Animated Gifs

[imacfreak]

Not sure if this is the right forum, I just thought most web designers would know something about animated gifs. If not, feel free to put this post in the correct forum (wherever that may be).

Onto the question,

Using Adobe ImageReady, i'm trying to save this simple animation (just 2 frames) as an animated gif and its just impossible. When i click the "save optimized as" option and choose "images only".. the image is always a .jpg. I can't figure out where to set it to a Gif. In ImageReady preferences I even have optimization set to GIF but this image continues to be a jpg.

Any ideas?

[rand()]

In ImageReady preferences I even have optimization set to GIF but this image continues to be a jpg.

Nope, I think this is the right forum for you.

I've not made an animated gif in ImageReady, but I'll try to help. I'm using ImageReady CS, by the way. Go to Window->Optimize (or just go to that toolbox, if it's already open). Make sure that this window has the Format set to GIF. Even if the "Optimize" Preference pane is set to GIF, this toolbox can still be forced to JPG, which is probably where you're stuck.

Sory if you've already done this and it just seems like I'm being an idiot. :)

-rand()

[imacfreak]

Thank YOU! I hadnt tried that, nor did any Acrobat help sites mention that window at all.

[Sneeper]

Does anyone know how to covert a quicktime movie into an animated gif? Preferably a free way since I'm cheap.

[imacfreak]

Someone in another forum said they took screen shots of the QT movie and then put together an animation with ImageReady. There are free apps out there to make animated GIFs. GIFBuilder is on www.versiontracker.com, but it doesnt do very high quality.

Message me if you need help.

[iMeowbot]

I've used QuickTime Player (might need QT Pro license) and GraphicConverter to do that.


Open the movie in QuickTime Player.
File->Export...
Export: Movie to Image Sequence, use Options to pick a reasonable format (PNG works). Create an empty folder to save into, and make sure you've got plenty of free disk space.
Wait, possibly a very long time if you used a long movie...

...

In GraphicConverter, File->Convert & Modify...
In the left pane, navigate to the folder where you exported your images. Command-A to select all the images.
Set Function to Convert
Set Dest. Format to GIF
Click Options... and set version to 89a, and movie options as you'd like them. "Restore to previous" usually works well.
Click Go and wait and wait and wait.
When it's finished you can close the convert window and open the saved animated GIF, play controls will be in the lower left.
From the Window menu, pick "Show Movie Options" where you can alter the speed, looping and so on.