First of all, what the H is a gif?
Well, technically a gif is just a type of image file that can be either animated or static. GIF stands for Graphics Interchange Format, and just like a .png or .jpg, it represents a file extension type, e.g. picture.gif. The gifs you’re used to seeing are probably animated like this:
This one is from one of my favorite shows, Tim & Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!
Gifs are a great way to express a sentiment that’s hard to express via a single image like “mind blown” (above).
I like to think of them as halfway between an image and a video. Or like a video without the commitment. I have used them here on the blog many times, especially for Workout Wednesday, to illustrate how to correctly perform a move, like this:
This move is from my Lean Legs workout!
They’re also useful for making experiences come alive, like these two:
I used this gif to show off wine glasses in a post I did for Libbey.
I used this one to show off some really cool art I saw in a gallery in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Gifs are also perfect for sharing clips of shows, movies, and videos that might be relevant to a situation you’re discussing. That’s why I made the one below, which is taken from Sex and the City, of which I am a total fangirl:
I used this one for a Dating While Weird post.
So let’s recap. Why should you use gifs?
- You want to express a sentiment that can’t be expressed with a single image
- You want to illustrate something (e.g. a step in a tutorial)
- You want to share a clip of a show, movie, or video that’s relevant to what you’re writing about
- You want to make an experience come alive for your readers
Okay, I get it. Now how do I make one?
You have a lot of options. The most non-committal option, and the best one for a rookie gif-maker (no shame in being a rookie), is to use a free online service to make your gifs.
Free online gif makers:
Imgflip is my favorite one. It is very easy to use and you can make gifs from a collection of photos OR from a video. Drawback: it has a watermark and can be slow to process.
Giphy is great if you want to make a gif out of a YouTube video. Just paste the video URL into the box and it walks you through the rest!
There are also a few different downloadable gif-making programs for when you are ready to kick it up a notch and turn the gif-ing up to 11.
Free downloadable gif-making programs:
Instagiffer. Available for Mac and PC. It has a great function that allows you to capture your computer screen as you use it, which is how I made the gif I used to show how Giphy works above. Whoooaaa, so meta.
PicGif Lite. Only available for Mac. I have used this one a lot and it’s my favorite.
K. I made a gif. Now how do I put it on my blog?
The best way is to upload it to Imgur and then insert it into your blog post via URL.
Why can’t I just upload the gif to my Wordpress media library? Well, you can, but because there is a file size limit to the media library, I like to just skip the potential hassle and upload all my gifs to Imgur. Plus, it’s free to sign up for an Imgur account, and if you want to use a gif again down the line, it’ll be saved right there in your Imgur library.
Once you’ve uploaded it to Imgur, copy the URL to the right of the image that says “Original GIF Link”.
In the WordPress post editor, click “Add Media” and then “Insert from URL”. Just paste the URL in the box, adjust the alignment, alt text, etc. as desired, and click “Insert into Post”. Done!
Inserting a gif from URL into a WordPress post
JM says
I appreciate the tutorial. I don’t make GIFs, but I like knowing that I could if I wanted to. 🙂
Akhil Sharma says
I was looking for the methods to make GIFs. Thank you so much
Shannon Gurnee says
I had no idea how to make a GIF. I’ll have to try this sometime! Thanks for sharing.
Tracey says
This is a really informative post. I’ve wanted to make a gif for my blog posts for a while but was so unsure of how to do it, so thanks for the easy instructions.
bohemian babushka (@BBabushka) says
This has been pinned and will be studied and hopefully done correctly, porque Babushka loves her some GIFs!! Gracias for the step by step and suggestions, BB needs all the help she can get! BB2U
Camesha | Mama Motivator says
GIF’s are super popular these days. They are a really funny way to jazz up a post too!
Amber NElson says
I personally think that gifs are so much fun!
Elizabeth @ Rosalilium says
That’s so useful to know. Thank you for sharing!
Peachy @ The Peach Kitchen says
Thanks for the tutorial! I’ve been wanting to try making a GIF for a post and I didn’t know how to do it.
Idaintyit says
Very helpful, I didn’t even know what they where. Thanks for sharing, I am also a huge sex and the city fan!
Susan Quackenbush says
This is a really informative post! I don’t use gifs very often but I see them all over facebook! 🙂
Ashley says
Great tutorial! I’ve always wondered how to make one.
Rosey says
I think they’re fun. I didn’t realize i could make them myself. I might give it a go!
Melanie Smith says
Very informative! Gifs are so much fun! And it is so easy to make!
Christie says
I love gifs in posts, I’ve only inserted one in the blog. I definitely can’t wait to try and make my own
Jasmine Watts says
Really this is helpful tutorials about Gif images!! Thanks for sharing!!
Sabrina Fox says
Great background information! I’ve made a few in my life and they’ve all been of myself doing funny things. Thanks so much for sharing!
Amanda O. says
I have always been curious as to how GIFs were made. Thanks for all the resources!
