GIF files.

What you’ll learn.

• What is a GIF file?
   
• History of the GIF file
   
• What are GIF files used for?
   
• Pros and cons of GIF files
   
• How to open a GIF file
   
• How to create and edit an GIF file
   
• GIF files: frequently asked questions

What is a GIF file?

You’ll likely see GIF files every time you check your social media feeds. But what does GIF mean and how do these files work?

GIF stands for Graphics Interchange Format. GIF is a raster file format designed for relatively basic images that appear mainly on the Internet. Each file can support up to 8 bits per pixel and can contain 256 indexed colours. GIF files also allow images or frames to be combined, creating basic animations.

These files use the .gif extension and can be opened in a wide range of programmes.

History of the GIF file.

The GIF file format was created in June 1987 by computer scientist Steve Wilhite and his team at the US technology company CompuServe.

Originally designed to speed up the download process for large images, it also replaced CompuServe’s black-and-white format for file downloads with a colour format.

CompuServe’s early versions of the GIF file format were called 87an and 89a. Along with black-and-white XBM files, GIF was the first image format to commonly appear on websites.

The GIF file has evolved to offer more animation functions. For example, creators gained the ability to loop GIF animations in 1995, following work on the Netscape Navigator browser. Facebook began supporting GIFs in 2015, with Instagram following in 2018.

What are GIF files used for?

The Graphics Interchange Format is designed to display simple images and animations. But what is a GIF used for specifically?

Web graphics and logos.

Because they can only display a limited number of colours, GIF files aren’t built to contain high-quality photographs. Instead, GIFs are better suited to graphics and logos featuring sharp lines and edges — and relatively few colours. 

Memes and online animations.

You’ll come across endless animated GIFs on websites and social media platforms. GIF files create a flipbook effect by containing a number of related images, giving the impression of a video — but they don’t feature any sound and tend to have a low resolution. GIFs are also a popular way to post online memes, humorous clips spread by social media users.

Discover more raster files

Pros and cons of GIF files.

Learn about the advantages and disadvantages of GIFs before selecting this file format for your images.

Advantages of GIF files.

• What GIF animations lack in sophistication they make up for with speed and impact. They’re quick to create, don’t require too much technical know-how and can spread across social media sites like wildfire as memes.
   
• The colour limits placed on GIFs keep their file sizes relatively small. This can help them load faster on web pages.
   
• GIF files boast a feature called lossless compression. This means their image quality doesn’t decline when their data gets compressed.

Disadvantages of GIF files.

• The GIF file format only supports a palette of 256 colours, meaning images may have a low resolution or even look slightly blurry.
   
• Because they use multiple images, animated GIF files can sometimes be tricky to return to and edit.
   
• Although GIFs are generally small and quick to load, a slow Internet connection could delay or negatively affect their appearance on a webpage.

How to open a GIF file.

Opening GIF files is straightforward on a Mac or Windows computer. Simply search for the file name and double-click it when it appears. Then, choose compatible software, such as Adobe Photoshop. Just click your preferred programme. GIFs have wide compatibility — they can be opened through most major image and video editing programmes.

GIFs are also easy to open through web-based browsers, including Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer. In the case of Internet Explorer, simply click the File menu and then Open. Select Browse followed by All Files. Click the GIF file name and then Open.

How to create and edit a GIF file.

Follow these easy steps to create and edit an animated GIF using Adobe Photoshop:

1. Upload the images you want to use in your GIF to Photoshop by heading to File > Scripts > Load Files into Stack.
   
   
2. Click Create Frame Animation.
    
3. Click Make Frames From Layers in the Timeline panel.
    
4. Choose the Repeat menu in the Timeline panel and select Forever.
    
5. Simply hit Play at the bottom of the Timeline panel to preview your animation.
    
6. To share, head to File > Export > Save for Web (Legacy).

GIF files: frequently asked questions.

Can GIF files be used for high-resolution photos?

GIF image files can only contain 256 colours, making them unsuitable for high-resolution photographs from digital cameras. JPEG files are a more popular option for photographs containing sharp details due to their ability to display millions of different colours. 

Does copyright law apply to memes?

Many GIF memes shared on social media sites contain snippets of copyrighted material — such as images from films or photography agencies. It’s not common for copyright holders to take legal action against people creating memes for non-commercial use, but it’s better to error on the side of caution. Businesses using animated GIFs for commercial purposes, however, should abide by their local rules and regulations when selecting GIF images.

Are there limits on GIF file sizes?

Many online GIF creation tools limit the size of the files you can make. The top limit tends to be 200 MB. Time limits apply too, with some tools curbing the length of an animated GIF at 15 seconds. Limiting the number of images — or frames — within your file will also make it easier to manage.

Can I add sound to my GIF file? 

Because they aren’t true video files, GIFs are unable to carry sound. Popular video file formats such as AVI, MP4 and WEBM can contain sound and images simultaneously.

What’s the difference between GIF and PNG files?

The PNG format is newer than the GIF file but offers similar benefits, including lossless compression. One key difference is that only GIFs support animation. Some people prefer PNGs over GIFs for static website graphics because they can display more than 16 million colours, instead of just 256.