What is the best way to prepare images before making a GIF?

For best results, ensure all your source images are of consistent dimensions if you want them to fill each frame perfectly. If they vary, our 'Image Fit Mode' option ('Contain' or 'Cover') will help manage them. Using optimized images (e.g., compressed JPEGs or PNGs) can also lead to a smaller final GIF file size.

How does 'Max Colors' affect my animated GIF?

Animated GIFs have a limited color palette, typically up to 256 colors. Reducing the 'Max Colors' (e.g., to 128 or 64) can significantly decrease the GIF's file size but may result in some color banding or loss of detail, especially in images with smooth gradients. Experiment to find the best balance for your animation.

What does 'Frame Delay' mean for a GIF creator?

'Frame Delay' is the time, in milliseconds (ms), that each individual image (frame) is displayed before transitioning to the next. A smaller delay (e.g., 100ms = 0.1 seconds) results in a faster animation, while a larger delay (e.g., 500ms = 0.5 seconds) creates a slower animation.

Can I create a GIF with a transparent background using this tool?

Yes. If your source images are PNGs with transparency, you can check the 'Transparent GIF Background' option. The GIF encoder will attempt to preserve this transparency. Note that GIF transparency is binary (a pixel is either fully transparent or fully opaque), unlike the alpha channel transparency in PNGs which allows for partial transparency.

Is this GIF maker online free and are my images uploaded to a server?

Yes, this is a completely free online GIF creator. All image processing and GIF encoding happen client-side in your browser using JavaScript libraries. Your images are not uploaded to any external server, ensuring your privacy and data security.

What if my images have different sizes or aspect ratios?

Our GIF maker provides an 'Image Fit Mode'. If you choose 'Contain', images will be scaled down to fit within the GIF dimensions, maintaining their aspect ratio, and any empty space will be filled with the 'Background Color' (or be transparent). If you choose 'Cover', images will be scaled to fill the GIF dimensions, maintaining aspect ratio, and any parts of the image that extend beyond the GIF canvas will be cropped.