# How to make an animated GIF **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 22, 2002, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-an-animated-gif/115422 "2002-06-22T11:05:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2002, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-an-animated-gif/115422/1 "2002-06-22T11:05:33Z")
I have a series of several graphics and would like them displayed consecutively to form an animation but I do not know how to integrate them into one animated GIF. I use Irfanview and MSPaint but I believe they do not have this capability. ---
**Author:** ![LolaBaby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@LolaBaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LolaBaby)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2002, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-an-animated-gif/115422/2 "2002-06-22T11:32:49Z")
I think PaintShopPro has this capability. I’ve played with it for a bit but have yet to produce one. The PaintShopPro program I have has an animation option thingy. ---
**Author:** ![Efrem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@Efrem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Efrem)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2002, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-an-animated-gif/115422/3 "2002-06-22T12:09:21Z")
There is a lot of programs which will alow you to do animation. Click [here](http://download.com.com/3150-2186-0.html?tag=dir) and download til your hearts content. ---
**Author:** ![LolaBaby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@LolaBaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LolaBaby)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2002, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-an-animated-gif/115422/4 "2002-06-22T14:49:38Z")
Sorry, my memory is/was shot when I posted. It’s called JASC Animation and yes, I did make one, but I only made four frames so it sucked. I didn’t realize you could make as many frames as you wanted. ---
**Author:** ![Achernar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e274bd/32.png) [@Achernar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achernar)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2002, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-an-animated-gif/115422/5 "2002-06-22T18:04:40Z")
Hmmm. Are there any freeware GIF animators? I couldn’t find one on **efrem** ’s list, but maybe I just didn’t know what to look for. ---
**Author:** ![Forbin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5e9695/32.png) [@Forbin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Forbin)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2002, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-an-animated-gif/115422/6 "2002-06-22T18:08:56Z")
I use Sony Picture gear. It sounds like you have a basic grasp of how to do it, but just need to have a program to actually animate the images. Sony Picture Gear was loaded on my computer when I bought it, so I have no idea how much it costs. ---
**Author:** ![Efrem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@Efrem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Efrem)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2002, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-an-animated-gif/115422/7 "2002-06-22T20:49:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Achernar \* > \*\*Hmmm. Are there any freeware GIF animators? I couldn’t find one on **efrem** ’s list, but maybe I just didn’t know what to look for. \*\* There is also freeware at that website. You can search by share/freeware, OP, year, popularity, and what have you. I found a great freeware program on the net called “GIF Construction Set Professional”. It may be outdated compared to today’s programs (but I love it). ---
**Author:** ![black\_rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f19dbf/32.png) [@black\_rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/black_rabbit)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2002, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-an-animated-gif/115422/8 "2002-06-22T21:08:42Z")
[UnFREEz](http://www.whitsoftdev.com/unfreez/) is a bare-bones freeware animator. I use it all the time, and I’ve even got Animation Shop. And it’s only a 19k download. ---
**Author:** ![Efrem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@Efrem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Efrem)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2002, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-an-animated-gif/115422/9 "2002-06-22T21:12:38Z")
[Here](http://download.com.com/3150-2186-0-1-4.html?&li=49&os=) is the same list, only it is filtered to show just freeware programs. ---
**Author:** ![Achernar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e274bd/32.png) [@Achernar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achernar)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2002, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-an-animated-gif/115422/10 "2002-06-23T18:35:49Z")
Right, I did that too. I don’t think a single program on that list will actually animate GIFs. I certainly didn’t see GIF Construction Set or UnFREEz on there. I don’t need one, myself, but I was just curious. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2002, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-an-animated-gif/115422/11 "2002-06-23T19:30:25Z")
Achernar, they say they do it but having to register to download turned me off. ---
**Author:** ![Efrem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@Efrem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Efrem)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2002, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-an-animated-gif/115422/12 "2002-06-23T23:23:57Z")
Do I have to go to your house and _press_ the download button for you guys. :wally **Achernar** : If you had trouble finding it all you needed to do was google. You’d find that you can download the newest version of “GIF Construction Set Professional” [here](http://alchemy-mindworks.com/gifcon.html). If you don’t like the program (chances are you will love it), just try out the ones on [this](http://download.com.com/3150-2186-0-1-4.html?&li=49&os=) list (don’t rule them out unless you tryed them). BTW You can’t find UnFREEz?!!?! It is second on the list! If you still can’t find it you can just download it at [this](http://www.whitsoftdev.com/unfreez/) page. If **this** simple task is giving you trouble just click [here](http://download.com.com/3001-2186-7122888.html), and wait til it automaticaly downloads for you :p. **sailor** : I have no idea where you got the idea that you need to register to download from there. **You do not.** Believe me, I have not registered what-so-ever there, and they have not asked me to. ---
**Author:** ![polymur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7993a0/32.png) [@polymur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/polymur)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2002, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-an-animated-gif/115422/13 "2002-06-24T00:57:33Z")
I had to register just the other day … never did before. Might be a new policy. ---
**Author:** ![Achernar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e274bd/32.png) [@Achernar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achernar)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2002, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-an-animated-gif/115422/14 "2002-06-24T00:57:46Z")
You’re right. I honestly am not trying to be a hassle, and I am pretty good at finding things on my own. I was just trying to say that the vast majority of freeware programs on your list do not actually animate GIF files. And anyway, I’m not in the market for a GIF animator. I do all my animations by hand. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2002, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-an-animated-gif/115422/15 "2002-06-24T01:43:10Z")
I believe you can get Paint Shop Pro free for a 30-day trial. It comes with Animation Shop, which is what I use. I make animations all the time 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![black\_rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f19dbf/32.png) [@black\_rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/black_rabbit)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2002, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-an-animated-gif/115422/16 "2002-06-24T17:28:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Achernar \* > \*\*… > And anyway, I’m not in the market for a GIF animator. I do all my animations by hand. 😉 \*\* Okay, now I’m intrigued. Are you talking about animating GIFs by hand? Howzat? ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2002, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-an-animated-gif/115422/17 "2002-06-24T19:25:57Z")
I think I know what Achernar means. . . or is it just my dirty mind? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Achernar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e274bd/32.png) [@Achernar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achernar)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2002, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-an-animated-gif/115422/18 "2002-06-24T21:28:18Z")
Um, maybe “by hand” wasn’t the best term for it. But if you have a hex editor, I imagine it’s not too hard. You string the images together with a Graphics Control Extension with the frame delay time between each one, and if you want it to repeat, you put (I think) an Application Control Extension (NETSCAPE2.0) at the beginning. If you use a Global Color Table, you don’t even have to repeat that. In practice, I use a C++ program I wrote a couple of years ago that encodes as GIF and concatenates images in BMP format, appropriate for animation. I’m probably a little out of practice, though; I don’t think I could write it again from scratch.