Drop your video into fwip’s GIF maker, set the start and end time, pick your output size, and download a GIF. Works with MP4, MOV, MKV, WebM — any format. Everything runs on your device. No upload, no watermark, no Giphy branding.
How to do it
- Open fwip’s Video to GIF tool.
- Drop your video in.
- Set the start and end time for the section you want as a GIF.
- Choose the output width (480px is a good default — smaller file, still sharp).
- Adjust frame rate if needed (10–15fps is standard for GIFs).
- Hit Convert.
- Download your GIF.
Getting the file size right
GIFs are deceptively large. A 5-second GIF at 1080p can easily be 20MB. That defeats the purpose. The key variables:
Duration — shorter is better. 2–5 seconds is the sweet spot. Beyond 8 seconds, consider keeping it as a short video instead.
Width — 480px is ideal for most uses (chat, email, Slack, social). 320px for tiny reactions. 720px if you need it larger but expect a bigger file.
Frame rate — 10fps looks smooth enough for most GIFs and keeps file sizes manageable. 15fps is smoother. 24fps is overkill and bloats the file.
Colours — GIFs are limited to 256 colours per frame. Footage with lots of colour variation (sunsets, gradients) will look banded. Simple scenes with fewer colours compress better.
Frequently asked questions
Why are GIFs so large? GIFs use a compression method from 1987. It wasn’t designed for video. Each frame is stored as a separate image with limited compression between frames. That’s why a 3-second GIF can be larger than a 30-second MP4.
Should I use GIF or a short video? If you need autoplay without sound in a context that supports it (Slack, Discord, email), GIF works. For everything else, a short MP4 or WebM is smaller and higher quality. Many platforms now accept short videos in GIF-like contexts.
Can I add text to the GIF? Not in fwip’s GIF maker directly. Create the GIF first, then use an image editor to add text overlays. Or add text to the video before converting.
Does it work with screen recordings? Yes. Screen recordings make great GIFs for tutorials, bug reports, and product demos. Trim to the relevant moment and convert.
What about transparency? GIF supports transparency but fwip’s video-to-GIF converter doesn’t produce transparent GIFs (video frames don’t have alpha channels). For transparent animated images, consider APNG or WebP.