How to convert video clips into animated GIFs.

Whether you want to create a looping product demo or a hilarious meme for social media, here’s how you can use Adobe Premiere Pro to create an animated GIF.

What’s in a GIF?

A Graphics Interchange Format or GIF, is an image format, like a JPG or PNG, that supports both animated and static graphics. Similar to video formats, a GIF can show a series of still images in rapid succession to make the eye think movement is taking place. Some video formats require specific software in order to view a file, but GIFs don’t. They live online and exist as image files, making them easier to share to send to friends. GIF images don’t support audio and they loop automatically, restarting at the beginning as soon as they finish. In essence, GIFs are a simple way to create silent digital animations for web pages.


Step up your GIF game.

While online GIF makers and GIF converters exist, they often add a watermark to the file and don’t give you much control over your end result. With the tools in Premiere Pro, it’s simple to transform any video into a GIF file and get the exact animation you want.


Loop and edit video.

Create funny GIFs from your favourite TV show or edit an original artistic cinemagraph. Premiere Pro can help you to make a GIF and get it just right before exporting. Cut and reverse your video file so it loops perfectly or edit colour and apply high-quality video effects to perfect your original footage.

Adding text to video in Adobe Premiere Pro

Easily add animated text.

Add customised animated words to give your GIFs a little something special. Add song lyrics, an intro title or the meme captions directly into the file with the Essential Graphics panel. Edit and adjust the colour, font and appearance of your text and animate it so it appears with perfect timing.


Save your GIF in a snap.

Exporting a GIF is as simple as saving. Set the frames per second (FPS) lower to decrease your file size. 24fps is the standard rate used for most videos. But depending on where you’ll share or post your GIF, resize to a lower frame rate like 15fps, which can work just as well. This does lower the quality of your final file and could make it a little choppy, but it cuts the file size down significantly for easier sharing.

How to create GIFs.


Import it.
Open your MOV, AVI or other video file in Premiere Pro.


Select it.
Set the start time and end time for your GIF in the Timeline.


Edit it.
Apply effects, add animated text or duplicate and reverse the clip to create the perfect loop.


Adjust it.
Tweak your selections before saving. If you’re using high-quality 4K video from your smartphone or iPhone, cut the frame rate down to limit the file size. This will make it easier to share on social media.


Export it.
Click the Export Media button and choose GIF as the final file format.

Take your GIFs further.

Explore the basics in Premiere Pro and dive into the art of GIF making with these tutorials and tips.

Adding a title to video in Adobe Premiere Pro

Start with the Essential Graphics panel.

Before you jump in, take a moment to explore the Graphics workspace and Essential Graphics panel in Premiere Pro. Learn how to create titles, graphics and animations and apply them to your next GIF file.


Explore motion graphics.

A Motion Graphics template (MOGRT) is a file type created in Adobe After Effects or Premiere Pro. If you create your GIF in Premiere Pro, you can apply these graphics, like customisable title slides and video effects, to your new GIF.

Discover cinemagraphs.

Cinemagraphs are a combination of still images and videos, where a majority of the scene remains stationary while part of it subtly moves. Explore this art form and save your cinemagraphs as a GIF for quick sharing online.


Make it for social media.

When you’ve finished your GIF creation in Premiere Pro, it’s easy to save and share it to your social media accounts. Export specific sequences and then discover the perfect settings for sharing online.

Do more with Adobe Premiere Pro.


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