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Ultimate Step-by-Step Guide: How To Make GIFs in Photoshop

Viraj Mahajan
Viraj Mahajan Originally published Jun 04, 25, updated Jun 17, 25

Are you wondering how to make a GIF in Photoshop and bring your static images to life? Whether you're a content creator looking to spice up your social media posts, a marketer wanting to grab attention, or simply someone who loves animated visuals, you have landed in the right place.

This guide will take you through everything you need to know and help you learn how to create a GIF animation in Photoshop. Additionally, we will explore some alternative methods that may surprise you with their simplicity and creative results.

In this article
  1. How to Make a GIF with Photoshop from Pics
  2. Pros and Cons of Making GIFs in Photoshop
  3. Easy Way: How to Make GIFs without Photoshop from Videos and Pics
  4. Pros and Cons of Making GIFs with UniConverter
  5. Conclusion
  6. FAQs

Part 1. How to Make a GIF with Photoshop from Pics

Creating GIFs in Photoshop is relatively easy for professionals but can be tricky for beginners. Follow this step-by-step guide to learn how to make a GIF in Photoshop with zero experience:

Step 1

Open Photoshop and navigate to "File > Scripts > Load Files into Stack."

photoshop load file into stack

Step 2

Once the images are added, click "Window" and navigate to "Timeline."

photoshop add timeline

Step 3

Navigate to Timeline under the image you have uploaded. Click the drop-down menu located near "Create Video Timeline" and select "Create Frame Animation."

photoshop create frame animation

Step 4

In the Timeline panel menu (represented by a three-line icon), select "Create New Layer for Each New Frame." Each layer now becomes a frame in your animation.

photoshop create layer for frame

Step 5

Below each frame, click the time and select the duration each frame should display (try 0.2-0.5 seconds to start).

photoshop select duration

Step 6

At the bottom of the Timeline, set the looping option to "Forever" for a continuous animation. Click the "Play" button to see the results.

photoshop forever

Step 7

Go to "File > Export Preferences" and save it as a GIF.

photoshop export gif

Part 2. Pros and Cons of Making GIFs in Photoshop

When you know how to make a GIF in Photoshop, knowing the pros and cons helps you better understand the tool and make the most of it. If it does not meet your needs as a beginner, you can explore other options for creating GIFs.

Pros & Cons

Pros
  • Professional Quality Control: Photoshop offers unmatched control over every aspect of your GIF. You can fine-tune colors, adjust timing for individual frames, apply filters, and make precise edits that simply aren't possible with simpler tools.
  • Precise Timeline Control: You have complete control over frame timing, allowing you to create smooth animations or dramatic pauses exactly where you need them.
  • Layer Management: The layer system enables easy organization of complex animations. You can group related elements, apply effects to specific layers, and make changes without any of it affecting other parts of your animation.
  • Advanced Editing Capabilities: Need to remove backgrounds, add text overlays, or apply special effects? Photoshop's comprehensive toolset lets you enhance your images before converting them to GIF format, ensuring professional-looking results.
Cons
  • Steep Learning Curve: If you're new to Photoshop, the interface can feel overwhelming. Learning how to make a GIF from Photoshop requires familiarity with layers, timelines, and export settings that beginners might find confusing.
  • Software Cost: Photoshop requires a Creative Cloud subscription, which can be expensive for casual users who just want to create occasional GIFs. The monthly fee might not be justified if GIF creation is your only need.
  • Resource-intensive: Photoshop requires significant computer resources. Older machines might struggle with performance, especially when working with large images or complex animations.
  • Time-Consuming Process: The professional approach comes with a time cost. Simple GIFs that could be created in minutes elsewhere might take 30 minutes or more in Photoshop, especially for beginners.

