Want an animated gif? (requests + gif guide)

[Zeno McDohl]

Requests:
I think I'll offer to do animated gifs to members here. So if you have a scene in FFXI you want as an animated gif, or perhaps just an animated gif of your character... request it here.

The main thing I need is a video. I suggest using Fraps. Here are the recommended settings if you use Fraps (for gifs):
-Half-size (unless you want your gif to be big)
-25fps (helps to cut down on duplicate frames)
-No sound
-No cursor

After you have a video, upload it to Rapidshare or the sort (not Youtube). If it is too big, you can use a program like VirtualDub to put a compression on it.

Example of what I've done:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...oxio_wings.gif http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1.../ffxi_xmas.gif http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...fxi_wings1.gif
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t.../ffxi_odin.gif

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Guide to making gifs:
The three programs I use are: Fraps, VirtualDub and ImageReady. I also use IrfanView for viewing images.

1) Record a video using Fraps (see above for optimal settings).
2) Open the video in VirtualDub.
3) Find the start time you want the gif to begin at. Go to Edit->Set selection start.
4) Find the end time you want the gif to end at. Go to Edit->Set selection end.
5) Go to File->Save image sequence (this will save the video as frames). Give it a name, a filetype (I use .bmp), max digits (the more frames the higher this number should be), and a place to dump the frames into. Click OK.
6) After the frames get dumped, open ImageReady. Go to File->Import->Folder as frames. Selected the folder where the frames were dumped.
7) Go to File->Save Optimized As...
And now you have a gif. Except it's probably a pile of crap, since there were most likely duplicate frames. So now we want to improve the gif.
8) Start off by removing any duplicate frames. I've tried using a program to do this, but most duplicate image programs suck ass. They end up thinking a frame is a duplicate of another frame when it really isn't. I've stuck to manually doing this for the main part. I use IrfanView to quickly scroll through the frames and delete any duplicate frames. Hopefully you don't have a ton of frames.
9) Now you've hopefully got a smooth gif. If it seems too slow, you can try removing frames (I typically remove every other frame). This is pretty easy to do using Windows Explorer.
10) Once you get a good animation, it is time to end the gif. You probably have two choices. Either loop the gif (like I did with the above 150x150 gifs), or end the gif with a fade (like the Odin one).
10a) Looping it is real easy. In ImageReady, in the Animation panel click the right-arrow button to bring up a menu. Select All Frames. Copy Frames. Paste Frames; Paste After Selection. You should still have those pasted frames selected. In the same menu, select Reverse Frames. Now all that is left is to remove the duplicate frames (the middle one and the last one). There, you should have a loop. Remember in order for this to work, you need to make sure the initial set of frames will loop back correctly. You may have to delete or add some frames to do this. Sometimes it is hard to get it perfect, for example my above Xmas eq gif. The hand waving isn't done that well.
10b) Fading out is easy too. Make a new layer at the top and fill it with the color you want it to fade to (I use white or black). Now make a new frame (duplicate frame in the animation pane), and make sure only the new pure color layer is turned on. Next, in the animation pane, click the last frame (the one you just made). Then click Tween... (at the bottom of that pane). Tween with Previous Frame, and select how many frames to add (I use 5 or so). After you hit okay, it should be a fade. You probably want to set the frame delay of the last frame to something like .5secs or so. You may have to tweak what layers are visible in the new frames.
11) Finally, the border. I feel images look so much nicer with a border, and that includes gifs. In ImageReady, make a new frame, Select All (ctrl+A), Select->Modify->Border (select the # of pixels here, it depends on how big your gif is. I use 3 pixels or so). Next, Select->Feather (select something smaller such as 1 or 2) and this will smooth your edges. Now use the Paint Bucket tool and fill the selected border. You should have a basic border now (make sure it is visible on all frames, and is on top).

Let me know if you want me to clarify anything, I didn't exactly spend a long time making this tutorial.

[Tajin]

Oh, I thought you were going to do all the frapsing / sprite ripping


Thanks though.

[Zeno McDohl]

Well that all depends on what I have access to. Obviously if you want a gif of your character doing something, it isn't something I can Fraps. >.>

Generic stuff like a Moogle in the MH I can do.

[Veneficus]

ive always wanted a gif with a mandragora in attack mode but idle, with its arms flapping.

[Jackyl]

Zeno, can you post a guide on how to make an animated gif using a video file from fraps? I tried to do some a couple months ago but couldn't find a good program that did it well and they all came out like crap. Your sample ones look very nice

[tyven]

that odin one is sweet

[Awoir]

Can use flash to make decent gifs

[Zeno McDohl]

Veneficus: Is that a request?

Jackyl: I will add a guide to my first post, give me a sec.
[EDIT] Done.

tyven: I've never experimented with that. If it is saved in a flash format, some forums don't allow flash files.

[Max™]

Hmmm, I bet you could fraps me doing something in game, as I'm on Carby too. :O

Ps2 though T.T

[Zeno McDohl]

That could work. I'm in Whitegate now, although I'm not on. Writing up the gif guide at the moment. I'll arrange something where we can meet up later and I record you doing something.

[Thistle]

I generally hate animated gifs, but the ones you made are nice.

[Veneficus]

Veneficus: Is that a request?

Jackyl: I will add a guide to my first post, give me a sec.
[EDIT] Done.

tyven: I've never experimented with that. If it is saved in a flash format, some forums don't allow flash files.

yeah basically, but you dont have to make one, but i guess if you want you can if you're bored.