GIF to PDF — Simple steps to convert GIF images to PDFs.
From social media memes to website images, GIFs are everywhere. To make them even more usable and shareable, try converting your GIFs to PDFs. Here’s how it’s done.
GIF image files have been around nearly as long as the internet itself. Everyone has seen and probably sent GIF images to a friend or colleague. Their popularity lies in the fact that these files can contain multiple images. This characteristic means GIFs can be a single image or a series of images that, when viewed sequentially, create what appears to be a video.
GIFs made their debut on June 5, 1987. Created by CompuServe, the format was intended for compressing images with minor data loss. The GIF has provided us with a flexible format for saving and sharing lower-resolution images. As the internet began to expand in popularity, so did the GIF. GIFs created a new way for users to interact beyond text and added a fun flair to websites.
What is a GIF file?
GIF stands for Graphics Interchange Format. It is a raster format created for basic images that exist mainly on the internet. GIF files can support up to 8 bits per pixel and may contain 256 indexed colors. Frames or images can easily be combined, resulting in basic animations.
GIF files are commonly seen as memes across the internet and are pulled from movie scenes, television shows, or elsewhere. They are also widely used for web graphics and logos. Because of the color limits placed on GIFs, they are not the best file option for a photograph. They are excellent for web pages because of their fast loading time and can be compressed without image quality decline.
Discover how to turn a GIF into a PDF
To include your image in a larger document and to make sure your recipient can view your image without special software, convert your GIF to PDF. In just four steps you can use the tools in Adobe Acrobat software to convert GIF images to PDF:
- Navigate to the Create PDF option from the Tools menu
- Click on Select A File
- Select the GIF from which you wish to make a PDF
- Choose Create
- Follow the prompts to save your new PDF to the desired location
How to embed a GIF in a PDF.
You may want a smaller, more shareable file size to share with colleagues or friends. With Adobe Acrobat, embedding a GIF in a PDF is easy with these steps.
- Open your file in Acrobat.
- Under the Tools tab, under Edit PDF, choose Advanced Editing then Touchup Object Tool.
- Right-click anywhere on the page and choose Place Image.
- In the new window that will pop up, from the drop-down, choose Compuserve GIF as the file type.
- Choose your preferred GIF, and the GIF will be placed.
How to add GIFs to PDFs using InDesign
You can also use Adobe InDesign to add GIFs to PDFs. In the following few steps, you can learn how to add a GIF to a PDF in a snap.
- Open the GIF in QuickTime and save it as a MOV.
- Insert the file into the PDF. Select Object > Interactive > Film Options > Embed in PDF.
- Save your PDF.
Now that your image file is saved as a PDF, it can easily be shared as an email or messaging system attachment. Go ahead and share it with your friends, family, or coworkers. They’ll be able to view it. You can always convert your PDF to image files as well.
GIFs are an easily shareable, compressible file format that can be added to documents with the help of Adobe. Whether you’re using InDesign or Acrobat, Adobe has all the tools you need to save, download, and share your files with a GIF embedded.
Converting a GIF is easy — explore what other file types you can change to PDF with Acrobat.
