Creating a GIF from an MP4

gistfile1.md

Crop the video:

ffmpeg -i inputfile.mp4 -aspect 1:1 -r 18.84 -vf "crop=440:440:320:750" outputfile.mp4

Arguments:

• -aspect (aspect ratio, required or error)
• -r (framerate, required or error)
• "crop=440:440:320:750" corresponds to width:height:topleftx:toplefty

Shorten the video:

ffmpeg -ss 0:00:00 -i inputfile.mp4 -t 0:0:10 outputfile.mp4

Arguments:

• -ss start time (h : m : s)
• -t length (h : m : s)

Export the video to individual frames:

ffmpeg -i inputfile.mp4 -f image2 %03d.gif

Convert the frames to a gif:

gifsicle --delay=6 --loop *.gif > animation.gif

Notes:

• --delay=6 had to be fudged a little to look right

Optimize the gif:

convert -layers Optimize animation.gif animation_optimized.gif