Heather McMechan says
I just made my first gift for Nature Valley. It was so much fun! I feel so cool now. Lol!
Mardene Carr says
Thank you very much for sharing this. I will save for future use
Jessica Cassidy says
I wonder it too how people make a gif. It is the coolest thing to watch. Thank you for sharing the tips. They are greatly appreciated.
Doran @ Haute Beauty Guide says
I always wondered how to make a GIF!!! Thanks for sharing.
Joyce from Live Laugh Love Post says
Wonderful information about how to make GIF! Thank you for sharing. <3
Ayesha Heart says
Awesome! This is fun. During my 1st year of logging, I use a lot of Gif’s
I think I’m gonna give it a try again 🙂
Thanks for sharing!
Kathy Kenny Ngo says
You make it look so easy but I think I have never ever made a gif. It does make more of a statement no?
Mimi Green says
I love this, I live for a good gif. They drive the point home in the most amazing way. Plus I’m silly and they make me laugh.
Melissa Bernardo says
I have never heard of GIFs! Informative post!
Becki S says
I love GIfs but I’ve never actually made one.You’ve inspired me to give it shot 😉
Edwin Lao says
Wow this is really fun. I really want to make one for my self and post it on facebook. Thank you for this wonderful share. I love it.
Caroline says
I had no idea how these were make. Thanks so much for this great info, I might try making a GIF very soon.
Jeanine says
How fun! I’ve always admired gif’s but I’ve never made them myself. Looks like I’m now going to have to try!
Katarzyna says
This is very helpful! I love GIFs – sometimes they’re the best way to express your feelings at the moment 🙂 I’m going to check these online GIF makers, it might be faster way to create them than what I’m used to 🙂
Kait says
This is awesome! I have always wondered how to create these. Now, I finally know! Thanks
Terri Beavers says
Oh wow, this is so cool. I’d love to make some gifs with my photos for my reviews. I’ll download one of them now to try.
Julie @ Running in a Skirt says
I had no idea how to do this! Your gifs are perfect. I’m totally inspired– thank you!
shalama says
Thanks for the idea. I haven’t necessarily thought of doing them but may need to incorporate here and there.
Tiffany says
Yay! I love gifs, but never knew how to make them. My cousin and I always send funny ones to each other, so now I’ll have to create my own!
Laurie says
This was so helpful! I’ve been wondering now to do this!
tauyanm says
i love gif! i personally just use gifmaker.com for my tumblr gifs. i rarely use it to my blog tho, coz it sometimes slow the loading of a website specially if my readers are in slow internet places
Lexie Lane says
So creative. Thank you for sharing. I will try this later.
Nicole Escat says
That’s a great post. I honestly don’t know how to make a gif. It will help me to make one. Thanks! 🙂
Nicole Escat says
That’s a great post. I honestly don’t know how to make a gif, it will help me to make one. Thanks! 🙂
vidya sudarsan says
I’ve never created a gif like this! they look amazing and the animation is fun to watch. I am going to give this a shot 🙂 thanks for the step by step instructions.
Miles L. says
There are lots of information packed in this one post! I also wonder how to create a GIF file.
Barbara Burns says
I love the idea GIFs are halfway between a picture and a video – I’d never thought of them that way before, but …that’s pretty darn accurate! And thank you for the information – I’d no idea there were so many tools available to make them! Thank you!
Patrice M Foster says
I like gifs but have no clue how to start create it. Love how others use it in their blog post make the story come together in a fun way.
marianne says
I love gifs but had no idea how to make them like many of your other readers. Thanks for the quick and easy tutorial.
Michelle says
I love gifs, but had no idea how to make them. I can’t wait to try these online gif makers. Thanks for sharing!
Seattle Travel Blogger says
This is some interesting information.
Thanks for sharing this.
Sarah Bailey says
Ahh this is amazing, I’ve often wondered about making GIFs and how to do it – I really need to give it a whirl now I think. x
Elizabeth O. says
I was on a GIF frenzy when I first learned how to do it years ago in adobe image ready. And then they allowed that option in PS so that’s where I’ve been making mine. I haven’t tried using GIPHY and it looks a lot easier than Photoshop. That’s really awesome!
Marcie W. says
I love the way GIFs have advanced over the years and feel they make a fabulous addition to any blog or social media post. I totally plan to download Instagiffer and attempt one of my own soon!
Nicole Escat says
Making GIF in a blog is unique and fun. I did it before in my recent blog post I do love arranging pics.
Heather Blaise says
That’s perfect! I’ll add some gif’s to my posts now. Thanks!
Neely (@Neelykins) says
What a fun post! Love this idea!
Fashion and Style Police says
Thanks for sharing this info. I have been wondering how GIFs were made.
Carly Markham says
I love a gif image! Have never made my own though will have to give it a try!
Toni | BoulderLocavore says
This is a great tutorial. I have made one once. I’ve thought from time to time I’d like to make a GiF but can’t recall how to do it AND get it only my blog! Thank you!
