If you’re going to animate text or other image objects, be sure to keep track of how many pixels you move over each frame. This step is where most of the project happens, but there are a few things to keep in mind above and beyond the basics outlined above:īefore you start thinking about making 2000 layers for ultra-smooth motion, remember that most GIFS are usually shorter and lower quality compared to a photo or video clip.

There are third-party plugins that speed this process up, but I haven’t experimented with them so I can’t vouch for how well they work. You can also select the group, open the Layer menu, and choose Merge Layer Group, but it’s slower when you’re doing 20 different groups. That’s partly why most GIFs are fairly short – the other primary reason being equally short attention spans.

This is an important question in any image creation process: what size of canvas do you need to work with? Remember that most GIFs are displayed at a fairly small size as part of a post or comment, and usually now on a phone screen which makes the final display size even smaller.ĭepending on how long your animation is, large canvas sizes can turn into large file sizes pretty quickly.

Here’s a more detailed explanation of the steps involved in making a GIF in GIMP, along with a few handy tips for streamlining the process a bit. If you’re new to GIMP or if you want a more complete explanation of how to make a GIF in GIMP, read on! The Detailed Guide to Making an Animated GIF in GIMPĮven if the general principle is pretty simple, any new project can be a bit confusing the first time you give it a try. Of course, this is a very simplified version of the process intended for users who are already comfortable working with GIMP and just need a point in the right direction. That’s it – you’ve just made your first GIF in GIMP! It’s actually amazingly easy when compared with some other programs I’ve tested in the past.

Step 3: Export your file in GIF format using the “ As Animation” setting in the GIF export options.

Step 2: Starting at the bottom layer, create each frame of your animation on a new layer.

Step 1: Create a blank new image in GIMP with your chosen dimensions.

Here are the three essential steps for making a GIF in GIMP. The Quick Guide to Making an Animated GIF in GIMP

The Detailed Guide to Making an Animated GIF in GIMP.

The Quick Guide to Making an Animated GIF in GIMP.

Why did no one tell me this gifs