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Part 3. Easy Way: How to Make GIFs without Photoshop from Videos and Pics

Learning how to make a moving GIF in Photoshop is beneficial, but its complexity level and pricing might not be suitable for beginners; in this case, having a second option is always advisable. Here, Wondershare UniConverter's GIF Maker can be a time-saver, as it simplifies the GIF-making process with just one click. All you need to do is upload the photo, select the output size and frame rate (4-60), and click to create a GIF.

wondershare uniconverter homepage

Key Features

  • It allows you to create GIFs from images and videos with just one click.
  • Not only with the GIF maker but also with its "Converter" feature, it lets you make GIFs in batches from videos.
  • A wide array of frame rates is available, allowing you to choose from 4 to 60 frames per second to meet your needs.
  • It supports various file formats, including JPG, PNG, JPEG, and BMP.

Here is how you can create a GIF with UniConverter

Step 1

Open the app and navigate to the homepage, then select "Image > GIF Maker."

wondershare uniconverter gif maker

Step 2

When you click "GIF Maker," you will be presented with two options: "Video to GIF" and "Image to GIF." Select the "Image to GIF" option and upload multiple images.

wondershare uniconverter upload images

Step 3

After uploading the images, select the desired output size and frame rate, and then click "Create GIF." Your GIF is now ready to use and share.

wondershare uniconverter create gif

Part 4. Pros and Cons of Making GIFs with UniConverter

Compared to Photoshop, UniConverter is far easier for both professionals and beginners. Here are the pros and cons that will help you make the right choice to create a GIF:

Pros & Cons

Pros
  • Intuitive Interface: Its intuitive interface makes it extremely user-friendly for both beginners and professionals, allowing you to create GIFs with just three simple steps.
  • Create a GIF in One Click: All it requires is uploading the images, choosing the frame rate, and clicking; your GIF will be ready!
  • No Need for Layering: Unlike Photoshop, you don't need to layer frames in the Timeline in UniConverter, a time-consuming process.
  • Does Not Require Individual Speed Adjustments: In Photoshop, you need to adjust the frame display time, but with UniConverter, you simply need to choose a frame rate from 4 to 60, and it will automatically apply to all images.
Cons
  • Limited Editing Capabilities: Compared to Photoshop, UniConverter lacks built-in editing features, such as adjusting brightness and contrast, within its GIF Maker. For these features, you can create a GIF in the "Converter" option.
  • Limited Customization Option: While UniConverter is fast and straightforward, it lacks the ability to add text overlays and adjust frame timing individually. This may not be suitable for users who want more control over the animation's fine details.

Part 5. Conclusion

Learning how to make a GIF in Photoshop opens up professional-grade animation possibilities, but it comes with complexity and cost considerations. While Photoshop excels in quality control and advanced editing, its steep learning curve can be overwhelming for beginners.

If you’re seeking simplicity without sacrificing results, Wondershare UniConverter emerges as the clear winner. Its one-click GIF creation, intuitive interface, and affordable pricing make it perfect for content creators, marketers, and casual users alike. Whether you choose Photoshop's professional power or UniConverter's user-friendly approach, you now know to bring your static images to life. Try UniConverter and see how it makes creating GIFs seamless.

uniconverter video converter

Easy to Use Image to GIF Maker for Win and Mac

Easily Convert Image Sequences to GIFs at One Click.
Generate GIF from pics Now Generate GIF from pics Now app store btn

FAQs

  • 1. How to create GIFs from photos?
    To create GIFs from photos, you can try UniConverter. Upload the images to GIF Maker, adjust output size and frame rate, and click "Create GIF."
  • 2. Can Photoshop export an image as a GIF?
    Yes, you can export an image from Photoshop as a GIF. Navigate to "File > Export Preferences" and select GIF from the drop-down menu.
  • 3. What is the best GIF setting for Photoshop?
    The "Diffusion Dithering" option helps you reduce color banding and creates smooth gradients. You can adjust the percentage between 75% and 100% for best results.
  • 4. What is the difference between dither and no dither in Photoshop?
    Dithering creates the illusion of more colors by mixing adjacent pixels of different available colors, producing smoother gradients. Not dithering is when the closest available color is assigned to each pixel, resulting in a more basic color representation with banding effects.

Viraj Mahajan
Viraj Mahajan Jun 17, 25
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