How To Make a High Quality .GIF in Photoshop

Discussion in 'Graphics Tutorials' started by Cage, May 20, 2012.

  1. Cage #BoomTouchdown

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    From a request, I decided to make a simple tutorial on how to make a good .gif from a youtube video.
    Most converters are crappy and have limited sizes and such.

    For BoneZ

    So you are gonna need
    • A Video you want
    • Photoshop CS5
    We are going to start by chosing our video from YouTube and using my personal favorite converter Zamzar.

    • Find your video, I chose a smaller video from Se7ensinsTV for the intro.
    • Go to Zamzar
    • Convert
    ZAMZAR NO LONGER DOWNLOADS YOUTUBE VIDEOS BECAUSE DAMN GOOGLE PROHIBITED THEM. Google download youtube videos and go from there. Sorry.



    When you get to the site, select "download videos" tab, enter in your link and select one of the formats of (.mov, .avi, .mpg, .mpeg, or .mp4) .MOV works best in my opinion because I always have issues with the others. Then put in your email. They don't spam you, just check your email and select the link to download.
    [IMG]

    After you download the video, lets pop up Photoshop and get started making the .gif.


    When it is opened up, go to the window tab and select animation. This is needed to trim the .gif down easier and selecting the delay between frames.
    [IMG]


    Then go to File>Import>Video Frames to Layers and click it to open up which video you are selecting.
    [IMG]


    I think you know how to find your clip, so after you do, open it up and you should get a box popped up.
    [IMG]

    We are going to use selected range only to choose what part we want. Use the arrows(3) to get to the first frame you want (I just started at the beginning). Then, while holding shift, use the arrows(3) to select your range. After you get to your last frame, let go of shift then click "Limit To Every 2 Frames".


    The reasons we select "Limit To Every 2 Frames" is because it will eliminate every 2 frames that make the .gif match the speed of the video. Click OK.
    [IMG]
    We need to select all frames in the animation bar. To do so, click the first frame. Then hold shift and scroll all the way down to the last frame. Select the last frame then you can let go of shift. Right click any of the delay numbers (ARROW 1) and select "0.1 seconds" (ARROW 2)

    If you need to delete any of the frames you don't want. Select it and delete them ONLY by clicking the trash can at (ARROW 3) Ignore the layers because they aren't needed unless you are adding text or a picture over the .gif. If you do, make sure the text/picture is at the top of the layer's list.

    You can resize the picture by selecting Image>Image Size. It will size all the frames to what you put in. I would suggest resizing because then the .gif usually runs smoother.

    When you are all done fixing it the way you like, select File>Save for Web & Devices...
    [IMG]
    You'll get a box popping up and it does almost all the work for you. We just need to make sure a few things are correct.

    If you Photoshop says (Not Responding) give it a minute, it is just loading. It will take a bit to render it up.


    Make sure .GIF is selected, the colors are selected for the .GIF, and then you should be able to save. The "play" arrows show a preview but not an accurate picture of the speed of the .GIF.
    [IMG]

    When it is all saved up, for sharing, I like to use "Minus.com" to upload because it is quick and the only image sharing service that works best for .GIFs in my opinion. Just drag it on the site and it will give you links to use on here or other places. I would suggest signing up to keep your images.

    [REMOVED PORN]


    Now you are done and can just post them where ever! I hope this is useful to you!
    [IMG]

    An image will come out grainy the larger it is. Try making smaller length gifs.
    Last edited by Buzz Lightyear, Feb 4, 2013
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    BoneZ #REGULATORS

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    Thanks so much! Voted for ToTM!
  2. Cage #BoomTouchdown

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    Thanks! I went as in depth as possible!
  3. Periphery Member

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    So Now I can upload GIF's to Tumblr? :O
  4. Cage #BoomTouchdown

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    What ever that means yes!
  5. iAirBiscuit Newbie

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    Not necessarily. Length doesn't make a difference to graininess, the amount of different colors in a single frame will determine how much the picture is interlaced, or "grainy" as you put it. A gif will only have 256 colour maximum in a frame, any number above this and neighboring colours are merged into each other.

    Just to prove my point, look how different this colorful image becomes when similar colours are merged:

    Before (open)
    [IMG]
    After (open)
    [IMG]
    BoneZ likes this.
  6. Cage #BoomTouchdown

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    Thanks. I'm going to put this in the post if that's ok. It's just that it becomes more interlaced when my gifs are longer for me.
    iAirBiscuit likes this.
  7. Cage #BoomTouchdown

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    Can't wait for Assassin's Creed 3! Made these:
    [IMG]
    [IMG]
  8. Zacasourus I Craft Mine.

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    That's a pretty nice tutorial man keep it up!
    Cage likes this.
  9. Cage #BoomTouchdown

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    Made the two on my signature and I love it.
  10. Zacasourus I Craft Mine.

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    Well good job! I can't wait till i get AC 3!
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  11. gravity kat G Kitty

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    I have been looking for a good Gif tutorial for a while. Thank you!
  12. FelipeRamos Enthusiast

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  13. ForeverLoading Senior Member

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    Awesome, I was wondering why your sig was so high quality.
  14. Cage #BoomTouchdown

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    Been doing a lot of them. I do requests on one of my threads. I can link it if you'd like or you can make your own.
  15. Chase Get Got

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    [IMG] I wish I was better at this.
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    fat pat 666 Don del la nooch

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    Cage can I have the PSD for the s7 IMG ? Id love to make it a user bar:)
  16. Cage #BoomTouchdown

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    I don't think I have one. I never save a .PSD usually, I just save it the way it is. You could make it or if you give me time (idk when I will be able to) I can do it.
    fat pat 666 likes this.
  17. HYUNA Enthusiast

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    Thank you so much! Time to make a .GIF out of lots of pictures of HYUNA ^.^
    Cage likes this.
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    fat pat 666 Don del la nooch

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    a psd would of made it alot easyer. but i guess ill have to playaround with cropping/resizing