XmasDolly says
Hmmmmm, Interesting! I’ll have to check it out… maybe! Been really busy trying to catch up when I was sick and being as I am going to have back surgery soon… tests to do etc. etc. I’m trying to get ahead of the game… this will have to go on a back burner… but thanks for sharing. Have a great day!
Eugenia says
I love animated GIFs, they are so fun! Thanks for sharing these free downloadable gif-making programs! I definitely should create my own GIF! Pinned your post!
Betsy SEgars says
Great tutorial! I love GIFS and I’m obsessed that I’m now able to put them on Twitter easily. They’re game changers!
Ana De- Jesus says
GIFS are great they are like the moveable equivalent of a meme and we all love a meme don’t we? I think it is great that you use them as it illustrates how to perform a move correctly.
Heather lawrence says
Sweet! Book marking this so I can try it out when I have a chance.
I have always wanted to know how to make a gif.
Thanks!
Emma White says
oh I have seen a lot of these floating around may have to give them a try
Alissa Apel says
I’ll have to check out Imgflip. Certainly a handy post!
Christine - The Choosy Mommy says
I also knew what they were but I had no clue about the website to make them! I will totally be checking it out.
The London Mum says
Really useful! I knew what they were but didn’t know of the websites you mentioned to create them 🙂
MsPrettyLThings says
I loves a good Gif but never thought about making one – inspired!
Jeanette says
I am just learning about gifs myself and I will say I kind of like them. I have always liked your gifs because they are simple ti follow.
Vera Sweeney says
This is great information! I never thought to make them myself what a great way to add to your blog post!
tara pittman says
Thanks for the info on how to do this. These videos are cool.
Melisa says
I’ve wanted to learn how to do this for a while, but keep forgetting to look it up! Thanks!
Laura H says
I’ve always wandered this! Thought it would probably be too complicated for me so thanks for explaining how it all works. Am bookmarking this for future reference 🙂
Michele says
Well at least I now know what a GIF is–I often wondered!! Not sure I would attempt to make one–heck I can’t even make a static button yet!!
Kristi says
A great tutorial, I just saw a gif this week on a blog I was reading and wondered how in the world they did it… I am a bit behind the times and didn’t even know the term “gif”, but now I do and your post explained how so I am a bit more with it:)
Pam says
I love seeing gifs in posts. They can really get your point across in a way that regular photos can’t.
Monica says
I’ve always wondered how to do the GIF’s. I’m so glad I found this post, the resources you list are amazing!
StressedMum says
Great post, I have tried to make a GIF without much success, so armed with your post I will try again x
Jenn @ EngineerMommy says
Wow, who knew how easy it was to make a gif. Adding a gif to a blog post could definitely help to make the post more vivid and interactive. I love this idea.
Catherine S says
Thanks for the great tutorial. I have been wondering how to use a GIFs, I will give this a try.
Cindy (Vegetarian Mamma) says
I haven’t attempted this yet, but I think I will now. Your instructions look very managable!
Sarah says
Thank you for sharing this!! I love GIFs and now I know how to make them myself! Very helpful post, thanks! xx
(P.S I pinned this post)
Traveling Blogger says
This is great to know! I have wanted to use a gif lots of times, but wasn’t sure how to do it.
Tracy @ Ascending Butterfly says
I need to get better at working with GIF’s and learning to make them myself, I love adding GIF’s to my tweets! 🙂
Paula Schuck says
Thank you so much for sharing this! I’ve been wanting to try using GIFs, but I didn’t know how.
Kita says
Thank you for sharing these tips and instructions on making GIFs! I have been wanting to try this on my site. They are funny and make a point that is different than a regular picture.
Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle says
GIFs are a great way to illustrate a point, and they’re so much more interesting than a flat picture. I’ve used a few, but I want to make a lot more.
Cianna says
Really love GIFs! I think this was a perfect way to illustrate points and have a little fun! 🙂
Rhian Westbury says
Thanks so much for this post, definitely going to have to dabble into making my own Gifs now x
Chanelle says
Yay! Have fun!
leonii amber says
ah this is brilliant info thank you Im going to give this ago!
Jaime Nicole says
This is so cool! I had no idea that there were online tools that you can use to help make GIFs. I’ll have to give this a try!
Elayne Frank says
These are so cool! I love seeing them on various blogs and always wondered how they were made. Thanks for sharing!
Chanelle says
You’re welcome – hope you have fun trying it out!
Nayna Kanabar says
A brilliant tutorial and something I always wanted to learn. Bookmarking for future ref.
Adriana says
This is such a fun tutorial! I love seeing gifs on sites like Buzzfeed, I should try this!
Laci says
This was definitely helpful I knew a gif file existed but I wasn’t sure why
Agnes Dela Cruz says
I have an app that can create GIF. its live edit app and I have not tried using or inserted it in my blog maybe someday. 😀
Robin Rue (@massholemommy) says
I never knew how to make one, so now that I know how – I am going to GIF the crap out of everyone 🙂
Chanelle says
GIF yeah. 😉