`.mov` to `.gif` using QuickTime and Photoshop

README.md

.mov to .gif using QuickTime and Photoshop

This is my prefered way to create GIF animations for demos and whatnot.

Steps

1. QuickTime » File » New Screen Recording
2. Select area to record » Start recording your thing
3. File » Export » Select max resolution available » Save
4. Photoshop » Import » Video Frames to Layers (no need to follow step 2 if not on retina screen)
5. Select your .mov file » Select range to import » Make sure "Limit to Every N Frames" is unchecked » OK
6. Image » Image Size » Make sure the icon is selected (to keep aspect ratio) » Set width to half of its size » OK
7. File » Export » Save for Web (Legacy) 1. Make sure file format is GIF (right below "Preset") 2. Looping options » Forever 3. Save

Adjust speed

1. Photoshop » Window » Timeline
2. Timeline » Select All Frames
3. Right below the frame thumbnail, click on the frame delay » Other » Set the frame delay you want
4. Follow step 2.3 under Steps

Software version

It might work in lower versions tho.

• QuickTime 10
• Adobe Photoshop CC 2015

Other options

Options that I've tried before:

• LICEcap: decent UI, bad output (weird square shapes floating around)
• Recordit: best UI of all the options, bad output (tiny pixel dots spread across the image)
• CloudConvert: essentially ffmpeg as a service, bad defaults (if you got the skills to customize it, might be a good fit)
• OS X Screencast to animated GIF (Gist ): guide to generate a GIF using ffmpeg on OSX, interesting stuff but kinda overwhelming

Is there a better way?

This is the best way that I found so far for creating decent quality GIF animations. If you know a better way to do it that doesn't involve installing ffmpeg, coreutils, cmake and recompiling the kernel, let me know in the comments.

There is a better way.
Command line tools. 😄

Why the reluctance?
ffmpeg is just a brew install ffmpeg away.
It doesn't get more easier than that.