How to make a gif

Here is how 2 make gif.

Download GIMP

Download SMplayer

 

http://www.gimp.org/downloads/

http://smplayer.sourceforge.net/

 

Once smplayer is installed, go to C:\Program Files (x86)\SMPlayer\mplayer

*This is where your frames for gifmaking will go.

 

Open command prompt:

Type in:

 

CD C:\Program Files (x86)\SMPlayer\mplayer

or

CD C:\Program Files\SMPlayer\mplayer

(might be different, depending on where you choose to instal SMplayer)

 

Type in:

 

mplayer C:\Users\XXXXXX\Desktop\Cartoons\episode.mp4 -nosound -ss 00:00:00 -vo png:z=9 -frames 150

 

*This command takes screencaps of the episode for use in gif

making.

*mp4s seem to be best for gif making from my observation. Make sure to alter C:\Users\etc.etc.etc depending on how you keep your cartoons organized and named.

*00:00:00 is hours:minutes:seconds change the numbers to suit. Might require a bit of trial and error because sometimes the program starts taking screencaps a little bit before or after the specified time.

where in the episode you want to start taking screencaps.

*the last number is how many screenshots you want. Requires some trial and error as well, since you might under or overestimate how many screencaps you're required to take.

 

Once you have all the screencaps you need, open up gimp.

File>Open as Layers

Go to your mplayer folder and use CTRL+A to select all pictures. Unselect mplayer and other unrelated things. Select open and you'll have the makings of a hugeass gif! Now we need to make it under 3MB so we can post it on 4chins.

 

One way is to crop it. This is good if there is only one character you want to focus on, or if whatever is happening that you want to gif isn't occupying the whole screen.

 

Another is to reduce the image size. I find 640px to be a generally good size (remember to keep proportions!) but sometimes it might need to be even smaller.

 

After cropping and reducing image size, go to Filters>Animation>Playback to get a little preview of your gif. Put it on 200% speed to get a general idea of what it'll look like when you post it on 4chan.

 

Then go to Filters>Animation>Optimize (for gif)

 

You'll get a new window that'll pop up called Untitled. Go to File>Save As and save it as My1337Thing.gif

You'll get another window pop up. Make sure to select the "save it as an animation" option before clicking export.

You'll get yet another window. Add a silly and/or lewd comment in the GIMP comments for chuckles, and tell the file to go at 35ms for unspecified frames. Select for it to do this for all frames, then save your work.

 

If it's under 3MB, post it to 4chan. If it's too big, start over from after the "Open as layers" step and use even more cropping and/or image size reduction until you think it'll turn out small enough to post on 4chan.

 

Happy gif-making!