How to Make a GIF in Photoshop (From Photos or Video)

An animated GIF is just a stack of pictures shown one after another, and Photoshop builds one from layers. The process has a few steps but nothing difficult, and the export settings matter more than the animation itself. Get them wrong and you end up with a file too big to use. Here's the full method, from loading pictures to saving the GIF, plus how to start from a video.

Step 1: Put your pictures on layers

1. Open Photoshop and choose File, then Scripts, then Load Files into Stack.
2. Click Browse, find your pictures and hold Shift while you select them all.
3. Click Open, then OK.

Photoshop creates a layered file with one layer per picture. Adobe points out that these individual layers will become the frames of your animated GIF, so the order of the layers is the order of the animation. This works well for a burst of photos or a timelapse.

Starting from a video instead

If you've got a short video, choose File, Import, Video Frames to Layers, pick the file and click OK. A word of warning from Adobe: Photoshop may not be able to fully import a video that's too long. Use the Import window's options to bring in only a segment, or limit the frames to a set interval, such as every second frame. Fewer frames means a smaller, quicker GIF.

Step 2: Open the Timeline and make frames

1. Choose Window, then Timeline.
2. Click the arrow on the button in the middle of the panel, select Create Frame Animation, then click the button.
3. Open the menu at the top right of the Timeline panel and choose Make Frames From Layers.

Every layer in the Layers panel now becomes a frame. Press the Play button, or the Spacebar, to watch it. If it plays backwards, open the Timeline menu again and choose Reverse Frames.

Step 3: Make it loop

Click the repeat menu at the bottom of the Timeline and choose Forever. Without it, your GIF plays once and then it's over. Press Play again to check the loop.

Step 4: Export as a GIF

1. Choose File, Export, Save for Web (Legacy).
2. In the Preset menu choose GIF 128 Dithered.
3. In the Colors menu choose 256.
4. If the GIF is for the web, or you need a small file, reduce the Width and Height in the Image Size options.
5. In the Looping Options menu choose Forever.
6. Click Preview to check it in your browser, then click Save and pick a destination.

Settings that decide the file size

Setting	Effect
Width and Height	Smaller dimensions give a much smaller file
Number of frames	Fewer frames mean a lighter, shorter GIF
Colors (256)	More colors look better but add to the size
Looping	Forever repeats; without it the GIF plays once

File size is the part beginners underestimate. A GIF can be far larger than the video it came from, which isn't what most people expect. If your GIF is too heavy for the place you want to post it, make it smaller in the export window before you try anything else.

Do you need a GIF at all?

Photoshop can also export a timeline as a video, which is usually smaller and sharper for the same length. Adobe's export guidance says to save your project, make sure you have enough disk space, choose the format and frame rate and set the frame range, then preview the settings before rendering. Many sites accept video loops as well as GIFs, so check what the platform allows.

Ideas for useful GIFs

• A product turning round, shot as a burst of photos.
• A before-and-after reveal for a service.
• A step-by-step demonstration that loops.
• A simple animated banner or reaction image.

If you design images for marketing, my guide to creating a lead magnet without design skills and the tips for AI image prompts give you more ideas for the pictures themselves.

Fixing a GIF that looks wrong

• It plays backwards: open the Timeline menu and choose Reverse Frames.
• It only plays once: set the repeat menu to Forever, and check Looping Options in the export window too.
• The colours look grainy: that's the nature of a GIF, which is limited to 256 colors. Keep the images simple, or use a video loop for photos.
• It's too heavy to upload: reduce Width and Height, use fewer frames and trim the video segment you imported.
• Frames are in the wrong order: reorder the layers in the Layers panel and rebuild the frames with Make Frames From Layers.

Plan the animation before you build it

The smoothest GIFs are planned. Decide how many frames you need and keep the size small from the start. A GIF of a few well-chosen frames beats a long, heavy one that nobody waits for. If you shoot your own photos, hold the camera steady, keep the lighting the same and change only the thing you want to animate. Otherwise the whole picture flickers from frame to frame, and the file gets bigger because every frame is different.

My verdict

Load your pictures into a stack, make frames from layers, loop it and export from Save for Web (Legacy) with a small width. Aim for few frames and modest dimensions, and think about video if the GIF gets heavy. Don't overthink it: you'll learn more from one small test GIF than from planning a big one, and it's quick to redo if you've kept the layers.

Frequently asked questions

How do I make a GIF in Photoshop?

Load images with File, Scripts, Load Files into Stack, open Window, Timeline, Create Frame Animation, Make Frames From Layers, set Forever and export with Save for Web (Legacy).

How do I make a GIF from a video in Photoshop?

Use File, Import, Video Frames to Layers. Limit the frames imported, because very long videos may not import fully.

How do I make my GIF loop?

Choose Forever from the repeat menu at the bottom of the Timeline panel, and Forever in the Looping Options of the export window.

Why is my GIF too big?

Reduce the Width and Height in the Save for Web (Legacy) Image Size options and use fewer frames.

What settings does Adobe suggest for the GIF export?

Its tutorial uses the GIF 128 Dithered preset with 256 colors and Forever looping.