Online communication is growing at an exponential rate. Images and videos were the first to dominate the online world of communication and marketing. GIFs arrived late at the party, but you cannot ignore them now that they’re here.
GIFs began as simple animations where image files were animated to get the message across. They can be playful or dynamic, smooth and slow, or fast and action-packed. Modern GIFs are unlike their earlier iterations. They have come a long way to transform into engaging and easy to understand animations that are universally used for personal and professional purposes. One of the most popular avenues for sharing GIFs is social media, and most platforms allow users to share and post GIFs. Some of the platforms even allow users to create their own GIFs and share them with friends and family.
There are several ways to create GIFs. The easiest among them is using GIF-making programs like Gifox, Filmora meme maker, GIF Maker, Imgur, GIMP, etc. If you are a Mac user, you can use a Mac screen record GIF. You can use screen recording software to convert anything on your screen into a GIF. The same is also applicable to Windows users.
If you want your GIFs to stand out from the rest, follow these creative tricks and become an online sensation.
Keep the File Size Down
If you want to make GIFs effective for social media platforms, you must keep the file size limitations in mind. In addition, you must keep the file size down so that the GIFs can be shared easily across platforms and channels.
When it comes to compressing GIFs, you must follow some rules. For example, stick to a limited color palette and avoid gradients. In addition, you must not use semi-transparent pixels and avoid jagged edges.
Make it Appear like a Continuous Loop
The concept of loop format is gaining pace when it comes to creating GIFs. It is fun to make a 2-second animation that infinitely plays and appears like it is different at every loop.
You must think of GIFs as being in a continuous loop, rather than having a specific start and end point. This will keep the audience hooked and watch the GIFs for longer.
If the animation is short in length, it will be good to limit the loops to not more than three times before the animation halts completely.
But if you are creating GIFs for social media networking sites like Facebook or Twitter, you do not have to worry much because the in-built functions of these platforms play GIFs when they are in view.
It is essential that the loops are smooth and nice. There’s one pitfall when creating GIFs in a continuous loop, and that is the last frame of the GIF having the same start as the beginning of the animation, and this might make viewers feel they are watching the same frame twice. Therefore, it is essential to smooth out the edges and ensure the kinks are removed to avoid such problems.
Be Selective About Using Color
If you want your GIFs to stand out from the rest, you must be selective when it comes to using colors. Colors will play an essential role in your file size. As you use less color, you can create more involved GIFs that will remain smaller in file size. If the file size is smaller, sharing GIFs across different platforms and devices makes it more accessible.
Turn a Funny Video Into a GIF
GIFs are not only created by illustrators. You can also import your favorite videos into Photoshop and convert them into GIFs. If your Photoshop skills are lacking, you must start practicing the basic features so you can quickly hone your skills and start creating attention-grabbing GIFs converting videos.
Alternatively, you can experiment using Giphy. This program provides a simple and free way to break your videos into frames.
It is essential to note here that creating a GIF from videos or live action videos makes it challenging to achieve a smooth loop. You may even struggle to get a consistent color. But if you manage to overcome these obstacles, your GIF will be unique, and you can impress your audience.
Use Motion Blur
You can make expert videos with motion blur using After Effects, ScreenFlow, and similar programs. This will make your animations appear much more professional and also help you blur things you don’t want the audience to see. But, again, this will help bring down the file size.
The Bottom Line
These are some GIF-making tricks you must consider when you want to create animated pictures and share them across social media platforms. The readily available GIF-making tools will help you get started, and you can sharpen your skills through experimentation. All the best!
