

Changing the animation speed in the GIF image.
(change the speed of flashing pictures)

It often happens that I like, for example, some kind of animated avatar, but there is too much movement and I want to slow it down at least a little. This is what we will do now. Although the option with increasing speed animations are absolutely the same case.

Open the gif file of interest to us in Adobe ImageReady: File(File) – Open(Open) - …

Now let's look at the panel Animations

We look carefully at this scroll and see that under everyone“frame” is the time (in this case it is set to 0.17 seconds).

This is the indicator we need to change, click on the checkbox and a drop-down list appears where we can set the display duration we need everyone frames individually (or all at once, selecting all frames while holding down the Shift key on the keyboard).

Here and immediately we can see what happened - there’s more below player buttons– watch the animation in the main window open file(not in this scroll).

If you are satisfied with everything, then save the result: File - Save Optimized As…- And look what happened.

OK

OK

If not, keep changing the duration of the frames until you get what you want.

That's all!

If you noticed, in the new GIF signature was removed in the lower right corner. This is what we will do now, only we will add an inscription to the picture, rather than remove it.

We write words on the animated avatar (picture).

Open in Adobe ImageReady animated avatar: File(File) – Open(Open) - …

This gif has only 2 frames(and 2 layers). And all we need to do is add an inscription. This is done very quickly.

We write “the right words” on the picture in the right place using the tool Text(as in Photoshop) a new layer is created automatically in the list of layers.

Let's make it from text raster image: in the Layer menu - right-click on the layer with the text and select Rasterize Layer from the drop-down list - and the text has ceased to be text, now it is just a graphic element that has one (!) color, which is very important for the weight of the file.

Now let's look at the panel Animations(Animation) in the lower left corner of the program window (by default it appears there). If it is not there, then you need to get this “scroll” (panel): in the Window menu, select Animation.

Since there are only two frames, we’d better create them anew:

Open the drop-down list of the Animation scroll and select Delete Frame(Delete frame).

We only have one frame of them left. Let’s “set up” it - we want to see the first picture (Layer 1) and the inscription - leave them turned on (the eye next to the layer is turned on), and turn off the “unnecessary” layer for now (click with the left mouse button).

The first frame is ready.

Create a copy of it (by selecting Copy Frame in the drop-down list or the corresponding button to the right of the “player”).

Appeared second frame– set it up:
- the inscription is included
- Layer 1 disabled
- Layer 2 enabled

Well, that’s basically it. Launch the player and you will see that an inscription now appears on your animated avatar.

If you are satisfied with everything, then save the result: File - SaveOptimizedAs…

You can turn off the word in the second frame - then it will also “flicker”.

And if I want the picture to “flicker” letters of the word were gradually added?

We cut the word into separate letters (copy the layer with the word and on each subsequent layer we erase one less letter - the first layer - the first letter of the word is left, the second layer - 2 letters, etc. for the entire layer). To do this, grab the layer with the word and drag it onto the icon at the bottom of the list of layers - the layer is copied and appears in the list.

All changes to a layer are made when the layer being changed is active, i.e. you are on it (left-click on the layer and it will be highlighted in a darker color).

Now all that remains is to create new frames and on each subsequent one include a layer with the added letter. At the same time, alternately turn on/off Layer 1 and Layer 2 (so that not only the word, but also the picture changes).

Here's what we got: