GIF (Graphics Interchange Format) is a graphic file format that supports animation and is widely used online. GIF was developed by CompuServe in 1987, originally to create a compact, universal format for sending graphics and images over the internet. It's now widely used for memes and short, fun animations on social media, adding life to online conversations.

  • A single GIF file contains several frames that play in sequence, creating the effect of animation. It's ideal for short videos, memes, and demos.
  • It uses a very limited color palette (a maximum of 256 colors), which makes it unsuitable for images with a wide range of colors, like photographs. That said, this limitation can also be considered an advantage when it comes to file size — GIFs tend to be relatively lightweight.
  • It supports a single level of transparency, letting you designate one color as transparent.
  • A lossless compression method (LZW compression) preserves image quality during compression.

Pros

Compactness. A small file size makes GIFs convenient for quick sharing online.

Animation support. Animations are simple to create and play.Broad compatibility. Supported by most browsers, apps, and platforms.

Cons

Color palette. The format isn't suitable for high-quality images.

Limited transparency. Only one color can be transparent, which limits the use of complex images with gradient transparency.

In other words, GIF is a simple, effective format for creating and sharing animations and images with a limited color palette.

How to make a GIF on iPhone from a video

You can create a GIF from a video on iPhone using various apps and built-in features.

The Shortcuts

  1. app. Open the Shortcuts app — it comes pre-installed on iPhones running iOS 13 and later.
  2. Tap "+" in the top-right corner to create a new shortcut.
  3. Tap "Add Action" and search for "Select Photos" — this lets you pick a video manually each time you run the shortcut.
  4. Add a second action — search for "Make GIF." In the settings, set the frame rate and size.
  5. Tap "Done." When you run the shortcut, select the video you want, and the GIF will be saved to your Photos app.

Note: In iOS 17, the Shortcuts interface was updated — the add-action button is now in the center of the bottom bar instead of the top corner.

Live Photo to GIF via the Photos app — iOS 17+ only

iOS 17 introduced a native way to convert a Live Photo into a GIF right in the standard Photos app — no third-party apps needed.

  1. Open the Photos app and select the Live Photo you want.
  2. Tap the "Live" icon in the top-left corner of the photo.
  3. In the dropdown menu, select "Animated" — the iPhone will automatically create a GIF from the Live Photo.
  4. The finished file gets saved to the same gallery, and you can send or export it right away.

This is the fastest method — it requires no extra apps and takes just three taps.

The GIPHY

  1. app. Download and install GIPHY from the App Store.
  1. Open GIPHY and log into your account, or create a new one.
  1. Tap the "+" button at the bottom of the screen. Select "Video" and upload the video you want to convert.
  1. Trim the video to the length you need. Add text, stickers, or filters if you'd like.
  1. Tap "Next" and select "Save GIF." The finished file will be saved to your Photos app.

The ImgPlay

  1. app. Download and install ImgPlay from the App Store.
  1. Open ImgPlay. Tap "Video to GIF" and select a file from your gallery.
  1. Trim the video to the length you need. Adjust the settings: animation speed and direction.
  2. Tap "Create" to add the GIF to your Photos app.

Creating a GIF using Live Photos and iMessage

This method works for iOS 16 and earlier. If you have iOS 17 or later, use the native Photos app feature described above instead — it's simpler and faster.

  1. Open a video from your gallery and tap the "Share" button (the icon with an upward arrow). Select "Create as Live Photo."
  1. Open iMessage and select a contact to message. Tap the "photo" icon to access your Photos app. Select the Live Photo you created. Then press and hold the Live Photo to send it as a GIF.

GIFs for email newsletters: important differences from GIFs for social media

If you're creating a GIF not for messaging or social media but for an email newsletter, keep a few email client limitations in mind.

Outlook only shows the first frame of an animation. That means the first frame needs to convey the substance of your offer — the email should make sense even without the animation.

The file shouldn't exceed 2 MB. A heavy GIF will take a long time to load, and some subscribers will close the email before they even see the animation.

The GIF's display width in an email should be no more than 600px. For Retina screens, make the source file 1200px wide.

More on the rules for using GIFs in newsletters, and how to choose an AI tool for creating animation.

💡 Preparing a GIF for an email newsletter?

Upload the finished file to Letteros — the service automatically optimizes the GIF's file size so it displays correctly across every email client. If the animation needs more work, the built-in editor lets you stitch a GIF together from individual frames and adjust speed and frame rate right in your browser.

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